KR20070044740A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

An air conditioner is disclosed that enables sterilization of bacteria suspended in air. The air conditioner includes a main body having a heat exchanger, a blower, and an air purifying device, a discharge port provided for the main body for discharging the conditioned air, and an ion generating device installed inside the discharge port. It includes a cation generating unit for generating hydrogen ions through the discharge by, and a needle electrode type negative ion generating unit for generating a negative ion by applying a negative voltage and a predetermined distance away from the cation generating unit.

Description

Air Conditioner {AIR CONDITIONER}

1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

3 is a perspective view showing the mounting state of the ion generator of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the ion generating device of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the ion generator of the air conditioner according to the present invention, showing the state of generation of ions.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: main body, 11: heat exchanger,

12: blower, 14: inlet,

15: first side outlet, 16: second side outlet,

17: front discharge port, 30: discharge opening and closing device,

31: open and close door, 40: air purifier,

50: ion generator, 51: pedestal,

52: ceramic plate, 53: needle electrode,

54: cover, 55: discharge electrode,

56: induction electrode, 58: protective cover.

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner having an ion generating device that performs a sterilization function.

An air conditioner is a device for cooling, heating, or purifying indoor air to provide a comfortable indoor environment for a user. Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0091215 discloses such an air conditioner.

The air conditioner is provided with a heat exchanger for harmonizing indoor air, a blower for blowing air, and a purifier for purifying indoor air. The purifier includes a pre-filter, a hepa filter, a nano carbon filter, etc., installed at the air inlet side of the lower part of the main body, and an electrostatic precipitator installed at the inlet side of the blower. This allows the suction air to be purified while passing through the plurality of filters and the electrostatic precipitator.

However, since the air purifier's purifier filters out foreign matters in the air, there is a limit in removing bacteria floating in the air.

The present invention is to solve such a problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner to sterilize the floating bacteria in the air.

The air conditioner according to the present invention for achieving this object is a main body with a heat exchanger, a blower, an air purifying device, a discharge port provided in the main body for the discharge of conditioned air, and an ion generator installed inside the discharge port It includes, The ion generating device is a cation generating unit for generating hydrogen ions through discharge by the application of a positive voltage, needle electrode type anion that is installed a predetermined distance away from the cation generator and generates an anion through the application of a negative voltage It characterized in that it comprises a generator.

In addition, the ion generating device is characterized in that installed in a position spaced 30 ~ 80mm from the discharge port.

The discharge port may include a plurality of discharge ports, and the ion generating device may be installed adjacent to the discharge port through which air is discharged when the air purifier is operated.

In addition, the discharge port includes a first side discharge port formed on the upper side of both sides of the main body, and a second side discharge port formed under the first side discharge port on both sides of the main body, the ion generating device is the second side surface It is characterized in that it is installed inside the discharge port.

In addition, the ion generating device is characterized in that it further comprises a cover for limiting the diffusion range of hydrogen ions generated by the cation generator.

In addition, the ion generating device further comprises a pedestal for mounting the cation generating unit and the negative ion generating unit, the cover is provided in the form of a tunnel covering the cation generating unit and the negative ion generating unit is coupled to the upper surface of the pedestal It features.

In addition, the ion generating device is characterized in that it further comprises a net protective cover for covering the needle electrode type negative ion generating unit.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2, the air conditioner according to the present invention, the heat exchanger 11 is installed on the inner upper portion of the main body 10, and the blower installed in the inner lower portion of the main body 10 for blowing air (12) is provided. In addition, the front surface of the main body 10 is closed by the lower panel 13, the upper portion is covered by the opening and closing door 31 which will be described later.

Inlet ports 14 for suctioning indoor air are formed on both side surfaces of the lower part of the main body 10, and the first side discharge ports on the upper side of both sides of the upper part of the main body 10 are for discharging the harmonized air therein. 15 and lower second side spouts 16 are formed. In addition, the front discharge port 17 is formed on the front surface of the main body 10 to the upper side of the lower panel 13 so that harmonized air can be discharged forward.

The blower 12 sucks air from the suction port 14 side on both sides of the main body and blows it toward the heat exchanger 11 at the upper side. The blower 12 includes a centrifugal blower fan 12a, a motor 12b for driving the blower fan 12a, and a fan casing 12c for guiding the blown air toward the heat exchanger 11. In addition, an air purifier 40 is installed at the inlet side of the fan casing 12c of the blower 12 to filter foreign matter from the air sucked into the blower 12. Air purifier 40 may be formed of a conventional purification filter or electrostatic precipitator.

The heat exchanger 11 is provided in a flat shape so that the air blown from the blower 12 can be heat-exchanged while passing therethrough, and the heat exchanger 11 is installed to be inclined to partition the inner upper space of the main body 10. Through the heat exchanger 11, the conditioned air is supplied to the indoor space through the first and second side discharge ports 15 and 16 and the front discharge port 17 on both sides.

