RU2241492C2 - Method for sterilizing air, instrument for producing ions and device for air-conditioning - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine; medical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: device has produces O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H₂O)n as negative ions, where n is natural number and H⁺(H₂O)m as positive ions, where m is natural number. The ions are released into air for eliminating microbes available in the air as a result of oxidation reaction under hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂ or hydroxyl radical OH^- action produced as active species as a result of chemical reaction between negative and positive ions. Satisfactory sterilization is achieved when negative and positive ions are available in concentration of 10000 ion/cm³ at a distance of 10 cm from the point of their production in both cases.

EFFECT: high quality of sterilization; comfortable and clean domestic environment condition.

44 cl, 83 dwg, 13 tbl

Description

The present invention relates to a sterilization method by which sterilization is performed with the formation of negative and positive ions, to an ion forming device for forming negative and positive ions, to an ion forming device and to an air conditioning device (any device that creates the required environmental conditions by changing the air properties) such as an air cleaner, air conditioner, dehumidifier, humidifier, fan heater (using, for example, kerosene whether electricity as a heat source or a refrigerator).

Since in recent years, houses and buildings have been built in an ever-increasing amount impervious to air, more and more people are looking for conditions for a healthy and comfortable life by removing microbes in the air that are dangerous to human health from the air. Under the influence of this trend, many air purifiers have been developed, equipped with various types of filters.

However, these air purifiers work by sucking in the air and then filtering it so that contaminants are absorbed or decomposed. Thus, since such air purifiers are used for a long period, they necessarily require maintenance, such as replacing filters. Moreover, such air purifiers do not provide satisfactory efficiency due to their insufficient filtering characteristics.

On the other hand, air purifiers and air conditioners have also been developed that work by increasing the concentration of ions in the air by using an ion-forming device. However, the models that have so far been released to the market are of the type that forms only negative ions. Although negative ions are expected to have some calming effect on humans, they have been found to have almost no effect on the active removal of microbes in the air from the air.

Moreover, a conventional ion-forming device is based on a high-voltage direct current system or a pulsed high-voltage system for generating and discharging negative ions from a needle forming a spark. Thus, these ion-forming devices require a high voltage of 5 kV or more. This causes the collection of dust in large quantities on the product, including such an ion-forming device, and on the device or on another object placed next to it. In addition, to ensure satisfactory protection when using high voltage, such a product must be provided with some safety measures, for example, equipped with a lock.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization method that effectively sterilizes airborne microbes under the influence of negative and positive ions discharged into the air. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an ion-forming device used to implement such a sterilization method. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an ion-forming device and an air conditioning device that use such an ion-forming device to create a comfortable and clean household environment.

To solve the above problems according to the present invention, the sterilization method involves the release of negative and positive ions into the air, so that microbes in the air are destroyed by the action of these ions.

In this case, as negative and positive ions, respectively, O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n (where n is a natural number) and H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (where m is a natural number), and these ions are released into the air, so that microbes in the air are destroyed as a result of the oxidation reaction by peroxide hydrogen H ₂ O ₂ or OH hydroxyl radical formed as active species as a result of a chemical reaction between negative and positive ions.

In addition, in accordance with the present invention, the concentrations of negative and positive ions are in both cases 10,000 ions / cc or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which ions are formed. Experiments have shown that ion concentrations of 10,000 ion / cc or higher are essential to achieve satisfactory sterilization.

In accordance with the present invention, an ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions and destroys microbes in the air under the influence of these ions.

In this case, as negative and positive ions, respectively, O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n (where n is a natural number) and H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (where m is a natural number), and these ions are released into the air, so that microbes in the air are destroyed as a result of the oxidation reaction by peroxide hydrogen H ₂ O ₂ or OH hydroxyl radical formed as active species as a result of a chemical reaction between negative and positive ions that occur after the formation of these ions.

Specifically, the ion-forming device is provided with a dielectric, a first electrode and a second electrode, and the first and second electrodes are arranged so that they face each other, and the dielectric is located between them. The ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions as a result of applying an alternating current voltage between the first and second electrodes.

In this case, sufficient concentrations of negative and positive ions to achieve satisfactory sterilization are ensured by the application of a relatively low AC voltage of 2.0 kV (rms) or lower. The concentrations of negative and positive ions provided in this way are in both cases 10,000 ions / cc or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which the ions are formed.

More specifically, in one embodiment, the ion-forming device is provided with a dielectric, which has a cylindrical shape, an internal electrode made in the form of a grid, and an external electrode made in the form of a grid, and the inner and outer electrodes are arranged so that they are facing each other, and a dielectric is located between them. The ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions as a result of applying an alternating current voltage between the internal and external electrodes.

In this case, the inner electrode can be made cylindrical in shape by folding its material so that when the inner electrode is mounted on the inner surface of the cylindrical dielectric, the opposite side edges of the rolled material overlap. This makes it possible to easily and reliably introduce the inner electrode into contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical dielectric.

In this case, if it is assumed that the outer diameter of the dielectric is 20 mm or less, that its thickness is 1.6 mm or less, that the inner electrode has 40 cells / inch and that the outer electrode has 16 cells / inch, then sufficient concentrations negative and positive ions to achieve satisfactory sterilization with minimal ozone formation are achieved by applying a relatively low AC voltage of 2 kV rms or less. The concentrations of negative and positive ions provided in this way are, in both cases, 10,000 ions / cc or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which ions are formed.

The dielectric can be fixed at both ends by elastic rubber elements, so that the inner and outer electrodes do not move relative to each other along the axis of the dielectric. This helps to stabilize the operation of the ion-forming device, so that it forms negative and positive ions with better reproducibility.

In this case, the elastic rubber elements are preferably made of ethylene-propylene rubber, which is ozone-resistant.

In addition, as conductors that attach to the inner and outer electrodes, a stainless steel wire coated with a polyethylene fluoride resin, which is also ozone resistant, is preferably used.

In this case, the inner electrode should be at least thick enough so that one of the conductors can be connected to it.

An internal or external electrode may be provided with means for improving its contact with the dielectric. This helps to further stabilize the operation of the ion-forming device.

The dielectric surface may be impregnated with a catalyst to accelerate the decomposition of ozone. This helps to reduce the concentration of ozone generated as a by-product when the ion-forming device forms ions.

Instead, the internal or external electrode may be impregnated with a catalyst to accelerate the decomposition of ozone.

Instead, an element impregnated with a catalyst may be provided at some distance from the dielectric to accelerate the decomposition of ozone. This allows the use of 2.5 kV rms or less as an AC voltage.

In another embodiment, the ion-forming device in accordance with the present invention is equipped with a dielectric that has a cylindrical shape, an internal electrode that has the shape of a sheet, and an external electrode that is made in the form of a grid, and the inner and outer electrodes are arranged so that they face each other friend, and a dielectric is located between them. The ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions as a result of applying an alternating current voltage between the internal and external electrodes.

In this embodiment, an electrical discharge occurs between the electrodes, of which one serves as a collection of lines and the other surface. This ensures the stable formation of negative and positive ions. In addition, by modifying this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment described above, similar advantages can be obtained.

In this case, the inner electrode may be made of a polygonal sheet having several corners, so that when the inner electrode takes a cylindrical shape as a result of folding the polygonal sheet, at least one of the corners protrudes from the end of the cylinder. Such an angle protruding from the inner electrode is more likely to create an electric field concentration on it and, thereby, contributes to the formation of a more stable electric discharge than in the case of a cylinder with aligned ends.

The inner electrode may have a plurality of openings formed therein, and protrusions are formed around the openings so that they protrude toward the dielectric. This is more likely to create an electric field concentration also on the side surface of the cylinder and, thus, contributes to the formation of a stable and uniform electric discharge over the entire side surface of the inner electrode.

In accordance with the present invention, the ion-forming device is provided, in addition to the ion-forming device, as described above, with a high-voltage AC source for supplying the ion-forming device with AC voltage, by which the ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions, and a blower for creating a forced flow of negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device.

With this ion-forming device, negative and positive ions generated by the ion-forming device, powered by an alternating current voltage from a high-voltage alternating current source, can be released into a large air space under the influence of a blower, so that microbes in the air are destroyed under the influence of these ions.

In accordance with the present invention, the air conditioning device is provided, in addition to the ion forming device, as described above, with a high voltage AC source for supplying the ion forming device with AC voltage, with which the ion forming device forms negative and positive ions, with a blower to create a forced flow of negative and positive ions formed by an ion-forming device, an inlet through which air is sucked in, an outlet a hole through which, under the action of a blower, negative and positive ions formed by an ion-forming device are blown together with air sucked in through the inlet and a filter located in the air flow channel passing from the inlet to the outlet to remove foreign particles from the air.

With this air conditioning device, the negative and positive ions generated by the ion forming device, powered by an alternating current voltage from a high voltage alternating current source, can be released into a large air space under the influence of a blower, so that microbes in the air are destroyed under the influence of these ions. In addition, while the air is circulating, the filter removes dust and other foreign particles, as well as odors from the air. This helps to create a comfortable and clean home environment.

Alternatively, in accordance with the present invention, the air conditioning device is provided, in addition to the ion forming device, as described above, with a high voltage AC source for supplying the ion forming device with AC voltage, with which the ion forming device forms negative and positive ions, with a blower for creating a forced flow negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device, an inlet through which air is sucked in, an outlet through which, under the action of the blower, the negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device are blown together with the air sucked through the inlet, a filter located in the air flow channel passing from the inlet to the outlet to remove foreign particles from the air, and a heat exchanger located in the air flow channel.

With this air conditioning device, the negative and positive ions generated by the ion forming device, powered by an alternating current voltage from a high voltage alternating current source, can be released into a large air space under the influence of a blower, so that microbes in the air are destroyed under the influence of these ions. In addition, while air is circulating, the temperature or humidity of the air is regulated by the heat exchanger, and the filter removes dust and other foreign particles, as well as odors from the air. This helps to create a comfortable and clean home environment.

1 is a diagram showing a structure outline of an ion forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 presents a top view showing the element of the ion-forming electrode used in the ion-forming device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of an air purifier including an ion forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of an air conditioner including an ion forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the structure of an ion-forming device 101 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of an air cleaner including an ion-forming device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the structure of an air conditioner including an ion forming apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of an ion-forming device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an ion forming electrode element used in an ion forming device.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the formation of an external electrode in the form of a wire mesh for being placed in close contact with the outer surface of the glass tube of an ion forming electrode element.

11 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the formation of an external electrode.

12 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the formation of an inner electrode in the form of a wire mesh for being placed in close contact with the inner surface of a glass tube of an ion forming electrode element.

13 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the formation of an internal electrode.

On Fig presents a top view illustrating the offset between the inner and outer electrodes, which are located so that they are facing each other, and a glass tube is located between them, in the element of the ion-forming electrode.

On Fig presents a graph depicting the concentration of negative and positive ions in the ion-forming device, measured at a measurement point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube, when an alternating current voltage of 1.3-1.8 kV was applied to the inner electrode rms, having a frequency of 22 kHz, while the potential of the earth was maintained at the external electrode.

On Fig presents a graph depicting the relationship between the concentrations of negative and positive ions measured at a measurement point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube, and the survival rate of E. coli one hour after the ion-forming device was installed in the test a length of 2.0 m, a width of 2.5 m and a height of 2.7 m, then Escherichia coli, which were previously grown on a nutrient medium, were sprayed in the test space, so that their end Ntration was approximately 500 to 1500 microb / cc, then the ion-forming device was powered and then the purge fan was turned on, so that air was mixed inside the test space.

On Fig presents a graph depicting a change over time in the survival rate of Escherichia coli at different concentrations of ions.

On figa presents a graph depicting the relationship between the concentration of the formed negative ions and the distance from the side surface of the glass tube when an AC voltage of 1.1 kV or 1.4 kV having a frequency of 15 kHz was applied to the inner electrode, and on the external the electrode 205 was supported by the ground potential, in an ion-forming device in which the glass tube was a pyrex cylindrical tube having an inner diameter of 10 mm, a thickness of 1.0 mm and a length of 100 mm, the inner electrode was a wire mesh, and having a length of 80 mm and 60 cells / inch, made by a plain weave of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.15 mm in diameter, and an external electrode was a wire mesh having a length of 80 mm and 30 cells / inch, made by a plain weave of wire stainless steel 304 having 0.22 in diameter.

On figv presents a graph depicting the relationship between the concentration of the generated positive ions and the distance from the side surface of the glass tube when the ion-forming device was operated under the same conditions.

FIG. 19 is a graph depicting the relationship between the number of cells per inch of the inner electrode and the number of negative and positive ions and ozone formed, measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when the AC voltage is about 1.8 A kV RMS was applied to the element of the ion-forming electrode in the ion-forming device, in which the glass tube had an external diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, the inner electrode had a length of 60 m m and a variable number of cells per inch, and the outer electrode was woven from 0.4 mm wire across and had a length of 60 mm and 16 cells / inch.

20 is a graph depicting the relationship between the number of cells per inch of the external electrode and the number of negative and positive ions and ozone formed, measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when the AC voltage is 1.8 kV the rms was applied to the element of the ion-forming electrode in the ion-forming device, in which the glass tube had an external diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, the inner electrode was braided from wire 0, 18 mm in diameter and had a length of 60 mm and 40 cells / inch, and the outer electrode had a length of 60 mm and a variable number of cells per inch.

On Fig presents a graph depicting the relationship between the applied voltage, expressed as a mean square value, and the concentration of negative ions measured at a measurement point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube, when the internal electrode was braided from wire 0 in an ion-forming device, 18 mm across and had a length of 60 mm and 40 mesh / inch, the outer electrode was woven from 0.4 mm wire across and had a length of 60 mm and 16 mesh / inch, and the glass tube had a length of 63 mm, a thickness of 1.2 mm and variable outer diameter, specifically 17 mm, 20 mm or 24 mm.

On Fig presents a graph depicting the relationship between the applied voltage, expressed as a mean square value, and the concentration of positive ions measured at the measurement point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when the ion-forming device was operated under the same conditions.

23 is a graph depicting the relationship between the applied voltage, expressed as the rms value, and the ozone concentration measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when the ion forming device was operated under the same conditions.

24 is a graph depicting the relationship between the applied voltage, expressed as the rms value, and the concentrations of negative and positive ions and ozone measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when the internal electrode was woven in an ion-forming device from a wire of 0.18 mm in diameter and had a length of 60 mm and 40 cells / inch, the outer electrode was woven from 0.4 mm wire in diameter and had a length of 60 mm and 16 cells / inch, and the glass tube had length 63 mm, outer diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 1.2 mm.

25 is a graph depicting the relationship between the applied voltage, expressed as the rms value, and the concentrations of negative and positive ions and ozone measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when the internal electrode was woven in an ion-forming device from a wire of 0.18 mm in diameter and had a length of 60 mm and 40 cells / inch, the outer electrode was woven from 0.4 mm wire in diameter and had a length of 60 mm and 16 cells / inch, and the glass tube had length 63 mm, outer diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm.

26A is a perspective view illustrating an example of an ion forming electrode element provided with an impregnated catalyst element impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst.

On figv presents a section of the element of the ion-forming electrode.

On Fig presents a perspective view illustrating an example of the installation of a sheet-like inner electrode in tight contact with the inner surface of the glass tube in the ion-forming device.

On Fig presents a perspective view illustrating another example of the installation of a sheet-like inner electrode in tight contact with the inner surface of the glass tube in the ion-forming device.

On Fig presents a perspective view illustrating another example of the installation of a sheet-like inner electrode in tight contact with the inner surface of the glass tube in the ion-forming device.

30 is a graph depicting the number of negative and positive ions formed, measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when an alternating current voltage of approximately 1.8 kV rms was applied to the ion forming electrode element of the ion forming device, in which the glass tube had an outer diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, an inner electrode, in this case a sheet that was given a cylindrical shape, had a length of 45 mm and a thickness 0.08 mm, and the external electrode, in this case, the grid, which was given a cylindrical shape, had a length of 60 mm and a variable number of cells per inch.

On Fig presents a graph depicting the number of generated negative and positive ions, measured at a measurement point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube, when an alternating current voltage of about 1.8 kV rms was applied to the element of the ion-forming electrode of the ion-forming device, in which the glass tube had an external diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, an inner electrode, in this case a sheet that was given a cylindrical shape, had a thickness of 0.08 mm and ennuyu length and an outer electrode, in this case the grid, which give a cylindrical shape, was woven from wire 0.22 mm across, had a length of 60 mm and 16 cells / inch.

32 is a graph depicting the number of negative and positive ions formed, measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when an approximately 1.8 kV rms AC voltage was applied to the ion-forming electrode element of the ion-forming device, in which the glass tube had an external diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, an inner electrode, in this case a sheet that was given a cylindrical shape, had a thickness of 0.08 mm and lengths 50 mm and an outer electrode, in this case the grid, which give a cylindrical shape, was woven from wire 0.22 mm across, had a varying length, and 16 cells / inch.

On figa presents a top view in partial section of an example of an external electrode in the form of a grid, which is installed around the glass tube of the element of the ion-forming electrode so as to be held in tight contact with its outer surface.

FIG. 33B is a sectional view illustrating how an external electrode is mounted around a glass tube so as to be held in close contact with it.

On figa presents a top view in partial section of another example of an external electrode in the form of a grid, which is installed around the glass tube of the element of the ion-forming electrode so as to be held in tight contact with its outer surface.

Fig. 34B is a sectional view illustrating the installation of an external electrode around a glass tube so as to be held in close contact with it.

Fig. 35 is a sectional view showing an example of an ion-forming device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

36 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an air cleaner including an ion forming apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

On Fig presents a perspective view of the housing of the air cleaner.

On Fig presents a side view in section of an air purifier.

On Fig presents a perspective view from the rear of the air purifier.

On Fig presents a diagram illustrating the channel of the air flow formed inside the air purifier.

On Fig presents an enlarged view of a part of the bypass channel and the element of the ion-forming electrode of the air purifier.

On figa presents a graph depicting the relationship between the concentration of ozone formed by the element of the ion-forming electrode, and the distance from the outlet, observed when an alternating current voltage of 1.1 kV rms was applied to the element of the ion-forming electrode, and was activated in the air purifier purge fan.

Fig. 42B is a graph depicting the relationship between the concentration of ozone generated by the ion forming electrode element and the distance from the outlet observed when a 1.4 kV rms AC voltage was applied to the ion forming electrode element and the air purifier was activated. purge fan.

Fig. 43 is a sectional view illustrating a structure of an air conditioner including an ion forming electrode element according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 44 is a block diagram depicting a basic configuration of an air conditioning controller including an ion forming apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 45 is a block diagram depicting a basic configuration of an air conditioning controller including an ion forming apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 46 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an air conditioner controller including an ion-forming device according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

On Fig presents a perspective view with a spatial separation of the parts of the block of the ion-forming device according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

On Fig presents a perspective view of the front element of the block of the ion-forming device.

On figa presents a section showing the installation of the element of the ion-forming electrode in the block of the ion-forming device.

On figv presents an open front view depicting the installation of the element of the ion-forming electrode.

On Fig presents a perspective view of the rear left element of the block of the ion-forming device.

On Fig presents a perspective view of the rear right element of the block ion-forming device.

On Fig presents a perspective view of the block auxiliary blower unit of the ion-forming device.

Fig. 53 is a front perspective view illustrating an outline of a structure of an air conditioner including an ion forming apparatus unit according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

On Fig presents a perspective view from the front of the air conditioner with its front panel open.

On Fig presents an enlarged front view of the display device provided on the housing of the air conditioner.

On Fig presents a perspective view of the remote control unit of the air conditioner.