In front of the upper part of the main body 10, there are blowing guide plates 18 and 19 for guiding the air passing through the heat exchanger 11 to the first and second side discharge ports 15 and 16 and the front discharge port 17 on both sides. Is installed. The blowing guide plates 18 and 19 protrude in a mountain shape toward the rear so that the central portion can guide the blown air to the first and second side discharge ports 15 and 16 on both sides. In addition, slopes 18a and 19a are provided on the lower side of the upper blower guide plate 18 and the upper portion of the lower blower guide plate 19 toward the front discharge port 17 for smooth blowing toward the front discharge port 17, respectively. In addition, the upper blower guide plate 18 functions to partition the space in which the discharge opening and closing device 30 for elevating the open / close door 31 from the blower flow passage, and the lower blower guide plate 19 is a control panel for controlling the operation of the device. It functions to partition the space in which 20 is installed from the air flow passage.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, blower vanes 21 and 22 are installed in the first and second side discharge ports 15 and 16 to guide the discharge direction of the air flow while rotating by the operation of a motor (not shown). do. The blowing blades 21 and 22 also function to close the first and second side discharge ports 15 and 16 by rotationally closing when the operation of the air conditioner is completed.

The front discharge port 17 is opened and closed by a discharge opening / closing device 30 provided in front of the upper blow guide plate 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge opening / closing device 30 opens and closes the front discharge port 17 while raising and lowering a predetermined section and simultaneously covering the upper front of the main body 10 to provide a beautiful appearance. And a lifting device for elevating the opening and closing door 31, and a guide device (not shown) for guiding the lifting of the opening and closing door.

The elevating device is provided with a rack gear and the elevating member 32 coupled to the opening / closing door 31 and the elevating rail 33 formed on the front side of the upper blowing guide plate 18 to support the elevating member 32 to be elevated. And a drive motor 34 having a pinion gear 35 engaged with the rack gear of the member 32. In this lifting device, when the driving motor 34 rotates in the forward or reverse direction, the lifting member 32 moves up and down along the lifting rail 33. Therefore, the opening and closing door 31 coupled with the elevating member 32 is elevated by a predetermined section and opens and closes the front discharge port 17.

In addition, the air conditioner according to the present invention includes an ion generating device 50 for removing bacteria, viruses, and the like suspended in the discharged air. 1 to 3, the ion generating device 50 is provided above the lower blowing guide plate 19 inside the second side discharge port 16.

4 and 5, the ion generating device 50 includes a pedestal 51 fixed to the lower blowing guide plate 19 and a ceramic plate 52 (cation generating unit) provided on the upper surface of the pedestal 51. And a cover for limiting the diffusion range of the ions generated in the ceramic plate 52 and the needle electrode 53 and the needle electrode 53 (negative ion generating portion) spaced a predetermined distance from the ceramic plate 52 within a predetermined space. (54). In addition, the needle electrode 53 is provided with a protective cover 58 having a net shape to increase safety.

The upper surface of the pedestal 51 is provided with a recessed space for installing the ceramic plate 52, the ceramic plate 52 is inserted into this space. The ceramic plate 52 is a portion for generating positive ions, and a discharge electrode 55 is provided at an upper portion of the ceramic plate 52, and an induction electrode 56 is provided at an inner center thereof. In addition, the portions except for the discharge electrode 55 and the induction electrode 56 form a protective layer of ceramic. A high voltage (approximately 3.9 kV to 4.3 Kv) of a positive component is applied between the discharge electrode 55 and the induction electrode 56.

When the high voltage of the positive component is applied between the discharge electrode 55 and the induction electrode 56, the ion generator 50 ionizes the water (H20) in the air by plasma discharge in the ceramic plate (52). Ion (H +) is generated. In addition, when a high voltage (about 3.2 kV to 3.6 kV) of negative component is applied to the needle electrode 53, positive ions are accumulated around the needle electrode 53 by plasma discharge, and a large amount of electrons are trapped in the needle electrode 53. Is released into the air.

Since a large amount of electrons released into the air is very unstable, it is trapped by oxygen molecules (O2) to form superoxide anions (O2-). That is, when a high voltage of negative component is applied to the needle electrode 53, electrons and superoxide anions are generated.

When electrons are emitted from the needle electrode 53, the electrons are generated in the ceramic plate 52 to combine with hydrogen ions passing around the needle electrode 53 to form a hydrogen atom (or active hydrogen). As such, the hydrogen ions generated in the ceramic plate 52 are combined with electrons emitted from the needle electrode 53 to form hydrogen atoms, and finally, the released substances are hydrogen atoms and superoxide anions. In addition, the hydrogen atoms and superoxide anions discharged to the discharged air sterilize bacteria and viruses suspended in the air.