On Fig presents a side view in section of the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

On Fig presents a side view of the indoor unit with a cut in the place where the element of the ion-forming electrode is located.

On Fig presents a side view of the indoor unit with a cut on the left side in the place where the block is located ion forming device.

On Fig presents a side view of the indoor unit with a cut on the right side in the place where the block of the ion-forming device.

On Fig presents a diagram depicting the structure of the complete configuration of the air conditioner.

Fig. 62 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner including an ion forming unit according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

On Fig presents a perspective view of the indoor unit with its open front panel.

On Fig presents an enlarged front view of the display device on the liquid crystals of the air conditioner.

On Fig presents an enlarged view of the remote control unit of the air conditioner.

On Fig presents a side view in section of an indoor unit of an air conditioner.

On Fig presents a diagram depicting the structure of the full configuration of the air conditioner.

On Fig presents a section of a block of ion-forming device built into the air conditioner.

On figa presents a section of the block of the ion-forming device with its closed first outlet and with its open second outlet.

On figv presents a section of the block of the ion-forming device with its open first outlet and with its closed second outlet.

On Fig presents a block diagram of the controller of the air conditioner.

On Fig presents a section of another example of a block of ion-forming device.

On Fig presents a section of another example of a block of an ion-forming device.

On Fig presents a perspective view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, equipped with a connector for connecting the unit of the ion-forming device, with its front panel open.

Fig. 74 is a diagram showing a configuration structure of an ion-forming device according to a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention.

On Fig presents a graph depicting the change in ozone concentration observed when using an ion-forming device, when in the atmosphere in which the initial concentration of ozone was 0.001 ppm or lower, its power switch was held in the “On” position for six minutes, and then turned to the off position.

On Fig presents a side view in section, showing the structure of the structure of the air purifier according to the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

On Fig presents a side view in section, showing the structure of the structure of the air conditioner according to the nineteenth embodiment of the present invention.

On Fig presents a side view in section, showing the structure of the structure of the air purifier according to the twentieth embodiment of the present invention.

79 is a graph depicting the concentrations of negative and positive ions measured at a measurement point located 20 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when an alternating current voltage of 1.1-1.4 kV rms was applied to the inner electrode. having a frequency of 15 kHz, while at the external electrode the earth potential was preserved, in the element of the ion-forming electrode of the air cleaner, in which the glass tube was a cylindrical pyrex tube having an internal diameter of 12 mm, 1.0 mm long and 150 mm long, the inner electrode was 80 mm long wire mesh having 48 mesh / inch and made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.23 mm in diameter, and the outer electrode was a metal mesh long 80 mm, having from 9 to 100 cells / inch and made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.15-0.22 mm in diameter.

On Fig is a graph depicting the concentration of ozone measured at a measurement point located at a distance of 20 cm from the side surface of the glass tube when an AC voltage was applied to the element of the ion-forming electrode of the air cleaner under the same conditions.

On Fig presents a side view in section, showing the structure of the structure of the air conditioner according to the twenty-first embodiment of the present invention.

On Fig presents a graphical representation illustrating the structure of negative and positive ions generated as a result of the operation of the ion-forming device implementing the present invention.

On Fig presents a graphical representation of how in the air microbes, viruses, odor molecules and other foreign particles decompose under the influence of negative and positive ions.

Preferred Embodiment

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a structure structure of an ion forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an element of an ion forming electrode used in this ion forming device 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ion-forming device 1 in this embodiment consists of an element 2 of an ion-forming electrode having a first electrode 4 and a second electrode 5 arranged so that they face each other, and a glass plate 3 acting as a dielectric, located between them, and a high-voltage source 6 of an alternating current connected to the first and second electrodes 4 and 5 so that the first electrode 4 serves as a voltage application electrode, and the second electrode 5 serves as a ground electrode.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ion forming electrode element 2 has a first electrode 4 held in close contact with one side of the glass plate 3, which has the shape of a flat plate, and has a second electrode 5 held in tight contact with the other side of the glass plate 3.

In the ion forming electrode element 2 shown in FIG. 2, a glass plate 3 is used as a dielectric; however, any other insulating material having any other shape can be used instead of matching the shape and design of the device into which the ion-forming device 1 is integrated.

As the glass plate 3, for example, a flat plate made of pyrex is used. As the first and second electrodes 4 and 5, for example, wire meshes made by plain weaving of 316 or 304 stainless steel wire are used.

To increase the efficiency of ion formation, the first and second electrodes 4 and 5 are kept in close contact with the glass plate 3. The first and second electrodes 4 and 5 can easily be brought into close contact with the glass plate 3 by adhesion, pressing pieces of wire wound around the screen printing or any other known method.

Below is described in the form of practical examples how the ion-forming device 1 operates, made as described above. It is understood, however, that the ion-forming device 1 of this embodiment is not limited to any of the examples specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made as necessary with respect to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 1

As the glass plate 3, a flat pyrex plate with dimensions of 55 mm × 55 mm and a thickness of 1.0 mm was used. As the first and second electrodes 4 and 5, wire mesh was used, each with dimensions of 33 mm × 33 mm and having 48 cells / inch, made by plain weaving of stainless steel 304 wire, having 0.23 mm in diameter. It should be noted that the term “cells / inch” as used here, as a unit of measure describing how small the mesh cells is, refers to the number of holes (cells) per inch; those. the larger the number of cells (cells / inch), the smaller its cells.

As a result of driving the high-voltage AC source 6, an AC voltage of 3.0 kV rms having a frequency of 20 kHz was applied to the first electrode 4, while the second electrode 5 was at ground potential. Then, using a counter of airborne ions of model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan, the concentrations of negative and positive ions with a mobility of 1 cm ² / (B · c) or higher at the measurement point were measured located at a distance of 10 cm from the side of the glass plate 3, on which the first electrode is located 4. Measurements showed the presence of approximately 60000-70000 ion / cc of negative and positive ions. The ozone concentration was 0.01-0.06 ppm.

Thus, by actuating the ion-forming device 1 with a relatively low applied AC voltage of 3.0 kV (RMS), a sufficient number of negative and positive ions in the air can be obtained.

Example 2

As the glass plate 3, a flat pyrex plate with dimensions of 55 mm × 55 mm and a thickness of 0.23 mm was used. As the first and second electrodes 4 and 5, wire mesh was used, each with dimensions of 33 mm × 33 mm and having 48 cells / inch, made by plain weaving of stainless steel 304 wire, having 0.23 mm in diameter.

As a result of driving the high-voltage AC source 6, an AC voltage of 1.5 kV rms having a frequency of 30 kHz was applied to the second electrode 5, while the first electrode 4 was at ground potential. Then, using a counter of airborne ions of model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan, the concentrations of negative and positive ions with a mobility of 1 cm ² / (V · s) or higher at the measurement point were measured located at a distance of 10 cm from the side of the glass plate 3, on which the first electrode is located 4. Measurements showed that the concentration of negative ions was 14998 ion / cc and that the concentration of positive ions was 19686 ion / cc. The ozone concentration was 0.05 ppm.

Thus, by driving the ion-forming device 1 with a relatively low applied AC voltage of 1.5 kV rms, a sufficient number of negative and positive ions in the air can be obtained. In addition, the frequency of the applied voltage is 30 kHz, i.e. it is outside the range of human hearing, and therefore the ion-forming device 1 is quiet, does not create noise as a result of electric discharge occurring between the first and second electrodes 4 and 5.

The following describes a second embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of an air purifier 300 including an ion forming apparatus 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A purge fan 302 is provided at the rear of the inside of the housing 301 of the air purifier 3002. An air inlet 303 is formed on the front face of the housing 301, which consists of a series of holes or slots. On the downstream side of the inlet 303, various filters 304 are provided for dust removal and deodorization. An air outlet 305 is formed on the upper front side of the housing 301, which consists of a series of holes or slots. Thus, an air flow channel is formed inside the housing 301, which extends from the inlet 303 to the filters 304 and further to the outlet 305.

In addition, the ion-forming device 1 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment described earlier is located with its ion-forming electrode element 2 located in the air flow channel, near the outlet 305. High-voltage AC source 6 (see FIG. .1) may be provided in this case separately from the power source for driving the purge fan 302, or may also be shared for this purpose. In the latter case, a controller (not shown) is additionally provided, so that the actuation of the purge fan 302 and the operation of the ion-forming device 1 can be independently controlled. This allows, if necessary, to turn on and off the ion-forming device 1 during operation of the air purifier 300 and, thus, increase the usability of the air purifier 300.

When this air purifier 300, made as described above, starts to operate, the purge fan 302 starts to rotate. As a result, air sucked through the inlet 303 into the air flow channel is passed through filters 304 that remove dust and odors from the air, and then is blown out through the outlet 305. Meanwhile, if the ion-forming device 1 remains turned on, negative and positive ions formed in the space around the element 2 of the ion-forming electrode are blown out with clean air. Thus, it is possible to destroy microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions.

Now briefly describes how the microbes in the air are destroyed and removed under the influence of negative and positive ions. When the ion-forming device 1 is operating, a plasma discharge occurs between the first and second electrodes 4 and 5, which are located facing each other, and a glass plate 3 is placed between them. This plasma discharge ionizes the molecules of water vapor contained in the air into negative and positive ions.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 82, hydrated hydrogen ions H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m are formed as positive ions, and hydrated oxygen ions O as negative ions $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n . In this case, m and n represent natural numbers.

When these ions adhere to the surface of microbes in the air, they immediately create a hydroxyl radical (OH ·) as an active species that robs hydrogen from microbial cells and thereby destroys them. This chemical reaction is an oxidative reaction, and the hydroxyl radical (OH) performs not only sterilization, but also deodorization by oxidation of various molecules in the air that create odors.

A practical example below describes how an air purifier 300 according to this embodiment effectively destroys microbes in the air. It should be understood, however, that the air purifier 300 in this embodiment is not limited to the example specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made as necessary with regard to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 3

An air purifier 300 including an ion-forming device 1 used in the previously described example 1 was installed in the test space 2.0 m long, 2.5 m wide and 2.7 m high. Then, widespread bacteria and fungi that were previously grown on culture medium were sprayed in the test space. At the same time, the ion-forming device 1 was activated under the same conditions as in the previously described example 1, and the purge fan 302 was turned on, so that the air purifier 300 began to work.

Then, at predetermined time intervals, using an RCS model air sampler manufactured by Biotest AG, Germany, the air inside the test space was taken at a speed of 40 l / min and measured for four minutes to measure the number of microbes contained in the air. The results are shown in Table 1.

Three hours after the start of the air purifier 300, 72% and 75% were removed from the widespread bacteria and fungi that were originally present in the test space. This proves that the air purifier 300 of this embodiment, including the ion-forming device 1, is able to satisfactorily destroy most of the microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions that it blows out.

A third embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of an air conditioner 400 including an ion forming apparatus 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

A purge fan 402 is provided at the rear of the inside of the housing 401 of the air conditioner 400. An air inlet 403 is formed on the front and upper faces of the housing 401, which consists of a series of holes or slots. On the downstream side of the inlet 403, various filters 404 are provided for dust removal and deodorization. A heat exchanger 406 is provided on the outlet side of the filters 404. Below the inlet 403 of the housing 401, an air outlet 405 is formed, which is provided with louvers for adjusting the direction of the blown air. Inside the housing 401, an air flow channel is thus formed, extending from the inlet 403 to the filters 404, then to the heat exchanger 406 and then to the outlet 405.

In addition, the ion-forming device 1 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment described earlier is located together with its ion-forming electrode element 2 located in the air flow channel, near the outlet 405. High-voltage AC source 6 (see FIG. .1) may be provided in this case separately from the power source for driving the purge fan 402, or may also be shared for this purpose. In the latter case, a controller (not shown) is further provided, so that the actuation of the purge fan 402 and the compressor (not shown) and the operation of the ion-forming device 1 can be independently controlled. This allows, if necessary, to turn on and off the ion-forming device 1 during operation of the air conditioner 400 and, thus, increase the usability of the air conditioner 400.

When this air conditioner 400, made as described above, starts to operate, the purge fan 402 starts to rotate. As a result, air sucked through the inlet 403 into the air flow channel is passed through filters 404 that remove dust and odors from the air, and then passed through a heat exchanger 406, which exchanges heat between the air and the coolant, and then is blown through the outlet 405. Meanwhile, if the ion-forming device 1 remains turned on, negative and positive ions form mye in the space around the element electrode 2 ion forming, blown with the clean air. In this way, microbes in the air can be destroyed under the influence of negative and positive ions.

The following describes, as a practical example, how air conditioning 400 of this embodiment effectively destroys microbes in the air. You must understand, however, that the air conditioner 400 according to this embodiment is not limited to the example specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made if necessary in relation to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 4

Air conditioning 400, including the ion-forming device 1 used in the previously described example 1, was installed in the test space with a length of 2.0 m, a width of 2.5 m and a height of 2.7 m. Then, widespread bacteria and fungi that were previously grown on culture medium were sprayed in the test space. At the same time, the ion-forming device 1 was activated under the same conditions as in the previously described example 1, and the purge fan 402 was turned on, so that the air conditioner 400 began to work.

Then, at predetermined time intervals, using an RCS model air sampler manufactured by Biotest AG, Germany, the air inside the test space was taken at a speed of 40 l / min and measured for four minutes to measure the number of microbes contained in the air. The results are shown in Table 2.

Three hours after the start of operation of the air conditioner, 400% of the widespread bacteria and fungi that were originally present in the test space were removed, respectively 75% and 78%. This proves that the air conditioner 400 of this embodiment, including the ion-forming device 1, is able to satisfactorily destroy most of the microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions that it blows.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a structure structure of an ion forming apparatus 101 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ion-forming device 101 of this embodiment consists of an ion-forming electrode element 102 having a first electrode 104 and a second electrode 105 arranged so that they face each other, and a high-voltage AC source 106 connected to the first and the second electrodes 104 and 105 so that the first electrode 104 serves as the voltage application electrode, and the second electrode 105 serves as the ground electrode.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ion forming electrode element 102 has a first electrode 104 mounted to the glass plate 103 in the form of a flat plate that serves as a dielectric, and has a second electrode 105 held in close contact with the other side of the glass plate 103.

In the ion forming electrode element 102 shown in FIG. 5, a glass plate 103 is used as a dielectric; however, any other insulating material having any other shape may be used instead of matching the shape and design of the device into which the ion-forming device 101 is integrated.

As the glass plate 103, for example, a flat plate made of pyrex is used. As the first and second electrodes 104 and 105, for example, wire meshes made by plain weaving of 316 or 304 stainless steel wire are used.

The first electrode 104 may be mounted in a glass plate 103 by a known process. For example, this can easily be achieved by dipping and positioning the first electrode 104 in molten glass poured into a mold for casting the glass into a flat plate of a predetermined size, and then cooling and thereby solidifying the glass.

To increase the efficiency of ion production, the second electrode 105 is held in close contact with the glass plate 103. The second electrode 105 can easily be brought into close contact with the glass plate 103 by adhesion, pressing by pieces of wire wound around, screen printing or any other known method.

Below is described in the form of a practical example how the ion-forming device 101, made as described above. It is understood, however, that the ion-forming device 101 according to this embodiment is not limited to the example specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made as necessary with regard to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 5

As the glass plate 103, a flat pyrex plate with dimensions of 35 mm × 35 mm and a thickness of 3.0 mm was used. As the first and second electrodes 104 and 105, wire mesh was used, each with a size of 33 mm × 33 mm and having 48 cells / inch, made by plain weaving of stainless steel 304 wire having 0.23 mm in diameter. Between the first and second electrodes 104 and 105, arranged so that they face each other, a gap (indicated by “d” in FIG. 5) of 1.0 mm was provided.

As a result of driving the high voltage source 106 of alternating current, an ac voltage of 3.0 kV rms having a frequency of 20 kHz was applied to the first electrode 104, while the second electrode 105 was at ground potential. Then, using a counter of airborne ions of model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan, the concentrations of negative and positive ions with a mobility of 1 cm ² / (V · s) or higher at the measurement point were measured located at a distance of 10 cm from the side of the glass plate 103, on which the first electrode 104 is located. Measurements showed the presence of approximately 50,000 ion / cc of negative and positive ions. The ozone concentration was 0.05 ppm.

Thus, by actuating the ion-forming device 101 with a relatively low applied AC voltage of 3.0 kV rms, a sufficient number of negative and positive ions in the air can be obtained. In the ion forming device 101 of this embodiment, the first electrode 104 is mounted in a glass plate 103, i.e. the first electrode 104 is not exposed to air. This prevents dust and other foreign particles from settling, and thereby contaminating the first electrode 104, and thus substantially eliminates maintenance problems such as cleaning.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of an air purifier 300 including an ion forming apparatus 101 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

A purge fan 302 is provided at the rear of the inside of the housing 301 of the air purifier 3002. An air inlet 303 is formed on the front face of the housing 301, which consists of a series of holes or slots. On the downstream side of the inlet 303, various filters 304 are provided for dust removal and deodorization. An air outlet 305 is formed on the upper front side of the housing 301, which consists of a series of holes or slots. Inside the housing 301, an air flow channel is thus formed extending from the inlet 303 to the filters 304 and further to the outlet 305.

In addition, the ion-forming device 101 (see FIG. 5) according to the fourth embodiment described earlier is located with its ion-forming electrode element 102 located in the air flow channel, near the outlet 305. High-voltage AC source 106 (see FIG. .5) may be provided in this case separately from the power source for driving the purge fan 302, or may be used together for this purpose. In the latter case, a controller (not shown) is further provided, so that the actuation of the purge fan 302 and the operation of the ion-forming device 101 can be independently controlled. This allows, if necessary, to turn on and off the ion-forming device 101 during operation of the air purifier 300 and, thus, increase the usability of the air purifier 300.

When this air purifier 300, made as described above, starts to operate, the purge fan 302 starts to rotate. As a result, the air sucked through the inlet 303 into the air flow channel is passed through filters 304 that remove dust and odors from the air, and then is blown out through the outlet 305. Meanwhile, if the ion-forming device 101 remains on, negative and positive ions generated in the space around the ion-forming electrode element 102 are blown along with clean air Hamster. Thus, it is possible to destroy microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions.

The following describes as a practical example how the air purifier 300 according to this embodiment effectively destroys the microbes present in the air. It should be understood, however, that the air purifier 300 according to this embodiment is not limited to the example specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made as necessary with regard to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 6

An air purifier 300, including the ion-forming device 101 used in the previously described example 5, was installed in the test space 2.0 m long, 2.5 m wide and 2.7 m high. Then, widespread bacteria and fungi that were previously grown on culture medium were sprayed in the test space. At the same time, the ion-forming device 101 was operated under the same conditions as in the previously described example 5, and the purge fan 302 was turned on, so that the air purifier 300 began to work.

Then, at predetermined time intervals, using an RCS model air sampler manufactured by Biotest AG, Germany, the air inside the test space was taken at a speed of 40 l / min and measured for four minutes to measure the number of microbes contained in the air. The results are shown in Table 3.

Three hours after the start of the air purifier 300, 71% and 76% were removed from the widespread bacteria and fungi that were originally present in the test space. This proves that the air purifier 300 according to this embodiment, including the ion-forming device 101, is able to satisfactorily destroy most of the microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions that it blows out.

The sixth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. 7 is a sectional view showing the structure of an air conditioner 400 including an ion forming apparatus 101 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

A purge fan 402 is provided at the rear of the inside of the housing 401 of the air conditioner 400. An air inlet 403 is formed on the front and upper faces of the housing 401, which consists of a series of holes or slots. On the downstream side of the inlet 403, various filters 404 are provided for dust removal and deodorization. A heat exchanger 406 is provided on the outlet side of the filters 404. Below the inlet 403 of the housing 401, an air outlet 405 is formed, which is provided with louvers for adjusting the direction of the blown air. Inside the housing 401, an air flow channel is thus formed, extending from the inlet 403 to the filters 404, then to the heat exchanger 406 and then to the outlet 405.

In addition, the ion-forming device 101 (see FIG. 5) according to the fourth embodiment described earlier is located with its ion-forming electrode element 102 located in the air flow channel, near the outlet 405. High-voltage AC source 106 (see FIG. .5) may be provided in this case separately from the power source for driving the purge fan 402, or may also be shared for this purpose. In the latter case, a controller (not shown) is further provided, so that the actuation of the purge fan 402 and the compressor (not shown) and the operation of the ion-forming device 101 can be independently controlled. This allows, if necessary, to turn on and off the ion-forming device 101 during operation of the air conditioner 400 and, thus, increase the usability of the air conditioner 400.

When this air conditioner 400, made as described above, starts to operate, the purge fan 402 starts to rotate. As a result, the air sucked through the inlet 403 into the air flow channel is passed through filters 404 that remove dust and odors from the air, and then is passed through a heat exchanger 406, which exchanges heat between the air and the coolant, and then blows out through the outlet 405. Meanwhile, if the ion-forming device 101 remains on, negative and positive ions, the image that are emitted in the space around the ion-forming electrode element 102 are blown along with clean air. Thus, it is possible to destroy microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions.

The following is written as a practical example of how an air conditioner 400 according to this embodiment effectively destroys microbes in the air. You must understand, however, that the air conditioner 400 according to this embodiment is not limited to the example specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made if necessary in relation to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 7

Air conditioning 400, including the ion-forming device 101 used in the previously described example 5, was installed in the test space with a length of 2.0 m, a width of 2.5 m and a height of 2.7 m. Then, widespread bacteria and fungi that were previously grown on culture medium were sprayed in the test space. At the same time, the ion-forming device 101 was operated under the same conditions as in the previously described example 5, and the purge fan 402 was turned on, so that the air conditioner 400 began to operate.

Then, at predetermined time intervals, using an RCS model air sampler manufactured by Biotest AG, Germany, the air inside the test space was taken at a speed of 40 l / min and measured for four minutes to measure the number of microbes contained in the air. The results are shown in Table 4.

Three hours after the start of operation of the air conditioner, 400% of the widespread bacteria and fungi that were originally present in the test space were removed, respectively 74% and 78%. This proves that the air conditioner 400 according to this embodiment, including the ion-forming device 101, is able to satisfactorily destroy most of the microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions that it blows out.

In all of the embodiments described so far, the dielectric used in the element of the ion-forming electrode of the ion-forming device was in the form of a flat plate. However, when the ion-forming device is installed in an air conditioning device, as is usually the case, it is important that the dielectric has a sufficient surface area and, at the same time, that the element of the ion-forming electrode occupies the smallest possible space. In the process of finding the optimal ratio between these conflicting requirements, the inventors of the present invention arose the idea of making the dielectric cylindrical, which is reflected in the following embodiments.

The seventh embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structure structure of an ion forming apparatus 201 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an ion forming electrode element 202 used in this ion forming device 201.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ion forming device 201 according to this embodiment consists of an ion forming electrode element 202 having an internal electrode 204 and an external electrode 205 arranged so that they face each other, and a cylindrical glass tube 203 acting as a dielectric , is located between them, and a high-voltage source 206 of alternating current connected to the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 so that the inner electrode 204 serves as the voltage application electrode, and the external electrode 205 as an earth electrode. The external electrode 205 is then used as the ground electrode to prevent electric shock to the user when he or she accidentally touches the ion forming electrode element 202.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ion forming electrode element 202 has an inner electrode 204 held in close contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical glass tube 203, an outer electrode 205 held in tight contact with the outer surface of the glass tube 203, and two fixing elements 7 and 8 mounted on both ends of the glass tube 203.

In the ion forming electrode element 202 shown in FIG. 9, a glass plate 203 is used as a dielectric; however, any other insulating material that has been given any other shape may be used, instead of matching the shape and design of the device into which the ion-forming device 201 is integrated.

As the glass tube 203, for example, a cylindrical tube made of pyrex is used. As the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205, for example, wire meshes made by plain weaving of 316 or 304 stainless steel wire are used.

To increase the efficiency of ion production, the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 are held in close contact with the glass tube 203. The inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 can easily be brought into close contact with the glass tube 203 by known methods.

The outer electrode 205 is installed in close contact with the glass tube 203, for example, as follows. As shown in FIG. 10, a plain weave wire mesh is folded into a cylindrical shape such that when a cylinder is formed, the pieces of wire forming it form an angle of 45 ° with the axis of the cylinder. Then, the opposite side edges of the wire mesh are welded together with the overlap. Thus, the outer electrode 205 is obtained. In this case, the outer electrode 205 is formed so that its inner diameter is less than the outer diameter of the glass tube 203.

Then, a force is applied to both ends of the outer electrode 205 along its axis (i.e., above and below in the drawing), so that it is compressed in the axial direction. This causes the outer electrode 205 to expand in the radial direction, and in this state of the outer electrode 205, a glass tube 203 is inserted into it. When the force ceases, the outer electrode 205, which tends to restore its original state, expands in the axial direction and thus contracts radial direction. As a result, the outer electrode 205 comes into close contact with the glass tube 203.

Another way to install the outer electrode 205 with tight contact on the glass tube 203 is as follows. As shown in FIG. 11, a portion of the cylindrical outer electrode 205 is formed with a rib 205a, which has a cross section in the form of an inverted letter V, extends along the axis of the outer electrode 205 and protrudes radially outward. In addition, the outer electrode 205 is formed so that its inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the glass tube 203. Since the glass tube 203 is pressed into this outer electrode 205, the angle formed by the two faces of the rib 205a in the form of an inverted letter V becomes larger and, thereby causing an increase in the inner diameter of the outer electrode 205. This makes it possible to insert the glass tube 203 into the outer electrode 205. After the glass tube 203 is inserted into the outer electrode 205, the rib 205a is in the form of an inverted letter V p mitsya restore its original state, and thereby enters the outer electrode 205 into intimate contact with the glass tube 203.

On the other hand, the inner electrode 204 is brought into close contact with the glass tube 203, for example, as follows. As shown in FIG. 12, the plain weave wire mesh is rolled into a cylindrical shape to form an inner electrode 204. In this case, the inner electrode 204 is formed so that its outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the glass tube 203 and its edges on the opposite sides remain free , i.e. not welded to each other. A force is then applied to one side edge of the inner electrode 204 in the axial direction, as if further folding the cylinder, so that the inner diameter of the inner electrode 204, which under other circumstances is larger than the inner diameter (D) of the glass tube 203, becomes temporarily smaller (D-α ' ) his. In this state, the inner electrode 204 is inserted into the glass tube 203. After insertion, when the force ceases, the inner electrode 204 tends to restore its original state and, thus, comes into close contact with the inner surface of the glass tube 203.

Another way to bring the inner electrode 204 into tight contact with the glass tube 203 is as follows. As shown in FIG. 13, the plain weave wire mesh is rolled into a cylindrical shape to form an inner electrode 204. In this case, the inner electrode 204 is formed so that its outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the glass tube 203 and its edges on the opposite sides remain free , i.e. not welded to each other. Then, one side edge of the inner electrode 204 is pulled along its axis so that the inner electrode 204 expands in the axial direction as it twists. This reduces the outer diameter of the inner electrode 204 and thereby allows it to be inserted into the glass tube 203. After insertion, when the pulling force ceases, the inner electrode 204 seeks to restore its original state and, thus, comes into tight contact with its increased outer diameter with a glass tube 203.

9, each of the locking elements 7 and 8 has a disk shape and has a peripheral protrusion 7b or 8b formed in the peripheral part of its one end surface, while the peripheral groove 7c or 8c is formed along the peripheral protrusion 7b or 8b in its middle part, allowing the installation of the end face of the glass tube 203. In addition, each of the fixing elements 7 and 8 has a side groove 7d or 8d formed on its side surface, ensuring that the entire element 202 of the ion-forming electron is held in a predetermined position Electrode. An aperture 7a is formed in the center of the fixing element 7, having a thin film formed therein. This thin film is processed so that it is easily destroyed when a conductor 9 connected to the inner electrode 204 is laid through it.

The preferred depth of the peripheral grooves 7c and 8c formed in the fixing elements 7 and 8 is such that, as long as the ends of the glass tube 203 are held in contact with the bottom of the peripheral grooves 7c and 8c, the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 do not move relative to each other friend. If the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 move relative to each other, there is a loss in capacitance that occurs when voltage is applied between them. Table 5 shows the actually observed relationship between the change in the position of the electrodes relative to each other and the loss in capacitance. As shown in FIG. 14, in this case, only the movement, or movement, of the electrodes relative to each other along the axis of the glass tube 203 is considered.

As can be seen from Table 5, as long as the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 remained in the set position, the capacitance was 38.8 pF; when the electrodes 204 and 205 were offset 5 mm from each other, the capacitance was 36.2 pF, representing a loss of 6.7% relative to the capacitance without bias. In the ion forming electrode element 202 according to this embodiment, the installation of the fixing elements 7 and 8 at both ends of the glass tube 203 helps to reduce the maximum displacement between the electrodes 204 and 205 to about 2 mm. This helps minimize capacity loss.

The preferred width of the peripheral grooves 7c and 8c formed in the fixing elements 7 and 8 is slightly less than the thickness of the glass tube 203. This allows the fixing elements 7 and 8 to be fitted snugly on the glass tube 203.

The locking elements 7 and 8 can be made of any material, preferably an elastic material such as rubber, so that the locking elements 7 and 8 can easily be installed at the ends of the glass tube 203 and that the glass tube 203 can easily be fixed in a hermetic manner. A particularly preferred example of such an elastic material is ethylene propylene rubber (triple ethylene propylene rubber with a diene comonomer), since it is resistant to ozone formed by the ion forming electrode element 202.

As the conductors 9 and 10 connected to the internal and external electrodes 204 and 205, conductors of any known type can be used. A preferred example of such conductors is stainless steel conductors coated with polyethylene fluoride resin, since it has a high resistance to ozone.

The ion forming electrode element 202 shown in FIG. 9 is assembled, for example, as follows. First, the inner electrode 204 with the conductor 9 welded to it in advance is inserted into the glass tube 203. Then, while the conductor 9 is inserted from its free end into the hole 7a of the fixing element 7, the fixing element 7 is mounted on one end of the glass tube 203. Then, the outer electrode 205 with the conductor 10 welded to it in advance is mounted around the glass tube 203, and the fixing element 8 is then mounted on the other end of the glass tube 203.

Then, the high voltage AC source 206 is connected via a conductor 9 to an internal electrode 204 serving as a voltage application electrode, and by a conductor 10 to an external electrode 205 serving as a ground electrode. In this way, the ion forming device 201 shown in FIG. 8 is assembled. Now, by driving the high voltage alternating current source 206, the alternating current voltage can be applied to the inner electrode 204, while the outer electrode 205 is under ground potential.

Below is described in the form of practical examples how the ion-forming device 201 operates, made as described above. You must understand, however, that the ion-forming device 201 according to this embodiment is not limited to any of the examples specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made if necessary in relation to operating conditions and other factors.

First, the following experiment was conducted to study the relationship between the applied voltage, expressed as the root mean square value, and the number of ions formed.

Example 8

As a glass tube 203, a pyrex cylindrical tube with an outer diameter of 10 mm, a thickness of 1.3 mm and a length of 150 mm was used. A stainless steel sheet 304 having a thickness of 0.08 mm and a length of 80 mm was used as the inner electrode 204, and a wire mesh having a length of 100 mm and 16 cells / inch made by plain weaving of stainless steel wire was used as the outer electrode 205 304 having 0.23 mm in diameter.

As a result of driving the high voltage AC source 206, an alternating current voltage of 1.3-1.8 kV rms having a frequency of 22 kHz was applied to the inner electrode 204, while the outer electrode 205 was at ground potential. Then, using an airborne ion counter of Model 83-1001B, manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan, the concentrations of negative and positive ions with a mobility of 1 cm ² / V · s or higher were measured at the measurement point located on a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203. The results are shown in Fig.15.

When the ion-forming device 201 remained inactive, i.e. when the applied voltage was 0 V, the concentrations of negative and positive ions in both cases were approximately 300 ion / cc. It was confirmed that with an applied voltage of 1.52 kV or higher, the ion-forming device 201 formed 10,000 or more ions and that as the voltage expressed by the rms value increased, the ion concentration increased.

Then, the following experiment was conducted to calculate the dependence of the survival rate of microbes in the air on the concentration of ions.

Example 9

The ion-forming device 201 of Example 8 described above was installed in the test space 2.0 m long, 2.5 m wide and 2.7 m high. The atmosphere inside the test space was maintained at a temperature of 25 ° C and a relative humidity of 42%. Then, Escherichia coli, which were previously grown on a nutrient medium, were sprayed in the test space, so that their concentration was 500-1500 microbe / cc. At the same time, the ion-forming device 201 was activated and the purge fan 302 was started, so that the air inside the test space was mixed with an air flow rate of 4 m ³ / min.

Then, using a model 83-1001B ion-air counter manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd. of Japan, the concentrations of negative and positive ions with a mobility of 1 cm ² / V · s or higher were measured at the measuring point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203. One hour after the start of operation of the ion-forming device 201, using an RCS model air sampler manufactured by Biotest AG, Germany, the air inside the test space was taken at a speed of 40 l / min and measured in four minutes to measure the amount of E. coli contained in the air. The results are shown in Fig.16.

Without ion formation, the survival rate of E. coli was 63.5% after one hour of natural decomposition. This means that if an error of approximately 10% is taken into account, then a survival rate of 53.5% or less after one hour is considered to be significant sterilization. As shown in FIG. 16, satisfactory sterilization was confirmed when the concentration of negative and positive ions in both cases was 10,000 ions / cc or higher.

On Fig presents a graph depicting a change over time in the survival rate of Escherichia coli at different concentrations of ions. This figure shows that the higher the concentration of ions, the more efficiently the microbes in the air are destroyed, and that at an ion concentration of 300,000 ions / cc, most of the Escherichia coli inside the test space was destroyed after one hour.

Then, the following experiment was conducted to study the relationship between the applied voltage, expressed as the root mean square value, its frequency, and the amount of ions and ozone formed.

Example 10

As a glass tube 203, a pyrex cylindrical tube with an inner diameter of 10 mm, a thickness of 1.0 mm and a length of 100 mm was used. As the inner electrode 204, a wire mesh having a length of 80 mm and 60 mesh / inch, made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.15 mm in diameter, was used, and as an external electrode 205, a wire mesh having a length of 80 was used mm and 30 mesh / inch, made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.22 mm in diameter.

By driving the high voltage AC source 206, various AC voltages having different frequencies were applied to the inner electrode 205, with the outer electrode 204 being at ground potential. Then, using a model 83-1001B ion-air counter manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd. of Japan, the concentration of negative and positive ions with a mobility of 1 cm ² / (V · s) or higher was measured at the measurement point, located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203. In addition, using the ultraviolet absorption type ozone indicator model EG-2001 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd., Japan, the concentration of ozone, which is generated as a by-product, was also measured product in the formation of io new The results are shown in Table 6.

As shown in Table 6, when a voltage of 44 V rms was applied at a frequency of 25 kHz, ions were detected in an insignificant amount. On the contrary, when the voltage was increased tenfold, i.e. up to 440 V rms, the concentration of negative and positive ions increased sharply to 4966 ion / cc and 13910 ion / cc, respectively. When the voltage was further increased to about 1.1 kV rms at any frequency in the range of 60 Hz to 30 kHz, the presence of 10,000 ions / cc or more negative and positive ions was confirmed. In particular, at frequencies of 20 kHz or higher, almost no annoying noise was heard during operation of the ion-forming device 201. In addition, the concentration of ozone formed was less than about 0.01 ppm.

This proves that with the ion-forming device 201 of this embodiment, as a result of applying a relatively low alternating current voltage of 1.1-2.0 kV rms having a frequency of 20 kHz or higher, i.e. outside the range of human hearing, you can create 10,000 ions / cc or more negative and positive ions, i.e. a sufficient amount of ions to achieve satisfactory sterilization with minimal noise and minimal formation, below the usually acceptable level, of dangerous ozone.

Then, the following experiment was conducted to study the relationship between the concentrations of negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device 201 and the distance from the point at which these ions were created.

Example 11

As a glass tube 203, a pyrex cylindrical tube with an inner diameter of 10 mm, a thickness of 1.0 mm and a length of 100 mm was used. As the inner electrode 204, a wire mesh having a length of 80 mm and 60 mesh / inch, made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.15 mm in diameter, was used, and as an external electrode 205, a wire mesh having a length of 80 was used mm and 30 mesh / inch, made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.22 mm in diameter.

As a result of driving the high voltage AC source 206, an alternating current voltage of 1.1 kV rms or 1.4 kV rms having a frequency of 15 kHz was applied to the inner electrode 204, while the outer electrode 205 was at ground potential. Then, using a model 83-1001B ion-air counter manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd. of Japan, the concentration of negative and positive ions with a mobility of 1 cm ² / (V · s) or higher was measured at four measurement points located at a distance of 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm and 60 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203. The results of different cases are shown in figa and 18B.

As shown in these drawings, both at an alternating current voltage of 1.1 kV rms and 1.4 kV rms, the farther from the side surface of the glass tube 203, the lower the concentration of negative and positive ions. At a distance of 20 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203, the concentrations of negative and positive ions in both cases were very high, specifically about 200000-400000 ion / cc. Thus, a sufficient number of ions was created to satisfactorily destroy and remove airborne microbes. At any of the aforementioned measurement points, the ozone concentration was only 0.01-0.25 ppm.

Thus, the higher the AC voltage, expressed by the rms value, which is applied to the ion-forming electrode element 202, the greater the number of negative and positive ions formed and, at the same time, the greater the amount of ozone generated. Since ozone is far from important for human health, it is necessary to minimize the amount of ozone produced.

First, the relationship between the number of cells per inch of the inner electrode 204 and the amount of formed ions and ozone was studied.

Example 12

FIG. 19 is a graph depicting the relationship between the number of cells per inch of the inner electrode 204 and the number of negative and positive ions and ozone formed, measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203 when the AC voltage is about 1 A 8 kV RMS was applied to the ion-forming electrode element 202, in which the glass tube 203 had an outer diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, an inner electrode 204 had a length of 60 mm and a variable the number of cells per inch, and the outer electrode 205 was woven from 0.4 mm wire across, had a length of 60 mm and 16 cells / inch. In this case, the diameter of the wire of the inner electrode 204 was changed in accordance with its number of cells per inch. Ion and ozone concentrations were measured using, respectively, an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan and an ultraviolet absorption type indicator EG-2001 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd. ”, Japan.

FIG. 19 shows that the larger the number of cells per inch of the inner electrode 204 (i.e., the smaller its cells), the greater is the number of negative and positive ions and the ozone generated.

Then, the relationship between the number of cells per inch of the outer electrode 205 and the number of ions and ozone formed was studied.

Example 13

20 is a graph depicting the relationship between the number of cells per inch of the outer electrode 205 and the number of negative and positive ions and ozone formed, measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203 when the AC voltage is about 1 A 8 kV RMS was applied to the ion-forming electrode element 202, in which the glass tube 203 had an outer diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, the inner electrode 204 was braided from 0.18 mm wire across, had a length of 60 mm and 40 cells / inch, and the outer electrode 205 had a length of 60 mm and a variable number of cells per inch. In this case, the diameter of the wire of the outer electrode 205 was changed in accordance with its number of cells per inch. Ion and ozone concentrations were measured using, respectively, an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan and an ultraviolet absorption type indicator EG-2001 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd. ”, Japan.