That is, the superoxide anions and hydrogen atoms which are in contact with each other react with each other to form a hydroperoxy radical, and the electrons of the superoxide anions cancel each other with the static electricity of bacteria. In addition, hydroperoxy radicals take two hydrogen atoms out of a protein, which is a component of a bacterial cell membrane, to make two molecules of water. Therefore, protein molecules of the cell membranes deprived of hydrogen atoms are destroyed, and thus bacterial cell membranes are also destroyed to sterilize.

The cover 54 of the ion generating device 50 has a tunnel shape, and is coupled to the cover rail 57 formed in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the upper surface of the pedestal 51. The cover 54 guides the blowing air to pass through the inside thereof to guide hydrogen ions generated from the ceramic plate 52 toward the needle electrode 53. Therefore, hydrogen ions are combined with electrons emitted from the needle electrode 53 to form hydrogen atoms and then discharged to the other side of the cover 54. As such, the cover 54 serves to promote the generation of hydrogen atoms by assisting the bonding of hydrogen ions.

On the other hand, when the ion generating device 50 is installed, as shown in FIG. 3, the ion generator 50 is installed at a position spaced a predetermined distance L from the second side discharge port 16 inward. At this time, the separation distance (L) is good about 30 ~ 80mm. This is because the ozone generated during the operation of the ion generator 50 may cause an unpleasant odor when discharged directly toward the second side discharge port 16. In other words, this configuration is to minimize the emission of ozone.

The following describes the operation of such an air conditioner.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the blower fan 12a of the blower 12 operates, indoor air is sucked in through the inlets 14 on both sides of the lower part of the main body 10. The indoor air sucked into the main body 14 is introduced into the fan casing 12c through the inlet of the fan casing 12c and then guided toward the heat exchanger 11 in the upper portion. Then, after being harmonized through the heat exchanger 11, the first and second side discharge ports 15 and 16 and the front discharge port 17 are supplied back to the indoor space.

At this time, when the air purifier 40 and the ion generator 50 are operated together, the suction air is purified while passing through the air purifier 40 at the inlet of the blower 12, and generated through the ion generator 50. Hydrogen atoms and superoxide anions are discharged together with the discharged air to sterilize bacteria and viruses suspended in the air.

In addition, when the air conditioner of the present invention performs only the air cleaning operation without performing the cooling or heating, the circulation of the refrigerant is not made in the heat exchanger (11). In addition, the blower 12 operates in a state in which the first side outlet 15 and the front outlet 17 are closed and only the second side outlet 16 adjacent to the ion generator 50 is opened. Of course, the air purifier 40 and the ion generating device 50 operates. Therefore, at this time, the air purified through the air purifier 40 passes through the heat exchanger 11 without heat exchange and is discharged toward the second side discharge port 16. In addition, since the air discharged toward the second side discharge port 16 passes through the ion generator 50 installed inside the second side discharge port 16, the hydrogen atom and the superoxide anionic discharge generated by the ion generator 50 are discharged. It is discharged with air and sterilizes floating bacteria.

As described above in detail, the air conditioner according to the present invention can remove the bacteria floating in the air by their action because the hydrogen atoms and superoxide anions generated through the ion generator are discharged together with the discharged air. It works.

In addition, since the ion generating device is installed inside the main body spaced a predetermined distance from the discharge port, there is an effect that can prevent the phenomenon that ozone generated during the operation of the ion generating device is discharged immediately toward the discharge port.

Claims (7)

A main body having a heat exchanger, a blower, and an air purifier installed therein, a discharge opening provided in the main body for discharging the harmonic air, and an ion generator installed inside the discharge opening for sterilization of the discharged air; The ion generating device includes a cation generating unit for generating hydrogen ions through discharge by applying a positive voltage, and a needle electrode type negative ion generating unit for generating negative ions through a negative voltage applied and installed at a predetermined distance from the cation generating unit. Air conditioner, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The ionizer is an air conditioner, characterized in that installed in a position spaced 30 ~ 80mm from the discharge port. The method of claim 2, The discharge port includes a plurality of discharge ports, And the ion generating device is installed adjacent to a discharge port through which air is discharged when the air purifier is operated, among the plurality of discharge ports. The method of claim 2, The discharge port includes a first side discharge port formed on both sides of the main body, and a second side discharge port formed below the first side discharge port on both sides of the main body, The ion generating device is an air conditioner, characterized in that installed inside the second side discharge port. The method of claim 1, The ion generating device further comprises a cover for limiting the diffusion range of the hydrogen ions generated by the cation generator. The method of claim 5, The ion generating device further includes a pedestal for mounting the cation generating unit and the negative ion generating unit, the cover is provided in the form of a tunnel covering the cation generating unit and the negative ion generating unit is coupled to the upper surface of the pedestal Air conditioner. The method of claim 1, The ion generator is an air conditioner, characterized in that it further comprises a net protective cover for covering the needle electrode type negative ion generator.

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