On Fig shows that the larger the number of cells per inch of the outer electrode 205, the greater the number of generated negative ions and ozone, but the smaller the number of positive ions.

Therefore, by making the cells of the inner electrode 204 smaller and making the cells of the outer electrode 205 larger, it is possible to efficiently create negative and positive ions, while at the same time minimizing the formation of ozone.

In arrangements in which the glass tube 203 is cylindrical in shape, the larger its outer diameter and the smaller its thickness, the greater its capacity. The larger the capacity of the glass tube 203, the better it forms ions. Therefore, if only effective ion production is considered, then the glass tube 203 should be made with as large an external diameter as possible and as thin as possible. However, as the outer diameter of the glass tube 203 increases, not only the amount of formed ions increases, but also the amount of ozone formed. Thus, it was then investigated how to increase the amount of ions, and at the same time minimize the amount of ozone.

Example 14

Figures 21-23 show the relationship between the applied voltage, expressed as the rms value, and the concentrations of negative and positive ions and ozone measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203 when the inner electrode 204 was braided from wire 0.18 mm across, had a length of 60 mm and 40 mesh / inch, the outer electrode 205 was woven from 0.4 mm wire across, had a length of 60 mm and 16 mesh / inch, and the glass tube 203 had a length of 63 mm, 1.2 mm thickness and variable outer diameter, specifically 17 mm, 20 mm or 24 mm. Ion and ozone concentrations were measured using, respectively, an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan and an ultraviolet absorption type indicator EG-2001 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd. ”, Japan.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show that the higher the applied voltage, the greater the concentration of negative and positive ions, and that with the same applied voltage, the concentration is higher when the glass tube 203 has an external diameter of 24 mm than when it has an external diameter of 17 mm or 20 mm.

On the other hand, FIG. 23 shows that the ozone concentration is much greater when the glass tube 203 has an external diameter of 24 mm than when it has an external diameter of 17 mm or 20 mm. A comparison of how the ion concentration and the ozone concentration increase when the outer diameter of the glass tube 203 increases from 20 mm to 24 mm makes it clear that the increase in the amount of ozone is much larger than the increase in the number of ions.

Therefore, in order to increase the number of ions, while at the same time minimizing the amount of ozone, it is recommended, at least in this case, that the cylindrical dielectric has an external diameter of 20 mm or less.

Example 15

Figures 24 and 25 show the relationship between the applied voltage, expressed as the mean square value, and the concentrations of negative and positive ions and ozone measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203 when the inner electrode 204 was braided from wire 0.18 mm across, had a length of 60 mm and 40 mesh / inch, the outer electrode 205 was woven from 0.4 mm wire across, had a length of 60 mm and 16 mesh / inch, and the glass tube 203 had a length of 63 mm, outer diameter 20 mm and t lschinu either 1.2 mm or 1.6 mm. Ion and ozone concentrations were measured using, respectively, an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan and an ultraviolet absorption type indicator EG-2001 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd. ”, Japan.

A comparison of these drawings makes it clear that as the glass tube 203 becomes thinner, the ion concentrations become much higher, and they also show large changes in accordance with the applied voltage. Thus, it is recommended, at least in the case under discussion, that the glass tube 203 is made 1.6 mm thick or thinner.

Table 7 shows the results of an experiment conducted to study the relationship between the outer diameter of the glass tube 203, its thickness and the resulting capacity. As described above, in order to increase the number of ions while minimizing the amount of ozone, the glass tube 203 is preferably made with an outer diameter of 20 mm or less and a thickness of 1.6 mm or less. Therefore, the preferred capacitance of the glass tube 203 is 40 pF or less, given the changes that are unavoidable when measured.

In addition to minimizing ozone formation, thus impregnating at least one of the glass tube 203 of the inner electrode 204 and the outer electrode 205 with an ozone decomposition catalyst helps to efficiently remove ozone, which is inevitably created in the ion forming electrode element. The formed ozone gradually decomposes into oxygen in a natural way, and the presence of an ozone decomposition catalyst contributes to this decomposition of ozone into oxygen. As the ozone decomposition catalyst, any known substance can be used, for example, manganese dioxide, platinum powder, lead dioxide, copper (II) oxide, nickel.

Impregnation with an ozone decomposition catalyst is achieved, for example, by dispersing an ozone decomposition catalyst in a binder, and then applying it to the surface of a given element through a coating process such as dipping, centrifugation or sputtering. The ozone decomposition catalyst can be applied by impregnation in any quantity, which is determined in accordance with the amount of ozone formed and other factors.

Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a separate catalyst impregnated element impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst outside the outer electrode 205. FIGS. 26A and 26B show an example of an ion forming electrode element 202 provided with such an element impregnated with the catalyst 11. In this case, the element impregnated with the catalyst 11 is provided outside the cylindrical the outer electrode 205 at a predetermined distance from it. The catalyst impregnated element 11 is networked and its surface is impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst such as manganese dioxide. The catalyst impregnated element 11 may cover all or part of the external electrode 205.

In those cases where the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode has both internal and external electrodes 204 and 205, made in the form of a grid, if the internal and external electrodes 204 and 205 are moved relative to each other in the axial direction, then the concentrations of positive and negative ions change in in the range from 1000 to 180,000 ion / cc and in the range from 3,000 to 180,000 ion / cc, respectively. This is believed to occur as a result of the fact that an electrical discharge occurs between the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205, which in this case are considered as sets of lines arranged so that they face each other, and a glass tube 203 is located between them, weakens, as the pieces of wire that make up these electrodes are displaced relative to each other.

In order to eliminate this problem, the ion-forming electrode element 202 can be modified so that its internal electrode 204 is in the form of a sheet, and the external electrode 205 is in the form of a grid. In this case, the formation of the inner electrode 204 in the form of a sheet facilitates its installation in close contact with the glass tube 203, so that a substantially fixed distance is maintained between the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205. In addition, even if the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 move relative to each other, the inner electrode 204, made in the form of a sheet, minimizes the effect of movement until it is very large. On the other hand, the formation of the external electrode 205 in the form of a grid contributes to the concentration of the electric field and, thus, makes it possible to reduce the voltage expressed by the rms value applied between the internal and external electrodes 204 and 205.

In this case, for example, a pyrex cylindrical tube is used as the glass tube 203. As the inner electrode 204, for example, a stainless steel sheet 304 or 316 is used, and as the outer electrode 205, for example, a wire mesh obtained by plain weaving of stainless steel wire 316 or 304 is used. In this case, with the exception of the installation of the inner electrode 204 in close contact with the glass tube 203, the ion-forming electrode element 202 may be configured in the same manner as described above.

The inner electrode 204 is placed in intimate contact with the glass tube 203, for example, as follows. As shown in FIG. 27, a sheet-shaped electrode having the shape of an STUV quadrangle is cut out from sheet metal by pressing. In this case, side ST is parallel to side UV, angle T = angle V = 90 °, angle S is an acute angle, and angle V is an obtuse angle. The inner electrode 204 is obtained by folding this sheet-shaped electrode into a cylindrical shape so that the sides ST and UV are parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and that the outer diameter of the thus obtained inner electrode 204 is larger than the inner diameter of the glass tube 203. In this case, the opposite side edges (sides ST and UV ) of the inner electrode 204 remain free, i.e. not welded to each other. The resulting cylinder is essentially flat at one end corresponding to the side TU, and has an acute angle angle S protruding from the angle V with an obtuse angle at the other end.

Alternatively, it is also possible to press sheet metal to cut a sheet-like electrode having a shape consisting solely of non-90 ° angles, i.e. sharp or obtuse angles, for example, trapezoid WXYZ, as shown in Fig.28. The inner electrode 204 is obtained by folding this sheet-shaped electrode into a cylindrical shape so that its parallel sides WX and ZY are parallel to the axis of the cylinder and that the outer diameter of the inner electrode 204 thus obtained is larger than the inner diameter of the glass tube 203. In this case, the angles W and X are obtuse angles and angles Y and Z are acute angles. Opposite side edges (sides WX and ZY) of the inner electrode 204 remain free, i.e. not welded to each other. The resulting cylinder has two angles Y and Z with sharp corners protruding outward.

Shapes consisting solely of non-90 ° angles include a large number of shapes, from polygons such as triangles, quadrangles, pentagons and hexagons to shapes that are almost round but have one corner, i.e. any shape that can be rolled into a cylindrical shape with at least one corner protruding outward.

Then, a force is applied to one side edge of the inner electrode 204, thus obtained by folding the sheet-like electrode into a cylindrical shape in a tangential direction, as if rolling the cylinder even more, so that the inner diameter of the inner electrode 204, which is otherwise larger than the inner diameter (D ) of the glass tube 203, becomes temporarily smaller (D-α) of it. In this state, the inner electrode 204 is inserted into the glass tube 203. After it is inserted when the effect of the tangential force ceases, the inner electrode 204 seeks to restore its original state and, thus, comes into close contact with the inner surface of the glass tube 203.

The ion-forming electrode element 202 thus obtained was tested in which an alternating current voltage was applied to it to form ions. Testing showed that this element 202 of the ion-forming electrode could stably create both negative and positive ions with a concentration of 400,000 to 600,000 ions / cc, even if the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 were moved relative to each other, until the bias was not very big. For comparison, the formation of both the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 in the form of a sheet almost did not create ions.

With this arrangement, when the inner electrode 204 is formed by folding a sheet-like electrode into a cylindrical shape, with at least one corner protruding from one end of the cylinder, the execution of the inner electrode 204 is shorter than the outer electrode 205 in the direction of their length allows the discharge of a high voltage AC come from the vicinity of such a corner of the inner electrode 204 to a vast area on the outer electrode 205 in the form of a grid. This helps to achieve a proper balance between the amounts of negative and positive ions. In contrast, the execution of the inner electrode 204 longer than the outer electrode 205, in the direction of their length, causes the formation of a high voltage AC discharge from the vicinity of the corner of the inner electrode 204 to a localized point on the outer electrode 205 in the form of a grid. This shifts the equilibrium between the amounts of negative and positive ions towards positive ions.

Another method is described below for installing the inner electrode 204 in close contact with the glass tube 203. As shown in FIG. 29, a plurality of holes 204a are formed in the sheet metal, then the sheet metal is pressed to form protrusions 204b around the holes, and then the inner electrode 204 is created by folding this sheet metal in a cylindrical shape so that the protrusions 204b around the holes 204a protrude towards the glass tube 2 and that the outer diameter of the inner electrode 204 thus obtained is painful larger than the inner diameter of the glass tube 2. In this case, the opposite side edges of the inner electrode 204 remain free, i.e. not welded to each other. In addition, folding is performed so that in the resulting cylinder, protrusions 204b formed around the holes 204a protrude toward the inner surface of the glass tube 2.

A force is then applied to one side edge of the inner electrode 204, thus obtained by folding the sheet-like electrode into a cylindrical shape, as if rolling the cylinder even more, so that the inner diameter of the inner electrode 204, which is otherwise larger than the inner diameter (D) of the glass tube 203 becomes temporarily smaller (D-α) of it. In this state, the inner electrode 204 is inserted into the glass tube 203. After it is inserted when the force ceases, the inner electrode 204 seeks to restore its original state and thus comes into close contact with the inner surface of the glass tube 203.

As a result, between the sheet-like inner electrode 204 and the outer electrode 205 in the form of a grid, which are facing each other, and the glass tube 203 is located between them, the electric discharge comes from many surfaces to many points. This provides a strong electrical discharge on surfaces. In addition, protrusions 204b facilitate electrical discharge by limiting the points at which electrical discharge occurs. This provides a stable electrical discharge.

Example 16

30 depicts the amounts of negative and positive ions formed, measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203, when an AC voltage of about 1.8 kV RMS was applied to the ion forming electrode element 202, in which the glass the tube 203 had an outer diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, an inner electrode 204, representing in this case a sheet molded into a cylindrical shape, had a length of 45 mm and a thickness of 0.08 mm, and an outer electrode 20 5, representing in this case a cylindrical-shaped mesh, had a length of 60 mm and a variable number of cells per inch. In this case, the diameter of the wire of the outer electrode 205 was changed in accordance with its number of cells per inch. Ion concentrations were measured using an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan.

As shown in FIG. 30, the number of cells per inch of the outer electrode 205 has a strong effect on the number of ions formed; specifically, the smaller its number of cells per inch, the greater the number of ions formed. Without holes, the inner electrode 204 created smaller amounts of ions.

Example 17

On Fig shows the number of generated negative and positive ions measured at a measurement point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203, when an alternating current voltage of approximately 1.8 kV RMS was applied to the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode, in which the glass the tube 203 had an external diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, an inner electrode 204, representing in this case a sheet molded into a cylindrical shape, had a thickness of 0.08 mm and a variable length, and an external ele The cathode 205, which in this case is a cylindrical-molded mesh, was woven from 0.22 mm wire across, had a length of 50 mm and 16 cells / inch. In this case, the diameter of the wire of the outer electrode 205 was changed in accordance with its number of cells per inch. Ion concentrations were measured using an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan.

As shown in FIG. 31, the amounts of ions formed are low when the sheet-shaped inner electrode 204 and the outer electrode 205 in the form of a mesh are made equal in length, and the quantities of ions increase as the inner electrode 204 becomes shorter than the outer electrode 205. However, when the inner electrode 204 is made very short, the number of ions begin to decrease.

Example 18

Fig. 32 shows the amounts of negative and positive ions formed, measured at a measurement point located 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203, when an alternating current voltage of approximately 1.8 kV rms was applied to the ion forming electrode element 202, in which the glass the tube 203 had an outer diameter of 20 mm, a length of 63 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm, an inner electrode 204, representing in this case a sheet molded into a cylindrical shape, had a thickness of 0.08 mm and a length of 50 mm, and an outer electrode 20 5, representing in this case a cylindrical-molded mesh, was woven from 0.22 mm diameter wire, had a variable length and 16 cells / inch. Ion concentrations were measured using an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan.

As shown in FIG. 32, as the outer electrode 205 becomes shorter than the inner electrode 204, the amounts of ions formed increase, but positive ions tend to increase to a much greater extent than negative ions. Therefore, it is desirable that the outer electrode 205 be made longer than the inner electrode 204.

As shown in FIG. 33A, the portions of both ends of the outer electrode 205 can be folded back and twisted to form the folded portions 205a, so that the outer electrode 205 is two-layer at both ends. In this case, the outer electrode 205 is formed so that its inner diameter is slightly less than the outer diameter of the glass tube 203.

Then, the outer electrode 205 is installed with a press fit in a predetermined position on the glass tube 203. This introduces the folded parts 205a, i.e. two-layer parts of the outer electrode 205 in tight contact with the glass tube 203, leaving, as shown in FIG. 33B, spaces A around which the folded parts 205a do not come in contact with the glass tube 203. Then, the outer electrode 205 is crimped in several places along its outside axis using elastic crimping elements to secure it to the glass tube 203. This brings the outer electrode 205 as a whole into tight contact with the glass tube 203.

Example 19

An ac voltage of 2.1 kV rms was applied to the ion forming electrode element 202 having seamed parts 205a formed at both ends of the outer electrode 205, as shown in FIG. 33B, in which the glass tube 203 had an outer diameter of 20 mm, a length of 150 mm and a thickness of 1.2 mm, the inner electrode 204 had a length of 95 mm and a thickness of 0.08 mm, and the outer electrode 205 was woven from 0.4 mm wire across, had a length of 98 mm and 30 cells / inch.

As a result, at the measurement point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203, negative and positive ions were obtained with concentrations from 400,000 to 600,000 ion / cc with a reproducibility of 80% for the total number of ion-forming electrode elements 202, manufactured in a similar way . Ion concentrations were measured using an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan.

As an alternative to twisting both ends of the outer electrode 205, it is also possible, as shown in FIG. 34A, to form there a curved portion 205b by bending the corresponding edges of the initially rectangular or square mesh material of the outer electrode 205 into an inwardly directed L-shape. These curved portions 205b can be molded at any angle until, when the outer electrode 205 is formed by folding the mesh material into a cylindrical shape, the end portions of the curved portions 205b can be brought into close contact with the glass tube 203 around its entire periphery, as shown in Fig. 34B. The curved portions 205b may have an arcuate cross-section as long as their end portions form contact with the glass tube 203, achieving the same purpose. After that, if necessary, spot welding is applied to the four corners of the mesh material to prevent its leaks, and then the mesh material is rolled into a cylindrical shape.

In this case, the outer electrode 205 is such that its inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the glass tube 203. Then, the outer electrode 205 is installed with a press fit in a predetermined position around the glass tube 203. This introduces the curved parts 205b at both ends of the outer electrode 205 into a tight contact with the glass tube 203. After installation on the glass tube 203, the curved portions 205b leave, as shown in FIG. 34B, minor spaces B between themselves and the glass tube 203. Then, an external electron d 205 is fixed in several places along its axis on the glass tube 203 by means of locking elements and, thus, is brought into close contact with the glass tube 203.

In addition, the electrodes 204 and 205 are mounted on the glass tube 203 so that their axially central parts face each other. This allows the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 to be positioned so that when the outer electrode 205 is projected onto the inner electrode 204, the ends of the inner electrode 204 lie inside the projection of the outer electrode 205. Specifically, in this case, the location error between the end of the inner electrode 204 and the corresponding the end face of the outer electrode 205 is in the range of about 0.5-1.0 mm.

This arrangement provides a stable electric discharge between the corner at the end face of the sheet-like inner electrode 204 (angles Y and Z in FIG. 20) and the external electrode 205, which is held in close contact with the glass tube 203. In this case, a stable electric discharge is believed to occur as a result of the fact that since the inner electrode 204 to which the voltage is applied has a pointed end, the outer electrode 205 acts as a set of lines held in contact with the glass tube 203, and thus, an electrical discharge occurs, when viewed locally, between a point and a surface.

Example 20

An 2.1 kV rms AC voltage was applied to the ion forming electrode element 202 having L-shaped curved portions 205b formed at both ends of the outer electrode 205, the end parts of these curved portions 205b being held in contact with the glass tube 203, as shown in 34B, in which the glass tube 203 had an outer diameter of 20 mm, a length of 150 mm and a thickness of 1.2 mm, the inner electrode 204 had a length of 95 mm and a thickness of 0.08 mm, and the outer electrode 205 was woven from 0.4 wire mm across, had a length of 98 mm and 30 cells / inch.

As a result, at the measurement point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203, negative and positive ions were obtained with concentrations from 400,000 to 600,000 ion / cubic cm with a reproducibility of 100% for the total number of ion-forming electrode elements 202, manufactured in a similar way . In this case, it was confirmed that the electric discharge occurring between the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 was more stable when there was only one of the curved parts 205b, which could be molded at both ends of the outer electrode 205 and kept in contact with the glass tube 203. was molded than when none was molded, and that the electrical discharge was even more stable when both of these bent portions 205b were molded than when only one was molded. Ion concentrations were measured using an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan.

As described above, in the ion-forming device 201 of this embodiment, the use of a cylindrical dielectric makes it easy to handle the ion-forming electrode element 202, helps to save space and stabilizes the performance of the ion-forming device 201. This allows the ion-forming device 201 to be advantageously integrated in various air conditioning devices.

The eighth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 35 is a sectional view showing an example of an ion-forming device 500 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. One of the key features of this ion-forming device 500 is that it is provided with an element 202 of the ion-forming electrode of the ion-forming device 201 (see FIG. 8) described above in connection with the seventh embodiment, for generating negative and positive ions and for destroying and removing it using airborne germs.

The ion forming device 500 is provided with an ion forming electrode element 202, a blower 501, a filter (not shown) and a high voltage power supply circuit 502 consisting of a high voltage transformer 502a and a control circuit board 502b. Air drawn in through an inlet (not shown) passes through a filter that removes dust from the air and approaches a blower 501 that supplies air to the ion forming electrode element 202. The ion forming electrode element 202, when power is supplied to it with a predetermined AC voltage from the high voltage power supply circuit 502, forms negative and positive ions from the air. Under the influence of these positive and negative ions, microbes in the air are removed from the air. On the other hand, ozone is also formed as a by-product when negative and positive ions are formed. Typically, the amount of ozone generated in the ion forming electrode element 202 is within the acceptable range. However, the amount of ozone contained in the air blown out of the device can be reduced, if necessary, by impregnating the ion-forming electrode element 202 with an ozone decomposition catalyst or by performing a separate catalyst-impregnated element 11 (see Fig. 26A) in the air flow channel. Air having the ions formed in it and the microbes removed from it in this way in the air, is then blown out of the device.

This ion forming device 500 can be compact and can thus be installed anywhere with minimal space; it can even be hung on the wall. In addition, by making the ion-forming device 500 in the form of a block and developing various products that allow installation in them at the choice of this block, it is possible to increase the usability of these products.

The ninth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. 36 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an air cleaner including an ion forming apparatus 201 according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. The air purifier is provided with a housing 50 fixed to the base 51, a filter 60 located in a box 51 (see Fig. 37) formed in the front of the housing 50, a front cover 70 for closing the filter 60 thus positioned, and a rear cover 80 for closing rear of case 50.

The filter 60 consists of, on the front side, a pre-filter 61, a deodorant filter 62 and a dust filter 63. The pre-filter 61 collects dust and other foreign particles contained in the air drawn in by the air cleaner. A preferred pre-filter material 61 is, for example, polypropylene, which has a high air resistance. The deodorant filter 62 has a three-layer structure; specifically, it is created by pulling a piece of non-woven fabric from polyester onto a rectangular frame, then evenly distributing activated carbon over it, and then pulling another piece of non-woven fabric from polyester over it. This design absorbs and removes odors, such as acetic aldehyde, ammonia and acetic acid, from the air. The dust filter 63 is created by folding the filter material consisting of a nonwoven fabric aerodynamically produced from a melt, an electret type (Toreimikron manufactured by Toray Industries Inc., Japan) and a structural material (nonwoven fabric based on polyester / zinilone) then by thermocompressing the antibacterial sheets on its upper and lower surfaces, then inserting the filter element thus obtained into the frame and then fusing the frame to the filter ruyuschim element. This dust filter 63 collects particularly fine dust and other foreign particles in the air.

The front cover 70 is so curved that it is slightly convex forward in its center when viewed from a horizontal section and has an inlet 71 through which the internal air formed in its center is sucked when viewed from the front. The front cover 70 is fixed to the housing 50 at a predetermined distance provided between them, and the gap between the front cover 70 and the housing 50 is used as a side inlet 72 (see Fig. 38) through which internal air is sucked.

On Fig depicted a perspective view of the housing 50. The housing 50 has the shape of a vertically rectangular prism, has a box 51 for accommodating the filter 60, formed in the form of a rectangular recess on its front front side, and has a ventilation hole consisting of a number of radially elongated holes 52 formed in the center of the bottom surface of the box 51. In the center of the vent 52, an additional recess 53 is formed to accommodate the engine 56 (see FIG. 38). A fan 57 (see Fig. 38) is mounted on the rear side of this recess 53 on the motor spindle 56. In the upper part of the front face of the housing 50, a control part 54 is formed, including various switches and indicators, such as a power switch, air / timer switches / settings of the operating mode / selection and indicator lamps of the operating state, and a viewing window 55, which allows the user to visually monitor the operating state of the ion-forming electrode element.

On Fig presents a perspective view of the rear air purifier. On the inclined surface formed in the upper part of the back cover 80, an outlet 81 is formed, consisting of a series of four-column openings in the form of slots, and in the upper left part of the inclined surface is formed an outlet opening 82 for ions, consisting of a series of openings in the form of slots. In addition, a handle 84 is formed in the upper central portion of the rear cover 80 in the form of a rectangular recess, and slots 85 are provided for hanging from the two corners of the central flat portion of the rear cover 80 to allow the air cleaner to be suspended on a wall.

On Fig presents a side view in section of an air purifier. When the motor 56 rotates the fan 57, the air is sucked in through the inlet 71 and the side inlet 72 formed on the front cover 70. The air drawn in this way then passes through the filter 60 and reaches the fan 57, whereby the air is directed upward towards the outlet 81 A bypass channel 59 is formed on this path, which leads to the ion-forming electrode element 202 mounted in the upper part (in the upper right part, when viewed from the front view) of the housing 50, so that part of the air xa, which is intended for release, is directed through the bypass channel 59 to the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode (see Fig. 40). The ion-forming electrode element 202 simultaneously forms negative and positive ions from that part of the air that is directed towards it, and thus, air containing these negative and positive ions is discharged through the ion outlet 82. When ions are formed, ozone is also formed. However, this ozone is decomposed into oxygen by means of an element 11 impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst provided outside the outer electrode 205 (see FIG. 9). This reduces the amount of ozone contained in the air discharged through the ion outlet 82.

On Fig presents an enlarged view of a part of the bypass channel 59 and the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode. The bypass channel 59 has a channel inlet 58, which is open to the direction of rotation of the fan 57, so that part of the air blown by the fan 57 enters the bypass channel 59 through the channel inlet 57. The bypass channel 59 first goes straight (in the direction of rotation of the fan 57), then changes its direction towards the front of the air cleaner, passing under the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode, and then turns upward, approaching the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode.

On Fig in part of the front front side of the housing, which faces the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode, there is a viewing window 55 that allows the user to control the operating state of the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode. A protective cover 40 is mounted on the surface of the viewing window 55 to prevent air leakage from the inside of the air cleaner. Preferably, this protective cover 40 is formed as part of a sheet that protects the entire front face of the housing 50, including the viewing window 55 (except box 51), and which thus has an opening formed in its part corresponding to the box 51 For example, a sheet is made of a transparent polymeric material and silver metallic paint is applied to it or to its back surface using screen printing. This gives the air purifier a massive look when viewed from the front. The additional implementation of the front cover 70 translucent in combination with such a color of the protective cover 40 gives the air cleaner a refreshing and neat look.

An example of how the air purifier works is described below. When the power switch on the control part 54 is set to the “On” position, the air purifier starts to operate in automatic mode. The engine 56 rotates the fan 57, and the air is sucked into the air cleaner through the inlet 71 and the side inlet 72 formed on the front cover 70. The pre-filter 61 removes relatively large dust and other foreign particles from the air, the deodorant filter 62 absorbs and removes odors, and a dust filter 63 collects relatively fine dust and other foreign particles. The air thus cleaned of odors, as well as dust and other foreign particles, by the filter 60, is then discharged from the air cleaner using a fan 57. Meanwhile, part of the air is blown into the bypass channel 59 through the channel inlet 58 and directed to the ion forming electrode element 202. .

An AC voltage of approximately 1.75 kV begins to be supplied to the ion forming electrode element 202 as soon as the air purifier begins to operate. Thus, the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode forms negative and positive ions from the intake air, and at the same time forms ozone as a by-product. In this case, negative and positive ions are formed with concentrations of 20,000 ion / cc and ozone at a concentration of 0.01 ppm or less. Under the influence of negative and positive ions, thus formed simultaneously with the help of an element of the ion-forming electrode, microbes in the air are removed from the air.

The concentration of formed ions can be increased by increasing the AC voltage applied to the ion forming electrode element 202. However, increasing the AC voltage also increases the amount of ozone generated. In order to efficiently create ions, while at the same time minimizing the formation of ozone, it is desirable that the AC voltage applied to the element of the ion-forming electrode is 2.0 kV or less. With an AC voltage that satisfies this condition, it is possible to lower the ozone concentration to 1/10 or less from the usually permissible maximum level (0.1 ppm). If the ion forming electrode element 202 is impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst or a separate element 11 is impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst, it is possible to increase the upper limit of the applied voltage to 2.5 kV and thereby create ions with higher concentrations.

Then, the following experiment was conducted to evaluate the deodorization efficiency of the air purifier of this embodiment in relation to odors in the air.

Example 21

The air cleaner described above, including the ion-forming device 201 used in Example 10 described previously, was installed in the test space 2.0 m long, 2.5 m wide and 2.7 m high. After the atmosphere inside the test space was replaced with a clean one, dry air, five cigarettes were burned. At the same time, an alternating current voltage of 1.1 kV rms having a frequency of 25 kHz was applied to the ion-forming electrode element 202, and the motor 56 was driven to rotate the fan 57 with an air flow rate of 4 m ³ / s, so that the air purifier began to work. Then, using a gas analyzer tube, the concentrations of ammonia, acetic acid, styrene, and carbon monoxide were measured at the times when the air purifier began to work and 30 minutes after that. The experiment showed that a 30-minute air purifier operation removed 35% ammonia, 65% acetic acid, 50% styrene and 90% carbon monoxide.

Thus, it was confirmed that the air purifier of this embodiment achieved satisfactory deodorization by rapidly decomposing typical household odors under the influence of negative and positive ions.

The following describes practical examples of the effectiveness of sterilizing an air purifier according to this embodiment with respect to microbes in the air. It must be understood, however, that the air purifier according to this embodiment is not limited to the examples specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made as necessary with regard to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 22

The previously described air purifier, including the ion-forming device 201 used in the previously described example 8, was installed in the test space 2.0 m long, 2.5 m wide and 2.7 m high. Then, widespread bacteria and fungi that were previously grown on culture medium were sprayed in the test space. At the same time, the ion-forming device 201 was operated under the same conditions as in the previously described example 8, and the engine 56 began to rotate the purge fan 57, so that the air purifier began to work.

Then, at predetermined time intervals, using an RCS model air sampler manufactured by Biotest AG, Germany, the air inside the test space was taken at a speed of 40 l / min and measured for four minutes to measure the number of microbes contained in the air. The results are shown in Table 8.

Two hours after the start of the air purifier operation, 77% and 80% were removed from the widespread bacteria and fungi that were originally present in the test space. This proves that the air cleaner of this embodiment, including the ion-forming device 201, is able to satisfactorily destroy most of the microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions that it blows out.

As previously described in connection with the second and fifth embodiment, the air purifier 300 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) including the ion forming electrode element 1 having the glass plate 3 in the form of a flat plate took three hours to destroy and remove 70% or more germs in the test space, as illustrated by Example 3 (see Table 1) and Example 6 (see Table 3). In contrast, an air purifier according to this embodiment, comprising an ion forming electrode element 202 having a cylindrical glass tube 203, requires one hour less. This proves the advantage of the cylindrical glass tube 203.

Then, the following experiment was carried out to check how much ozone, which inevitably forms together with negative and positive ions in the space around the ion-forming electrode element 202, is discharged through the outlet 81 of the air purifier by the purge fan 57.

Example 23

An ozone concentration control tool (not shown) was installed at each of the five measurement points located at a distance of 0 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm from the outlet 81 of the air purifier used in the above example 22. Then, the AC voltage a 1.1 kV rms current was applied to the ion forming electrode element 202, and the purge fan 57 was started with an air flow rate of 4 m ³ / min or 0.8 m ³ / min. In this state, the ozone concentration was measured at each of the above measurement points. For comparison, the ozone concentration was measured in a similar manner with an alternating current voltage of 1.4 kV rms applied under the same conditions. The results of various cases are shown in FIGS. 42A and 42B. Ozone concentration was measured using an ultraviolet absorption type indicator ozone model EG-2001 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd., Japan.

As shown in these figures, the higher the applied voltage, expressed as the rms value, and the higher the air flow rate with which the purge fan 57 operates, the higher the ozone concentration. The ozone concentration, however, decreases rapidly with increasing distance from the outlet 81. Therefore, by controlling the applied voltage, expressed as the rms value, and the air flow (ie, the number of revolutions) with which the purge fan 57 operates, the amount of ozone that is formed as a by-product of the ion forming electrode element 202.

Thus, an ozone sensor (not shown) can be further provided near the ion-forming electrode element 202 to continuously monitor ozone concentration, and the air purifier can be configured such that, according to the results of the ozone sensor detection, a high AC voltage, expressed as a rms value, applied to the element 202 of the ion forming electrode is determined so as to maintain the ozone concentration below a predetermined allowable level.

This allows you to realize an air purifier that can destroy and remove microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions, while at the same time maintaining the concentration of ozone formed by the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode below an acceptable level. As the aforementioned acceptable level of ozone concentration, it is appropriate to use the level of 0.1 ppm established by the Japanese Society for Occupational Health.

The tenth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 43 is a sectional view showing the structure of an air conditioner 400 including an ion forming electrode element 202 according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

A purge fan 402 is provided at the rear of the inside of the housing 401 of the air conditioner 400. An air inlet 403 is formed on the front and upper faces of the housing 401, which consists of a series of holes or slots. On the downstream side of the inlet 403, various filters 404 are provided for dust removal and deodorization. A heat exchanger 406 is provided on the downstream side of the filters 404. An air outlet 405 is formed under the inlet 403 of the housing 401, which is provided with louvers to adjust the direction of the blown air. Thus, an air flow channel is formed inside the housing 401, extending from the inlet 403 to the filters, then to the heat exchanger 406 and then to the outlet 405.

In addition, the ion-forming device 201 (see FIG. 8) of the previously described seventh embodiment is located with its ion-forming electrode element 202 located in the air flow channel, near the outlet 405. In this case, the high-voltage AC source 206 (see FIG. 8) may be provided separately from the power source to drive the purge fan 402, or may also be shared for this purpose. In the latter case, a controller (not shown) is further provided, so that the actuation of the purge fan 402 and the compressor (not shown) and the operation of the ion-forming device 201 can be independently controlled. This allows, if necessary, to turn on and off the ion-forming device 201 during operation of the air conditioner 400 and, thus, increase the usability of the air conditioner 400.

When this air conditioner 400, made as described above, starts to operate, the purge fan 402 starts to rotate. As a result, the air sucked through the inlet 403 into the air flow channel is passed through filters 404 that remove dust and odors from the air, then passes through a heat exchanger 406, which produces heat exchange between the air and the coolant, and then blows out through the outlet 405. Meanwhile, if the ion-forming device 201 remains on, negative and positive ions, about azuemye in the space around the ion electrode member 202, blown with the clean air. Thus, it is possible to destroy microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions.

The following describes, as a practical example, the sterilization efficiency of an air conditioner 400 according to this embodiment with respect to microbes in the air. You must understand, however, that the air conditioner 400 according to this embodiment is not limited to the example specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made if necessary in relation to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 24

The conditioner 400 described above, including the ion-forming device 201 used in the previously described example 8, was installed in the test space with a length of 2.0 m, a width of 2.5 m and a height of 2.7 m. Then, widespread bacteria and fungi that were previously grown on a nutrient medium, were sprayed in the test space. At the same time, the ion-forming device 201 was operated under the same conditions as in the previously described example 8, and the purge fan 402 was started, so that the air conditioner 400 began to operate.

Then, at predetermined time intervals, using an RCS model air sampler manufactured by Biotest AG, Germany, the air inside the test space was taken at a speed of 40 l / min and measured for four minutes to measure the number of microbes contained in the air. The results are shown in Table 9.

Two hours after the start of operation of the air conditioner 400, 80% and 83%, respectively, were removed from the widespread bacteria and fungi that were originally present in the test space. This proves that the air conditioner 400 according to this embodiment, including the ion-forming device 201, is able to satisfactorily destroy most of the microbes in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions that it blows out.

As previously described in connection with the second and fifth embodiment, the air conditioner 400 (see FIGS. 4 and 7) including the ion forming electrode element 2 having the glass plate 3 in the form of a flat plate took three hours to destroy and remove 70% or more germs in the test space, as illustrated by Example 4 (see Table 2) and Example 7 (see Table 4). In contrast, an air conditioner 400 according to this embodiment, comprising an ion forming electrode element 202 having a cylindrical glass tube 203, requires one hour less. This proves the advantage of the cylindrical glass tube 203.

In the conditioner 400 described above, the ion-forming electrode element 202 is disposed in an air flow channel formed within the housing. Thus, when the air conditioner is operating, the ion forming electrode element 202, open to air containing dust, tends to collect dust on its surface. In particular, when the air conditioner is operating in cooling or dehumidification mode, moisture in the air is likely to condense on the surface of the ion forming electrode element 202. If a foreign substance, such as dust or a drop of water, adheres to the electrodes, an abnormal electrical discharge or leakage current is likely to result. This is undesirable since it reduces the reliability of the air conditioner 400.

The eleventh embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. On Fig presents a block diagram depicting the main configuration of the controller of the air conditioner 400, including the ion-forming device 201, according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, those elements that are also present in the air conditioner 400 (see FIG. 43) of the tenth embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 44, the input side of the controller 610 including the comparator 614 is connected to a power switch 608 and an industrial type power supply 609, from which power is supplied to the controller 610 when the power switch 608 is operated. The output side of the controller 610 is connected to the compressor 611 and the purge fan 402 of the air conditioner, as well as through the high-frequency circuit 612 to the inner electrode 204 of the ion-forming electrode element 202. Position 613 represents a current control means for monitoring the current supplied from the controller 610 to the high-frequency circuit 612. The resulting control signal by the current control means 613 is supplied to a comparator 614.

The following describes how to use the air conditioner, made as described above. When the power switch 608 is turned on, electricity is supplied from an industrial type power source 609 to the controller 610. The controller 610 then turns on the compressor 611 and the purge fan 402, and also turns on the high-frequency circuit 612, so that the high-frequency circuit 612 supplies AC voltage to the inner electrode 204.

As a result, under the action of the purge fan 402, internal air is sucked in through the inlet 403, then passed through a filter 404, which removes dust and odors from the air, and then passed through a heat exchanger 406 that heat exchanges the air, so that the cooled or heated air is discharged through outlet 405 into the room. At the same time, the ion-forming electrode element 202 forms negative and positive ions, and active species having a sterilization effect are blown into the room along with air. This in combination with proper air conditioning creates a comfortable living environment.

Example 25

In the air conditioner 400, configured as described above, an 1.6 kV rms AC voltage having a frequency of 20 kHz was applied to the ion forming electrode element 202, in which the glass tube 203 had an outer diameter of 20 mm, a length of 150 mm, and a thickness of 1 , 2 mm, the inner electrode 204 was braided from a wire of 0.18 mm across, had a length of 80 mm and 40 cells / inch, and the outer electrode 205 was braided from a wire of 0.4 mm across, had a length of 80 mm and 16 cells /inch. As a result, at the measurement point located at a distance of 10 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203, negative and positive ions with concentrations of 30000-40000 ion / cc were obtained. In this case, the current flowing through the external electrode 205 was 1.2 mA. Ion concentrations were measured using an airborne ion counter model 83-10013 manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan.

Thus, as long as the ion-forming device 601 is operating normally, when the high-frequency circuit 612 supplies AC voltage to the internal electrode 204, the current flowing through the external electrode 205 is negligible and amounts to about several milliamps. However, if a foreign substance, such as dust, adheres to the ion forming electrode element 202, or if damage occurs in the glass tube 203, there may be a local short circuit between the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205, causing a relatively high current to flow.

Such a short circuit not only makes it impossible to obtain a sufficient amount of ions to achieve satisfactory sterilization, but also shortens the life and reduces the efficiency of the ion forming electrode element 202. In addition, if a person touches the glass tube 203, an electrical discharge may occur between the inner electrode 204 and the human body. This causes the flow of current through the body, which is under the potential of the earth, and, thus, represents a danger of electric shock to a person.

To avoid this, when the high-frequency circuit 612 supplies AC voltage to the internal electrode 204, the current that flows from the controller 610 to the high-frequency circuit 612 is controlled by current control means 613. The resulting signal from this control is supplied to a comparator 614 included in the controller 610. The comparator 614 then compares the resulting signal supplied to it with a predetermined reference level, and if the resulting signal exceeds the reference level, the controller 610 turns off the high-frequency circuit 612.

Even when the air conditioner 400 is operating normally, the current can reach up to 50 mA maximum depending on the environmental conditions in which it is used. On the other hand, it is known that a current of 100 mA or more flowing through the human body is likely to be fatal. Therefore, it is appropriate to determine the reference level for the current within the range of 50-100 mA.

This allows you to stop the supply of AC voltage to the internal electrode 204 in case of violation of the regime, and thereby prevent malfunction or damage to the ion-forming device 601. Thus, it is possible to extend the life of the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode and prevent a decrease in its efficiency and implement a safe air conditioner 400 , which does not pose a risk of electric shock, even if a person accidentally touches the outside of the ion forming electrode element 202. In this embodiment, the power switch 608 is used in conjunction with the switch to turn on the air conditioner 400; however, it is also possible to provide separate switches for these purposes, so that the air conditioning unit 400 and the ion forming device 601 can be independently controlled.

The twelfth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. On Fig presents a block diagram depicting the main configuration of the controller of the air conditioner 400, including the ion-forming device 201, according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, those elements that are also present in the air conditioner 400 of the eleventh embodiment described above and shown in FIG. 44 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the ion-forming electrode element 202 is rotated, and the air conditioner 400 is further provided with a rotation shaft 617 for rotating the ion-forming electrode element 202, a rotating means 618 for rotating the rotation shaft 617, and a purge element 615 serving as a foreign matter removal means. In other respects, the layout of this embodiment is similar to that of the eleventh embodiment described above.

Rotating means 618 and purge element 615 are connected to a controller 610, which controls their operation. Specifically, when the current controlled by the current monitoring means 613 exceeds a predetermined level (for example 200 mA), the rotating means 618 and the purge element 615 are turned on, so that the ion-forming electrode element 202 is rotated and blown by air.

Thus, it is possible to blow off the dust collected on the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode, and to evaporate the droplets of water condensed on it. This helps to prevent leakage current resulting from condensed water droplets and abnormal electrical discharge resulting from collected dust. In addition, this avoids the maintenance of the ion forming electrode element 202.

The thirteenth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. On Fig presents a block diagram depicting the main configuration of the controller of the air conditioner 400, including the ion-forming device 601, according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, those elements that are also present in the air conditioner 400 according to the eleventh embodiment described previously and shown in FIG. 44 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the ion forming electrode element 202 is also rotatable, and the air conditioner 400 is further provided with a rotation shaft 617, a rotational means 618, and a heating element 616 serving as a means for removing foreign matter. In other respects, the arrangement of this embodiment is similar to the arrangement of the tenth embodiment described previously.

The rotating means 618 and the heating element 616 are connected to a controller 610, which controls their operation. Specifically, when the current controlled by the current monitoring means exceeds a predetermined level (for example 200 mA), the rotary means 618 and the heating element 616 are turned on, so that the ion-forming electrode element 202 rotates and heats up.

Thus, it is possible to evaporate water droplets condensed across all the electrodes of the ion forming electrode element 202. This helps to prevent leakage current resulting from condensed water droplets. In addition, the ion-forming device 601 can be operated to create negative and positive ions without generating a leakage current.

The arrangements described above may be applicable to any type of air conditioning device, such as air purifiers, dehumidifiers and humidifiers, to obtain similar advantages. You can also design another layout by combining the required features of various embodiments.

The ion-forming device 201 according to the present invention can be made in the form of a block, so that it can easily be connected to or disconnected from various air conditioning devices, such as air conditioners. This improves the usability of these air conditioning devices and makes their maintenance, such as cleaning and repair, much easier.

The fourteenth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. On Fig presents a perspective view with a spatial separation of the parts of the block 715 of the ion-forming device according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. On Fig presents a perspective view of the front element 719 of the block 715 of the ion-forming device. On figa presents a section showing how the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode is installed in block 715 of the ion-forming device. On figv presents an open front view depicting how to install the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode. On Fig presents a perspective view of the rear left element 720 of the block 715 of the ion-forming device. On Fig presents a perspective view of the rear right element 721 of the block 715 of the ion-forming device. On Fig presents a perspective view of the block 716 auxiliary blower unit 715 ion-forming device.

As shown in Fig. 47, the ion-forming device block 715 according to this embodiment consists of the ion-forming electrode element 202 of the ion-forming device 201 (see Fig. 8) of the previously described seventh embodiment, the auxiliary blower block 716, the exciter circuit block 717 and the block body 718 .

The auxiliary blower unit 716 is configured as shown in FIG. The auxiliary blower unit 716 takes air and blows it onto the ion forming electrode element 202, and also blows out the formed negative and positive ions. The auxiliary blower unit 716 consists of a casing 716a in which a fan 716b and an engine 716c are located. On the connecting surface of the casing 716a, a plurality of protrusions 716d are formed which fit into the clips 719b (see FIG. 48).

In this block 715 of the ion-forming device, the front face is the side on which the inlet 716e (see Fig. 47) of the auxiliary blower unit 716 is located, and the rear face is the opposite side. Those. when the auxiliary blower unit 716 is operating, it draws in air toward its rear side. The following description assumes that the direction in which the auxiliary blower unit 716 blows out air (i.e., the direction in which the ion-forming electrode element 202 is located from the auxiliary blower unit 716) is left, and the opposite direction is right.

Block body 718 consists of a front element 719, a rear left element 720, and a rear right element 721.

As shown in FIG. 48, the front element 719 consists of an ion generator box part 719d for accommodating an ion forming electrode element 202, a casing part 719e for an auxiliary blower unit 716, and a circuit box part 719f for receiving an exciter circuit unit 717 for driving an exciter unit 715, moreover, all these three parts are made in one piece. The front element 719 is generally concave in shape, and a plurality of locking clips 719b for locking the auxiliary blower unit 716 and a plurality of locking protrusions 719a for locking the rear left element 720 and the rear right element 721 are formed on its outer side near the connecting surface.

As shown in FIG. 49A, the ion generator box portion 719d is shaped to have: as part of its cross section, arcuate curves. On the inner surfaces of these curved sections of the ion generator box part 719d, support parts 722 and 723 are formed to support and hold the ion forming unit 715 at its left and right ends, and an ion outlet 724 is provided under the left and right support parts 722 and 723 through which blows out air passing through the ion-forming electrode element 202. By making the channel from the ion-forming electrode element 202 to the ion outlet 724 as short as possible and, in addition, by minimizing the volume of the ion generator box portion 719d, it is possible to reduce the air resistance of the channel and reduce the loss of negative and positive ions in the air. This allows you to release a stable amount of negative and positive ions.

As shown in FIG. 49B, each of the support parts 722 and 723 consists of three ribs 722a or 723a that together form a curved surface so as to hold the peripheral surface of the fixing element 7 or 8 of the ion forming electrode element 202 and the stops 722b or 723b, which hold the locking elements 7 or 9 in a predetermined position in the vertical direction. The ribs 722a and 723a and the stops 722b and 723b are made so that they protrude from the inner surfaces of the front element 719 and the rear left element 720. In addition, the parts of the ribs 722a and 723a are made higher than their parts forming curved surfaces in order to fix end surfaces of the fixing elements 7 and 8 of the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode and hold them in a predetermined position in the transverse direction.

The ion outlet 724, for example, is configured to consist of three columns × three rows of small openings in the form of slots, each having dimensions of 3 mm × 50 mm. These slit openings make it difficult to introduce a foreign body through the ion outlet 724, reaching the ion forming electrode element 202.

In the casing part 719 e, a wall is formed which serves as a casing for the fan of the auxiliary blower unit 716 describing the involute. Along the edge of the free end of the wall formed a lot of locking clips 719b for locking the casing of the engine side. An inlet 719c of the auxiliary blower is formed on a flat portion of the casing part 719e, through which air is sucked in.

Inside the circuit box part 719f, a wall is formed forming a concave shape. Along the edge of the free end of the wall, a plurality of protrusions 719a are formed for locking the rear right-hand element 721. In addition, an H-shaped rib is provided to support the casing, including the circuit board of the pathogen circuitry protruding into the inside from the outside. Holders are formed on the outer side of the H-shaped rib for locking the block 715 of the ion-forming device.

The rear left element 720, shown in Fig. 50, is designed to close part of the box of the ion-forming device. On the inner surface of the rear left member 720, support portions 720c and 720d are formed at the left and right ends to form partially curved surfaces to support and hold the ion forming electrode member 202. Specifically, three R-shaped ribs for holding the peripheral surfaces of the fixing elements 7 and 8 of the ion-forming electrode element 202 are configured to protrude from the inner surface of the rear left element 720. Parts of these R-shaped ribs are formed higher than their parts forming curved surfaces, in order to fix the locking elements 7 and 8 to hold them in a predetermined position in the transverse direction.

On the periphery of the rear left member 720, a plurality of clips 720a are formed along the connecting surface for locking the front member 719. An opening in the form of a slot is formed on the side wall of one of the support parts, through which the conductors are laid, and a fixation hole 720b is formed on the side wall of the other of the support parts block 715 ion-forming device.

The rear right element 721, shown in FIG. 51, is designed to close part of the circuit box. A wall is formed inside the rear right member 721 to provide a concave shape. Along the edge of the free end of the wall, a plurality of clips 721a are formed, with which protrusions 719a of the front element 719 engage. In addition, an opening 721b is formed on one open end of the wall to fix the ion forming unit 715.

Block 715 ion-forming device, made as described above, is assembled as follows. The auxiliary blower unit 716 is inserted into a predetermined position in the casing part 719e of the front element 719 and fixed by inserting the protrusions 716d of the casing 716a into the locking clips 719b of the front element 719. Then, the exciter circuit block 717 is inserted into the predetermined position in the part 719f of the exciter circuit block of the front element 719 and the rear right-hand element 721 is located above the pathogen block 717 and secured by inserting the locking protrusions 719a of the front element 719 into the clips 721a of the rear right-hand element 721. ATEM ion electrode member 202 is inserted into a predetermined position in the box portion 719d ion instrument and left rear member 720 is placed over the element 202 and the fixed electrode, ion introduction projections 719a of the front element in the holder 20d of the left rear member 720. This completes the assembly. Thus, by simply installing the ion forming electrode element 202 on the supporting parts of the front element 719 and then placing the rear left element 720 to close it, the ion forming electrode element 202 can be secured by the supporting parts of the rear left element 720 holding it. This helps to keep the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode in a predetermined position during assembly. In addition, easy disassembly and assembly without the use of screws.

The fifteenth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 53 is a front perspective view illustrating a structure of an air conditioner including an ion forming apparatus unit 715 according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. On Fig presents a perspective view in front of the air conditioner with its front panel 733 open. On Fig presents an enlarged front view located on the housing of the display panel of the air conditioner. On Fig presents a perspective view of the remote control unit of the air conditioner. On Fig presents a side view in section of an indoor unit 731 of the air conditioner. On Fig presents a side view of the indoor unit 731 with a cut in the place where the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode is located. On Fig presents a side view of the inner block 731 with a cut on the left side of the place where the block 715 of the ion-forming device. On Fig presents a side view of the indoor unit 731 with a cut on the right side of the place where the block 715 of the ion-forming device. On Fig presents a diagram depicting the structure of the complete configuration of the air conditioner.

As shown in FIG. 53, the air conditioner indoor unit 731 consists of a housing casing 732 in which a heat exchanger, an internal fan, and other components are placed, a front panel 733 that freely opens, allowing the user to visually inspect the housing internally for dust on the filters, exhaust outlet 734, through which cold or warm air is blown out, inlet 735, through which internal air is sucked in, and an indication panel located on the housing for indicating the operating state. In addition, the remote control unit 737 allows remote control of the start and stop of operation and the setting of operating states.

As shown in FIG. 54, which shows the indoor unit 731 with the front panel 733 open, above the grating-like inlet formed in the housing casing 732, the right filter 738 and the left filter 739 are located so as to face the inlet 735 of the front panel 733. By essentially, in the central positions of the right and left filters 738 and 739, air purification filters 740 and 741 are respectively installed.

As shown in FIG. 55, the display panel 736 located on the housing, which is provided above the outlet of the indoor unit 731, consists of an “Operation” lamp 742 to indicate that the air conditioner is operating, a two-digit “Temperature” lamp 743 to indicate the indoor and outdoor temperatures , bulbs 744 “Air purification” to indicate that the ion-forming device is working, sensor 745 for receiving signals from the remote control unit 737, bulbs 746 “Timer”, which lights up when work is provided controlled by a timer, and other components.

The remote control unit 737 shown in FIG. 56 consists of a remote control indicator 747 for indicating the operating state, a “Transmit” indicator 748 that lights up when signals are transmitted to the indoor unit, an “Automatic” button 749 to put the air conditioner in automatic mode, buttons 750 “Heating” to put it into heating mode, buttons 751 “Cooling” to put it into cooling mode, buttons 752 “Dry” to put it into drying mode, buttons 753 “Temperature” to set the internal temperature, buttons 754 “Air purification” to start and stop the operation of the ion-forming device, buttons 755 “Stop” to stop the operation of the air conditioner and other components.

As shown in FIG. 57, which is a cross-sectional side view of the indoor unit 731, the indoor unit 731 consists of a housing casing 732 that serves as the base of the indoor unit 731, the internal heat exchanger 756, the coolant / coolant of which circulates through it to create heat transfer between the internal air and the coolant / coolant, of the internal fan 757 for blowing out of the indoor unit 731 the air sucked in and then subjected to heat exchange, vertical louvers 758 for horizontal change The direction of air blown through the outlet 734, the horizontal louver 759 for vertically adjusting the air direction and the left and right filters 738 and 739 for removing dust and other foreign particles from the air sucked through the inlet 767.

With the front panel 733 open, the filters 738 and 739 are inserted into a predetermined position, guiding them along the filter guides 760 formed in the housing casing 732. The left filter 739 is shaped so that it does not cover the area where the auxiliary filter 769 is detached or attached to the inlet 768 of the auxiliary blower unit 716 of the ion forming apparatus unit 715.

Under the internal heat exchanger 756, a drip tray 761 is provided for collecting drained water, since the internal air undergoes heat exchange. An upper wall is formed from the bottom surface of the pallet 761 forward, constituting an internal circulation channel, and this upper wall has an opening 760a formed therein, which is directly connected to the ion outlet 724 of the ion-forming device unit 715 (Fig. 58). In the front of the pallet 761, stops 763 and 764 are formed on its left and right edges for mounting the ion forming device unit 715 (see FIGS. 59 and 60).

Between the pallet 761 and the block 715 of the ion-forming device, an expanded polystyrene element 756 is installed to prevent condensation on the outside of the pallet 761 under the influence of the water collected in the pallet 761 and to prevent condensed water from entering the block 715 of the ion-forming device (see Fig. 58).

The inlet 735 consists of an inlet 766 for sucking in the front air, i.e. through the front panel 733, and the inlet 767 for suction of internal air through the upper front side of the housing casing 732.

In the outlet 734 of the housing casing 732, horizontal louvers 759 are formed to vertically change the direction of the air flow that passed through the internal heat exchanger 756, and then a fan, and vertical louvers 758 are formed on the inlet side of the horizontal louvers 759 to horizontally change the direction of the air flow. Basically above the horizontal louvres 759, an outlet 724 for the ions of the block 715 of the ion-forming device is formed.

Air flows inside the block 715 ion-forming device as follows. As shown in FIG. 57, the auxiliary blower unit 716 draws in air through the ion inlet 768 of the front panel 733, and then through a removable auxiliary filter 769 provided between the housing casing 732 and the auxiliary blower unit 716 of the ion forming apparatus unit 715. Air is then passed through the ion forming apparatus unit 715, and then discharged through the ion outlet 724 together with the negative and positive ions formed therein by the ion forming electrode element 202. Air containing negative and positive ions, thus discharged through the ion outlet 724, is discharged into the room along with air that has passed through the internal air circulation channel, i.e. air sucked in through the inlet 735 by means of the internal fan 757, then passed through the internal heat exchanger 756 so that it is heat exchanged and then supplied to the outlet 734. Thus, air containing negative and positive ions formed by the ion forming electrode element 202 is discharged through the outlet 734 of the indoor unit 731 and is thus a short air channel between the ion-forming electrode element 202 and the outlet 734 of the inside early block 731. This helps to reduce the loss of the number of negative and positive ions in the air and thereby enhances the effect of sterilization in the room.

The auxiliary filter 769 is removably fixed near the inlet of the auxiliary blower unit 716 of the ion forming apparatus unit 715 and therefore, when the front panel 733 is open upward, it can easily be removed through the auxiliary filter slot 770 and cleaned of dust and other foreign particles. This helps to minimize the deposition of dust and other foreign particles on the block 715 of the ion-forming device and, thereby, achieving stable formation of negative and positive ions. In addition, the creation of an auxiliary filter 769 separately from the filters 738 and 739 of the indoor unit 731 improves usability and facilitates maintenance.

Block 715 of the ion-forming device is installed in the indoor unit 731 by fixing to it with screws using the stops 763 and 764, which are formed at both ends of the pallet 761 installed in the mounting holes 720b and 721b of the housing 718 of the block, as shown in Figs. 59 and 57. Thus In this way, the block 715 of the ion-forming device is placed on the lower edge of the internal heat exchanger 756, essentially parallel to it. This allows you to effectively use the possible space inside the indoor unit 731 and, thus, contributes to the manufacture of a sufficiently compact indoor unit 731 that does not require an excessively large space for its installation.

As shown in FIG. 61, the entire system of this embodiment, when looking at the general structure of its configuration, consists of an indoor unit 731, an outdoor unit 771, and a remote control unit 737. The indoor unit 731 consists of an internal heat exchanger 756 and an internal fan 757. The outdoor unit 771 consists of an outdoor heat exchanger 772, a compressor 773, an expansion valve 774, and an outdoor fan 775.

The following describes how the air conditioner operates, made as described above. First, the operation procedure will be described. When the 749 “Automatic” button on the control panel of the remote control unit 737 is pressed, the air conditioner starts to work. At this moment, the “Work” lamp 742 lights up on the Indication Unit 731 located on the display panel 736, the internal temperature is digitally displayed by the “Temperature” lamp 743, and the operation mode (in this case is “Automatic”), the volumetric flow rate of the air stream, the air direction jets and other information elements are displayed on the indicator 747 of the control panel of the remote control unit 737.

On the other hand, when the “Heat” button 750 on the control panel of the remote control unit 737 is pressed, the “Operation” lamp 742 lights up on the display unit 736 located on the housing of the display panel 736, the internal temperature is digitally displayed by the “Temperature” lamp 743, and the operation mode (in this case, heating), the volumetric flow rate of the air stream, the direction of the air stream, temperature and other pieces of information are displayed on the indicator 747 of the control panel of the remote control unit 737.

To stop the operation, the “Stop” button 755 on the control panel of the remote control unit 737 is pressed. As a result, the “Work” lamp 742 on the display panel 736 located on the housing of the indoor unit 717 goes out, and the air conditioner stops operation.

In order to change the temperature, for example, to raise the temperature by 1 ° C, the “Δ” switch of the temperature change button 753 is pressed once. This changes the set temperature by 1 ° C, and in the heating and cooling mode, the set temperature is displayed on the remote control indicator 747 on the control panel of the remote control unit 737 and on the display panel 736 located on the housing of the indoor unit 731.

In automatic mode or dehumidification mode, the value by which the temperature should be increased is displayed on the remote control indicator 747 of the control panel of the remote control unit 737, and the set temperature is displayed on the display panel 736 located on the housing of the indoor unit 731.

An example of how the air conditioner works is described below. When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the heat transfer medium condensed and thus brought to a high temperature state by the compressor 773 of the outdoor unit 771 is passed to the outdoor heat exchanger 772 of the outdoor unit 771. In the outdoor heat exchanger 772, the outdoor fan 775 draws heat from the heat transfer medium and, therefore, way, cools her. The heat exchange medium is then passed through an expansion valve to an internal heat exchanger 756, where the heat exchange medium evaporates. As a result, the internal air is cooled, which is passed through the internal heat exchanger 756 by means of the internal fan 757. When the air conditioner is in the heating mode, the heat exchange medium circulates in the opposite direction with respect to the direction in which it circulates in the cooling mode. Specifically, the condensed heat transfer medium is passed to the internal heat exchanger 756 of the indoor unit 731, and the internal air is passed through the internal heat exchanger 756, and thereby is heated. Thus, the room is heated.

When the unit 715 of the ion-forming device is turned on as a result of pressing the “Air purification” button 754 on the control panel of the remote control unit 737, while the air conditioner operates in any of the modes: automatic, cooling, heating, drainage, and others, then when the air conditioner turns on next time, air purification starts at the same time. When the “Air purification” button 754 is pressed, a high AC voltage is supplied to the exciter unit 717 of the exciter unit 715, so that H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m and O are formed, respectively $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n as negative and positive ions.

The internal air sucked in through the ion inlet 768 through the auxiliary blower unit 716 is passed through an auxiliary filter 769, which removes dust and other foreign particles from the air, and then is passed to the ion forming electrode element 202, which forms negative and positive ions in the air. The air, now containing negative and positive ions, then flows out through the ion outlet 724, and then is blown out with the air that has passed through the internal circulation channel, through the outlet 734 to circulate through the room by convection.

To independently turn on the unit 715 of the ion-forming device when the air conditioner is not working, the “Air purification” button 754 on the remote control unit 737 is pressed. As a result, high AC voltage begins to be supplied to the ion forming apparatus unit 715, as well as to the motors that drive the internal fan 756 and the horizontal louvers 759 of the indoor unit 731.

The internal air sucked in through the ion inlet 768 of the front panel 733 is passed through an auxiliary filter 769, which removes dust and other foreign particles from the air, and then is passed to the ion-forming electrode element 202, which forms negative and positive ions in the air. Air, now containing negative and positive ions, then flows out of the block body through the ion outlet 724 and then is blown out with the air that has passed through the internal circulation channel through the outlet 734 into the room. Thus, the internal air is not only conditioned, but also sterilized, while the microbes in the air are destroyed and removed from it under the influence of positive and negative ions.

In this embodiment, the air conditioner is taken as an example of an air conditioning device that includes an ion forming apparatus unit. However, the unit of the ion-forming device can be integrated into any type of air conditioning device, for example, an air purifier, a dehumidifier, a humidifier, a refrigerator, a paraffin heater with a fan, a kerosene stove, an electric stove, etc. In any case, sterilization under the influence of negative and positive ions can be achieved.

The sixteenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 62 is a perspective view of an indoor air conditioning unit 801 including an ion forming apparatus unit 833 according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 63 is a perspective view of an indoor unit 801 with its front panel 803 open. FIG. 64 is an enlarged front view of an air conditioning liquid crystal display panel 806. On Fig presents an enlarged view of the block 808 remote control of the air conditioner. On Fig presents a side view in section of an indoor unit 801 of the air conditioner. On Fig presents a diagram depicting the structure of the full configuration of the air conditioner. On Fig presents a section of a block 833 of an ion-forming device, built into the air conditioner. On figa presents a section of the block 833 of the ion-forming device with its closed first outlet 879 and with its open second outlet 880. On figv presents a section of the block 833 of the ion-forming device with its open first outlet 879 and with its closed second outlet 880. FIG. 70 is a block diagram of an air conditioning control system. On Fig presents a section of another example of a block 833 ion-forming device. On Fig presents a section of another example of a block 833 ion-forming device. On Fig presents a perspective view of the indoor unit 801 of the air conditioner, equipped with a connector for connecting block 833 of the ion-forming device, with its open front panel 803.

As shown in FIG. 62, the indoor unit 801 is provided with a housing cover 802, in which a heat exchanger, an internal fan and other components are disposed, with a front panel 803 that is opened so that the user can visually control the interior of the housing with respect to dust on filters, etc. ., an outlet 804 through which cold or warm air is blown, an inlet 805 through which the internal air is sucked in, a liquid crystal display panel 806 for indicating the operating state and an outlet 807 dehumidification / humidification through which air is blown out, drained or moistened with a dehumidifier / humidifier. In addition, the remote control unit 808 allows remote control of starting and stopping operation and setting operating states.

As shown in FIG. 63, the front panel 803 is mounted to open on the housing casing 802. A lattice-shaped outlet 804 is formed in the housing casing 802 so that it faces an inlet 805 formed on the front panel 803. In this inlet 805, a right-hand filter 809 and a left-hand filter 810 are disposed to remove dust and other foreign particles from the air drawn in through inlet 805. Essentially, in the central parts of the right and left filters 809 and 810, air purification filters 811 and 812 are respectively installed. A dehumidification / humidification inlet is formed on the right side of the housing casing 802 to draw in internal air for the dehumidifier / humidifier, and a dehumidification / humidification filter 813 is installed in this inlet.

In the central part of the housing casing 802, a liquid crystal display panel 806 is shown in FIG. 64. This liquid crystal display panel 806 consists of a “Humidity” lamp 814, which lights up in accordance with the internal humidity, an “Air Purification” lamp 815, which changes color depending on how dirty the internal air is, an indicator 816 for indicating the status of the internal atmosphere and operating state depending on the signals transmitted when the operation buttons on the remote control unit 808 are pressed, and a sensor 817 for receiving signals from the remote control unit 808.

As shown in FIG. 65, the remote control unit 808 consists of a remote control indicator 818 for indicating an operating state, a “Transfer” indicator 801, which lights up when signals are transmitted to the indoor unit 801, a “Start / Stop” switch 820 to start and stop the operation of the air conditioner, switch 821 “Temperature” to set the internal temperature, switch 822 “Humidity” to start and stop the drying operation in the dehumidifier / humidifier, switch 823 “Ventilation” to start and stop a new ventilation operation in the drying / humidifying device, a group switch 824 for starting and stopping the operation of the block 833 of the ion-forming device and other components.

As shown in FIG. 66, an internal heat exchanger 825 is placed inside the indoor unit 801, which exchanges heat between the coolant / coolant passing inside it and the internal air passing outside it and the internal fan 826 for blowing out the internal air sucked in and then subjected to heat exchange internal heat exchanger 825.

In the outlet 804 formed in the lower part of the front face of the housing casing 802, vertical louvers 827 for horizontally changing the airflow direction and horizontal louvers 828 for vertically changing the flow direction are rotatably mounted.

On the front face of the housing casing 802, filter guides 829 are formed so that with the front panel 803 open, the filters 809 and 810 are inserted into a predetermined position, guiding them along these filter guides 829. The right filter 809 is shaped so that it does not cover the liquid crystal display panel 806. Under the heat exchanger 825, a drip tray 830 is provided for collecting drained water, since the internal air undergoes heat exchange. The inlet 805 consists of a front inlet 831 formed to surround a liquid crystal display panel 806 provided on the front panel 803 and an upper inlet 832 formed on the upper surface of the housing casing 802.

A circulation channel C is formed, which extends from the inlet 805 to the filters 809 and 810, then to the heat exchanger 825 and then to the outlet 804. The internal air drawn in through the inlet 805 and then passed through the circulation channel C is then blown into the room. Thus, the circulation of internal air occurs.

Near the outlet 804 of the housing case 802, an ion-forming device unit 833 is disposed. Through this block 833 of the ion-forming device, an air flow channel D is formed separately from the circulation channel C. An air flow channel D is formed between the heat exchanger 825 and filters 809 and 810 and communicates with the circulation channel C. Thus, the air that enters the channel D of the air flow passes directly through the block 833 of the ion-forming device, i.e. without passing through the inlet 805, then flows through the confluence point 834 located on the outlet side of the heat exchanger 825 into the circulation channel C and then is blown into the room along with the air passing through the circulation channel C. In the housing casing 802, an ion outlet 835 is formed so that it faces the ion forming apparatus unit 833, and an ion outlet 836 is formed on the front panel 803 so that it communicates with that hole 835. By way of placement, the block 833 ion-forming device in the channel D of the air flow can prevent a decrease in its efficiency of ion formation due to condensation.

As shown in FIG. 67, the air conditioner consists of an indoor unit 801, an outdoor unit 840, and a remote control unit 808. The indoor unit 801 is provided with a heat exchanger 825 and an internal fan 826. The outdoor unit 840 is equipped with an external heat exchanger 841, a compressor 842, an expansion valve 843, and an outdoor fan 844.

The indoor unit 801 includes a desiccant / humidifier device 850. The desiccant / humidifier device 850 consists of a moisture absorbing rotor 851, which absorbs moisture contained in the internal air, and separates it, a desiccant fan 852, which draws in the internal air, a recovery fan 853, which passes the reduced air into the moisture-absorbing rotor 851, a heater 854 for reduction, heating the reduced air, which is supplied to the moisture-absorbing rotor 851, and a throttle valve 855, which excludes channels.

As shown in FIG. 68, the ion-forming device block 833 consists of the ion-forming electrode element 202 of the ion-forming device 201 (see FIG. 8) of the previously described seventh embodiment, a blower 861, an inlet 862 of the block, a filter 863, a cladding 864 of the block and a plurality of exhaust holes.

The shell 864 of the block is formed as a unit in place 860a to accommodate the element 202 of the ion-forming electrode and the casing 861a for the blower 861. The shell 864 of the block has the shape of an elongated cylinder or rectangular prism and is made of a material that has high resistance to ozone, such as polybutylene terephthalate. The shell 864 of the block can be given any other form than specifically described here. The blower 861 is located on the inlet side of the ion-forming electrode element 202 in the direction of its axis so that it communicates through the mounting hole 876 with the ion-forming electrode element 202.

Air drawn through the unit inlet 805 formed in the casing 861a is passed through the mounting hole 876, and then through the ventilation hole 878 to the ion forming electrode element 202 by the blower 861, so that negative and positive ions are generated by the ion forming electrode element 202. The shape of the casing, fan and engine is determined in accordance with how they are placed in the channel D of the air flow of the indoor unit 801.

A filter 863 is installed in the inlet 805 of the unit. The filter 863 in this case is a pre-filter to remove dust and other foreign particles, or a deodorant filter to remove odors in the room, or a combination thereof.

Two outlet openings 804 are formed in the cladding 860a of the cladding 864 of the block so that they face the ion forming electrode element 202, namely, the first outlet 879, through which air is blown directly into the room through the ion outlet 836, and the second outlet 880, through which air is blown towards confluence 834. Two outlets 879 and 880 are arranged so that they are directed at an angle of 90 ° to each other. The inlet opening 862 of the block is located so that it is directed in the same direction as the first outlet 879 or at an angle of 180 ° relative to the second outlet 880.

In order to switch the direction in which the ion forming device unit 833 blows out ions, in accordance with the operating condition of the air conditioner, switching means is provided which consists of a draft regulator 881 that individually opens and closes the outlet openings 879 and 880, and a drive mechanism for driving regulator 881 traction. As shown in FIGS. 69A and 69B, the traction controller 881 is an arcuate plate corresponding to the inner surface of the block casing 864, and is sized to cover one third of this surface. Traction controller 881 is supported at both ends in the direction of its axis so that it slides along the inner surface of block casing 864, and is equipped at one end with gear 884, which engages gear 883, and a stepper motor 885 to rotate gear 884. When the stepper motor 885 is driven, it moves the traction control 881 so that one of the outlets 879 and 880 is open and the other is closed. In this way, the switching of the outlet openings 879 and 880 is achieved. By executing the draft adjuster 881 which is moved to a position in which it leaves both outlet openings 879 and 880 open, it is possible to simultaneously blow air through both outlet openings 879 and 880.

A light emitter 886 is provided near the ion forming electrode element 202. The draft regulator 881 is made of a transparent material, and when the ion-forming electrode element 202 is operating, the light emitter 886 illuminates it with, for example, blue light so that the user can visually control the ion-forming electrode element 202. The light emitter 886 can be positioned so that its light can be seen directly from the outside.

In block 833 of the ion-forming device, made as described above, the traction controller 881 is set to a predetermined position inside the block shell 864, then the stepper motor 885 is mounted on the block shell 864 and temporarily attached to it from the outside, then the gear wheel 884 is mounted on the shaft of the stepper motor 885 and is engaged with the gear 883 of the regulator 881 traction and then the stepper motor 885 is fixed permanently. Then, the circuit board having the light emitter 886 mounted on it is fixed in a predetermined position. Then, an insulating gasket 868 of the ion-forming electrode element 202 is installed in the mounting hole 887 inside the block casing 864, and then the casing 861a of the blower 861 with the filter 863 installed is fixed in position with screws or the like. This completes the assembly of the block 833 ion-forming device. This block 833 of the ion-forming device is then removably fixed in a predetermined position in the air flow channel D by screws or the like.

An example of how the air conditioner works is described below. The air conditioner operates using the remote control unit 808, and therefore, the process of using it is described. Each time the mode selection switch 834 on the control panel of the remote control unit 808 is pressed, the operation mode is switched in the sequence “Automatic” - “Heating” - “Cooling” - “Drying” - “Automatic”, etc., and the selected mode displayed on the indicator 818 remote control. Through this operation, the desired operating mode is selected.

The signals transmitted by the remote control unit 808 are received by the sensor 817 of the liquid crystal display panel 806 of the indoor unit 801. The indoor unit 801 includes a control system. As shown in FIG. 70, the control system is equipped with a controller 890, consisting of a central processing unit (CPU), memory and other components, switch control means 891, internal fan drive circuit 892, ion forming device driver circuit 893, and a drying / humidifier driver driver circuit 894 and traction control drive circuit 895. The control system drives its individual circuit units in accordance with signals from the remote control unit 808.

When the “Start / Stop” switch 820 is pressed, the operation mode, the set temperature and the internal temperature on the liquid crystal display panel 806 of the indoor unit 801 are alternately displayed. During operation, the internal temperature is displayed. To stop operation, press switch 820 “Start / Stop”. This causes the display to turn off on the liquid crystal display panel 806 and stop the operation. To change the temperature, for example, to increase the temperature by 1 ° С, the switch “A” of the switch 821 “Temperature” is pressed once. This increases the set temperature by 1 ° C, and in the heating or cooling mode, the set temperature is displayed on the remote control indicator 818 and on the liquid crystal display panel 806. In this case, the set temperature is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 806. On the other hand, in automatic or drying mode, the value by which the temperature should be increased is displayed on the remote control indicator 818, and the set temperature is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 806. In this case, the indication of the set temperature on the liquid crystal display panel 806 switches back to the indication of the internal temperature after about four seconds. To change the volumetric flow rate of the air stream, each time the switch 835 “Volumetric flow rate of the air stream” is pressed, the volumetric flow rate of the air stream is changed, so that the indication on the remote control indicator 818 changes from “Automatic volumetric flow rate of the air stream” to “Δ volumetric flow rate of the air stream” ”, On“ ΔΔΔ of the volumetric flow rate of the air stream ”, on“ ΔΔΔ of the volumetric flow rate of the air stream ”, on“ Automatic volumetric flow rate of the air stream ”, etc., and the indication on the liquid crystal display panel 806 Tallah changes from “Automatic air flow rate” to “Weak air stream”, to “Moderate air stream”, to “Strong air stream”, to “Automatic air flow rate”, etc.

Thus, the desired operating mode is selected. In cooling mode, the heat transfer medium, condensed and thereby brought to a high temperature state by compressor 842, is passed to the outdoor heat exchanger 841 of the outdoor unit 840. In the outdoor heat exchanger 841, the outdoor fan 844 supplies outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 841, which thereby removes heat from the heat transfer medium and, thereby, cools it. The heat transfer medium is then passed through expansion valve 843 to a heat exchanger 825, where the heat transfer medium evaporates. The internal air drawn in by the internal fan 826 is passed through a heat exchanger 825, which draws heat from the air. Thus, the internal air is cooled and circulated, and, as a result, the room is cooled.

In the heating mode, the heat transfer medium circulates in the opposite direction relative to the direction in which it circulates in the cooling mode. Specifically, the condensed heat transfer medium is passed to the internal heat exchanger 825, and the internal air is passed through the internal heat exchanger 825, and thereby is heated. Thus, the room is heated. The heat exchange medium is passed through expansion valve 843 to an external heat exchanger 841, where the heat exchange medium evaporates. The heat of the heat exchange medium is exchanged with the heat of the outdoor air supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 841 by the external fan 844. Thus, the heat exchange medium takes heat from the outside air and then returns to the compressor 842.

In this case, the air flow is as follows. Air is drawn in through the inlet 831 formed on the front panel 803 of the indoor unit 801, and through the inlet 832 formed in the housing casing 802 by the internal fan 826. The air then passes through the filters 809 and 810 to the heat exchanger 825. The air is blown across the entire surface heat exchanger 825, and this improves the heat exchange efficiency of heat exchanger 825. Air passing through heat exchanger 825 is blown through the outlet 804.

When the air conditioner starts to operate, at the same time a high AC voltage is applied to the block 833 of the ion-forming device, which, thus, begins to create negative and positive ions. In addition, at the moment when the air conditioner starts to operate, the stepper motor 885 is driven so that, as shown in FIG. 69A, the traction controller 881 is moved so that the second outlet 880 opens. This causes the channel D of the air flow through the confluence 834 with the outlet 804.

Part of the air sucked in through the inlet 831 and then passed through the filters 809 and 810 enters the air flow channel D and is sucked into the ion forming apparatus unit 833. Air is passed through a filter 863 of the cladding 864 of the unit, which removes odors, dust and other foreign particles from the air, and then is supplied to the ion-forming electrode element 202, which forms negative and positive ions therein. Air, now containing negative and positive ions, is blown out through the second outlet 880. The air blown out from the ion forming apparatus unit 833 is then passed through the air flow channel D and then through the confluence point 834 to blow it through the outlet 804 together with the air, which was passed through the channel C circulation and is subject to heat transfer. Thus, air circulates through the room by convection. As a result, the internal air is not only conditioned, but also sterilized, while the microbes in the air are destroyed and removed from it under the influence of positive and negative ions.

In this air conditioner, the ion forming apparatus unit 833, which forms ions, can operate independently. In this case, when the air conditioner does not work, the group switch 824 of the remote control unit 808 is set to the “On” position. This causes a high AC voltage to be applied to the ion forming electrode element 202, as well as to the internal fan 826 of the indoor unit 801. In addition, the stepper motor 885 is driven, so that, as shown in FIG. 69B, the traction controller 881 is moved so that the first outlet 879 opens. This causes the air flow channel D to communicate with the ion outlet 836.

Air sucked in through the inlet 805 by means of the internal fan 826 is passed through the air flow channel D by the blower 861, and is sucked into the ion forming apparatus unit 833. Air blown from the ion forming electrode unit 833, now containing negative and positive ions, is passed through the first outlet 879 and blown through the ion outlet 836 into the room. Thus, the ion forming apparatus unit 833 can operate independently of air conditioning to achieve sterilization, i.e. the destruction of microbes in the internal air. This increases the usability of the air conditioner.

In addition, by activating the desiccant / humidifier 850, it is possible to control the properties of the internal air by draining or humidifying it. To achieve this, when the dehumidification / humidification device 850 is activated, the ion forming device unit 833 begins to operate at the same time. When the Humidity switch 822 or the Ventilation switch 823 of the remote control unit 808 is turned to the “On” position to start the operation of the drying / humidifying device 850, high AC voltage is supplied to the ion forming device unit 833 and also to the internal fan 826. In addition , the stepper motor 885 is driven, so that the draft regulator 881 is moved so that the first outlet 879 is opened. This causes the air flow channel D to communicate with the ion outlet 836.

Thus, air containing negative and positive ions is blown out through the ion outlet 836, and air whose moisture content is regulated is blown out through the drain / humidifier outlet 807. Thus, microbes in the air are destroyed and removed from the internal air.

As another example of an ion forming device unit 833 according to this embodiment, Fig. 71 shows an arrangement in which an air stream direction adjusting means for changing the air flow direction is further provided in the first outlet 879. In other respects, this modified version of the ion forming device unit 833 has the same construction as the original variation of this embodiment described above.

As a means of adjusting the direction of the air stream, a plurality of vertically arranged fins together making up the vertical louvers 870 are rotatably mounted in the first outlet 879. The individual fins of the vertical louvers 870 are connected together by a connecting plate 871 and are positioned at the desired angle or continuously rotated by a stepper motor ( not shown). This allows you to blow air containing ions in a certain direction or evenly in all directions.

As another example of an ion-forming device unit 833 according to this embodiment, Fig. 72 shows an arrangement in which the ion-forming device unit 833 is further provided with a control circuit board 872 having control circuits and a power source for driving the ion-forming device 201 and blowers 861 formed On him. Specifically, the box 873 for housing the control circuit board 872 is integrally formed with the housing 861a, and the control circuit board 872 is removably housed in this box 873. In addition, as shown in FIG. 73, a connector 873 is provided on the front face of the housing case 802. to connect the block 833 ion-forming device. This 874 connector is usually covered by a cover.

After the unit 833 of the ion-forming device is installed in a predetermined position inside the housing 802 of the housing, the cable from the control circuit board is connected to the connector 874. This allows you to supply voltage and transmit control signals from the air conditioner to the block 833 of the ion-forming device. Block 833 of the ion-forming device, when it is made in this way, can easily be installed subsequently, and thus can be offered as an optional accessory that the user can choose if he or she wants it.

In this embodiment, the air conditioner is taken as an example of an air conditioning apparatus that includes an ion forming apparatus unit. However, the unit of the ion-forming device can be integrated into any type of air conditioning device, for example, an air purifier, a dehumidifier, a humidifier, a refrigerator, a kerosene heater with a fan, a kerosene stove, an electric stove, etc. In any case, sterilization under the influence of negative and positive ions can be achieved. In the above-described block of the ion-forming device, the blower is located on the inlet side of the element of the ion-forming electrode; however, it can be mounted on its outlet side.

The number of provided outlets is not limited to two; those. three or more outlets may be provided. In this case, a shutter is provided, one for each outlet, so that the switching of the outlet is achieved by opening and closing these shutters so that the outlet is opened and closed individually. This allows you to set the direction of the blown air by combining multiple outlet openings and, thus, allows the air conditioner to be used in various ways for various purposes.

The seventeenth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. On Fig presents a diagram depicting the structure of the ion-forming device 201 'according to the seventeenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 74, reference numeral 202 represents an element of an ion-forming electrode of ion-forming device 201 (see FIG. 8) of a previously described seventh embodiment.

The ion-forming device 201 ′ consists of an ion-forming electrode element 202, an AC high-voltage source 206 connected to its internal and external electrodes 204 and 205, which serve as the voltage application electrode and the ground electrode, respectively, and a power switch (not shown). To measure the concentration of ozone generated in the space around, a device 12 for monitoring ozone concentration is installed, while its ozone sensor is located near the glass tube 203.

In the ion forming apparatus 201 ′, configured as described above, when the power switch is turned to the “On” position, negative and positive ions are formed on the side surface of the glass tube 203 of the ion forming electrode element 202. At the same time, ozone is also formed. To measure the intensity with which ozone is formed during operation of the ion-forming device 201 ', and the lifetime of the ozone thus formed, the following experiment was carried out.

Example 26

In the ion forming electrode element 202, a pyrex cylindrical tube having an inner diameter of 10 mm, a thickness of 1.0 mm and a length of 150 mm was used as a glass tube 203. As the inner electrode 204, a wire mesh of 80 mm length was used having 48 cells / inch and obtained by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.23 mm in diameter. As an external electrode 205, a wire mesh of 80 mm length was used, having 16 cells / inch and obtained by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.4 mm in diameter.

The ion-forming device 201 'with its element 202 of the ion-forming electrode, made as described above, was installed in the test space of 27 l and in a hermetically sealed tank made of organic glass. Then, using a high voltage AC source 206, an 1.1 kV rms voltage having a frequency of 12 kHz was applied to the internal electrode 204, and the external electrode 205 was at ground potential. In this state, using the ozone concentration control device 12, the concentration of ozone generated by the ion forming apparatus 201 ′ was measured. As an ozone concentration monitoring device 12, an ultraviolet absorption type indicator ozone model EG-2001, manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd., Japan, was used.

On Fig presents the change in ozone concentration observed when, in an atmosphere in which the initial concentration of ozone was 0.001 ppm or less, the power switch 207 was held in the “On” position for six minutes, and then turned into the “Off” position. As shown in FIG. 75, the change in ozone concentration is approximated exponentially, both when the power switch 207 was in the “On” position and when it was in the “Off” position.

When ozone is generated indoors, as in an ordinary home, the change in ozone concentration over time, if its initial value is assumed to be zero, is determined as follows:

C _ozone = (n ₀ / (η + K)) (1-exp (- (η + K) t)),

where n ₀ represents the intensity with which ozone is formed, η is the decay constant of ozone (i.e., the inverse of the lifetime (ozone), K is the air exchange rate, and t is time.

On the other hand, a change in ozone concentration due to natural decay is defined as

C _ozone = C ₀ exp (- (η + K) t),

where C ₀ is the initial concentration of ozone.

As a result of the selection of these formulas to the curve in Fig. 75, which represents the actually measured change in ozone concentration over time, it is possible to calculate the ozone formation rate and the ozone lifetime. In this particular case, the intensity of ozone formation n ₀ and the lifetime τ were calculated as 1.02 mg / min and 170.6 s, respectively, assuming that the multiplicity of air exchange K was zero. Typically, the life time τ of ozone in an ordinary atmosphere, like inside an ordinary house, is 180 s or less. Therefore, the calculated ozone lifetime τ is considered correct.

In this embodiment, based on the ozone generation rate, specifically for the ion forming device 201, the periods during which the power switch 207 is held in the “On” and “Off” positions are adjusted so that the ion forming device 201 operates intermittently. This allows you to ensure a sufficient number of negative and positive ions, while at the same time minimizing the formation of ozone.

The eighteenth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 76 is a sectional side view showing the structure of an air purifier 300 'according to an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 76, those elements that are also present in the air purifier 300 shown in Fig. 3 and described previously in connection with the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numbers, and their description is not repeated.

The main distinguishing features of this embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 76, the ion forming electrode element 202 of the ion forming device 201 ′ (see FIG. 74) according to the seventeenth embodiment described above is provided in the air flow channel near the outlet 305 and that an ozone sensor 13 for monitoring ozone concentration is provided near the discharge side of the ion forming electrode element 202. As the ozone sensor 13, an ultraviolet absorption type sensor or a sensor using a method based on polarography or semiconductors is used.

When this air purifier 300 ′, configured as described above, starts to operate, the purge fan 302 starts to rotate. As a result, air sucked in through the inlet 303 into the airflow channel is passed through filters 304 that remove dust and odors from the air, and then blown out through the outlet 305. Meanwhile, if the ion forming device 201 ′ continues to be turned on, negative and positive ions formed in the space around the ion-forming electrode element 202 are blown along with clean air. In addition, the ozone sensor 13 monitors the concentration of ozone generated around the ion forming electrode element 202 and then blown out.

The sterilization of the air purifier 300 'of this embodiment is described below as a practical example with respect to microbes in the air. It should be understood, however, that the air purifier 300 'according to this embodiment is not limited to the example specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made as necessary with regard to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 27

In an air purifier 300 'provided with an ion-forming device 201' of the previously described Example 26, the ozone sensor 13 was placed at a position 5 cm from the ion-forming electrode element 202, the purge fan 302 rotated at an air flow rate of 0.8 m ³ / min. the ion forming apparatus 201 ′ was intermittently driven at various intervals using the power switch 207, and the concentration of ozone generated by the ion forming apparatus 201 ′ was measured. Results i.e. the relationship between the on / off intervals of the power switch 207 and the ozone concentration are shown in Table 10. The ozone concentration was measured using an ultraviolet absorption type ozone indicator model EG-2001 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd., Japan.

As shown in Table 10, when the ion-forming device 201 'was operating continuously, the ozone concentration was 0.05 ppm, i.e. above the acceptable safe level of 0.01 ppm. In contrast, when the ion forming apparatus 201 ′ was intermittent, depending on the intervals at which it was operated, the ozone concentration was reduced to an acceptable safe level or lower.

Thus, by intermittently actuating the ion-forming device 201 ′ with varying intervals, while at the same time controlling the concentration of generated ozone using the ozone sensor 13, it is possible to destroy the germs in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device 201 ′, while minimizing the formation of hazardous ozone.

The nineteenth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. On Fig presents a side view in section, showing the structural structure of the air conditioner 400 'according to the nineteenth embodiment of the present invention. On Fig those elements that are also present in the air purifier 400, shown in figure 4 and described previously in connection with the third embodiment, are denoted by the same positions, and their description is not repeated.

The main distinguishing features of this embodiment are that, as shown in FIG. 77, the ion-forming electrode element 202 of the ion-forming device 201 ′ (see FIG. 74) according to the seventeenth embodiment described above is provided in the air flow channel near the outlet 405 and that an ozone sensor 14 for monitoring ozone concentration is provided near the discharge side of the ion forming electrode element 202. As the ozone sensor 14, an ultraviolet absorption type sensor or a sensor using a method based on polarography or semiconductors is used.

When this air conditioner 400 ', made as described above, starts to operate, the purge fan 402 starts to rotate. As a result, air sucked in through the inlet 403 into the air flow channel is passed through filters 404 that remove dust and odors from the air, then passed through a heat exchanger 406 that exchanges heat between the air and the coolant, and then is blown out through the outlet 405. Meanwhile, if the ion-forming device 201 ′ continues to be turned on, negative and positive ions formed in the space around the ion-forming electrode element 202 are blown out with clean air. In addition, the ozone sensor 14 monitors the concentration of ozone generated around the ion forming electrode element 202 and then blown out.

A sterilization conditioner 400 'according to this embodiment is described below as a practical example with respect to airborne microbes. You must understand, however, that the air conditioner 400 'according to this embodiment is not limited to the example specifically described below, but can be implemented with modifications made as necessary in relation to operating conditions and other factors.

Example 28

In an air conditioner 400 'provided with an ion-forming device 201' of the previously described Example 26, the ozone sensor 14 was placed at a position 5 cm from the ion-forming electrode element 202, the purge fan 402 rotated at an air flow rate of 0.8 m ³ / min. the ion forming device 201 ′ was intermittently operated at various intervals using the power switch 207, and the concentration of ozone generated by the ion forming device 201 ′ was measured. Results i.e. the relationship between the on / off intervals of the power switch 207 and the ozone concentration are shown in Table 11. The ozone concentration was measured using an ultraviolet absorption type ozone indicator model EG-2001 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd., Japan.

As shown in Table 11, when the ion-forming device 201 'was operating continuously, the ozone concentration was relatively high, i.e. 0.05 ppm. In contrast, when the ion forming apparatus 201 ′ was intermittent, depending on the intervals at which it was operated, the ozone concentration was reduced to 0.01 ppm or lower.

Thus, by intermittently actuating the ion-forming device 201 ′ with varying intervals, while monitoring the concentration of generated ozone using the ozone sensor 14, it is possible to destroy the germs in the air under the influence of negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device 201 ′, while minimizing the formation of hazardous ozone.

The twentieth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. On Fig presents a side view in section, showing the structure of the structure of the air purifier according to the twentieth embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 78, reference numeral 202 denotes an element of the ion-forming electrode of ion-forming device 201 (see Fig. 8) of the seventh embodiment described above, reference numeral 912 denotes an air inlet, reference numeral 913 denotes a pre-filter located on the air discharge side 912, reference numeral 914 denotes an activated carbon filter impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst such as manganese dioxide, reference 915 indicates a high-performance dry air filter, reference 916 indicates a purge fan, and reference 917 boznachaet air outlet. In this arrangement, from a high voltage AC source (not shown), an AC voltage is applied to the inner electrode 204 of the ion forming electrode element 202, while its outer electrode 205 is at ground potential.

It was noted that when the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205 of the ion-forming electrode element 202 were made in the form of a stainless steel grid, the concentration (ion / cc) of negative and positive ions formed when the alternating current voltage was applied changed according to the number of cells per inch of these grids.

Example 29

As a glass tube 203, a pyrex cylindrical tube with an inner diameter of 12 mm, a thickness of 1.0 mm and a length of 150 mm was used. As the inner electrode 204, a wire mesh having a length of 80 mm and 48 cells / inch and made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.23 mm in diameter was used. As the external electrode 205, a metal mesh was used, having a length of 80 mm and 9-100 cells / inch and made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.15-0.22 mm in diameter.

Then, using a high voltage AC source, an alternating current voltage of 1.1-1.4 kV rms having a frequency of 15 kHz was applied to the inner electrode 204, with the outer electrode 205 being at ground potential. Then, using a model 83-1001B ion-air counter manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd. of Japan, the concentrations of negative and positive ions with a mobility of 1 cm ² / (V · s) or higher were measured at the measurement point, located at a distance of 20 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203. The results of various cases are shown in Fig. 79. Ion concentrations were measured using an airborne ion counter model 83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan.

As shown in FIG. 79, with an increase in the number of cells per inch of the outer electrode 205, there was a tendency to increase ion concentrations. However, at a number of cells per inch of 30 or more, the ion concentrations remained almost completely constant; specifically, a concentration of approximately 200,000-400,000 ion / cc negative and positive ions was detected.

When an alternating current voltage is applied to the ion forming electrode element 202, not a small amount of ozone is formed with the ions. Ozone not only has an unpleasant odor, but it is also dangerous to human health. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the amount of ozone produced.

Example 30

As a glass tube 203, a pyrex cylindrical tube with an inner diameter of 12 mm, a thickness of 1.0 mm and a length of 150 mm was used. As the inner electrode 204, a wire mesh having a length of 80 mm and 48 cells / inch and made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.23 mm in diameter was used. As the external electrode 205, a metal mesh was used, having a length of 80 mm and 9-100 cells / inch and made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.15-0.22 mm in diameter.

Then, using a high voltage AC source, an alternating current voltage of 1.1-1.4 kV rms having a frequency of 15 kHz was applied to the inner electrode 204, with the outer electrode 205 being at ground potential. Then, the ozone concentration was measured at a measurement point located 20 cm from the side surface of the glass tube 203. The ozone concentration was measured using an ultraviolet absorption type indicator ozone model EG-2001 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd. of Japan. The results of various cases are shown in Fig. 80.

As shown in FIG. 80, as the number of cells per inch of the outer electrode 205 increased, an ozone concentration tended to increase. However, with the number of cells per inch in the range of 30-60, the ozone concentration remained almost completely constant.

Thus, it was found that, in order to maximize the formation of ions while minimizing the formation of ozone, in cases where the inner electrode 204 is formed from a wire mesh having 48 cells / inch, the preferred number of cells per inch of the outer electrode 205 is in the range of 30-60.

The following is an assessment of the sterilization efficiency with respect to airborne microbes of an air purifier including, in the vicinity of the air outlet 917, as shown in FIG. 78, an ion-forming electrode element 202 having the characteristics described above.

Example 31

An air purifier was installed in the test space 2.0 m long, 2.5 m wide and 2.7 m high. Then, the widespread bacteria and fungi that were previously grown on the growth medium were sprayed in the test space. Then, an alternating current voltage of 1.1-1.4 kV rms was applied to the ion forming electrode element 202, and the air purifier was driven. Then, at predetermined time intervals, using an RCS model air sampler manufactured by Biotest AG, Germany, air inside the test space was taken at a speed of 40 l / min for four minutes to measure the number of microbes. The results are shown in Table 12.

In this example, a pyrex cylindrical tube with an inner diameter of 12 mm, a thickness of 1.0 mm and a length of 150 mm was used as a glass tube 203. As the inner electrode 204, a wire mesh having a length of 80 mm and 48 cells / inch and made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.23 mm in diameter was used. As the external electrode 205, a metal mesh having a length of 80 mm and 48 cells / inch and made by plain weaving of stainless steel wire 304 having 0.15-0.22 mm in diameter was used. For comparison, a similar experiment was carried out using wire meshes 204 and 205, having 100 cells / inch in both cases, as internal and external electrodes.

Three hours after the start of the operation of the air purifier 300, most of the widespread bacteria and fungi were destroyed, specifically 92% and 92%, respectively. In the comparative example, after three hours, 82% and 82% of the widespread bacteria and fungi were removed, respectively. Thus, a more efficient sterilization was achieved in Example 31 than in the comparative example. In addition, most of the ozone formed with the negative and positive ions was decomposed by an activated carbon filter impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst 914, and there was no smell of ozone.

This proves that the air cleaner including the ion forming electrode element 202 according to this embodiment is capable of effectively destroying microbes in the air.

The twenty-first embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. On Fig presents a side view in section, showing the structure of the structure of the air conditioner according to the twenty-first embodiment of the present invention. On Fig, position 202 denotes the element of the ion-forming electrode of the ion-forming device 201 (see Fig. 8) of the previously described seventh embodiment, position 1042 denotes an air inlet, position 1043 denotes a pre-filter located on the outlet side of the air inlet 42, 1044 denotes an activated carbon filter impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst such as manganese dioxide, 1046 denotes a purge fan, 1047 denotes an air outlet ear and position 1048 represents a heat exchanger.

The following is an assessment of the sterilization efficiency with respect to airborne microbes of an air conditioner including, in the vicinity of the air outlet 1042, as shown in FIG. 81, an ion-forming electrode element 202 having the characteristics described previously in connection with the twentieth embodiment.

Example 32

The air conditioner was installed in the test space 2.0 m long, 2.5 m wide and 2.7 m high. Then, the widespread bacteria and fungi that were previously grown on the growth medium were sprayed in the test space. Then, an alternating current voltage of 1.1-1.4 kV rms was applied to the ion forming electrode element 202, and the air conditioner was powered. Then, at predetermined time intervals, using an RCS model air sampler manufactured by Biotest AG, Germany, air inside the test space was taken at a speed of 40 l / min for four minutes to measure the number of microbes. The results are shown in Table 13.

In this example, a pyrex cylindrical tube with an inner diameter of 12 mm, a thickness of 1.0 mm and a length of 150 mm was used as a glass tube 203. As the inner electrode 204, a wire mesh having a length of 80 mm and 48 cells / inch and made by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire having 0.23 mm in diameter was used. As the external electrode 205, a metal mesh having a length of 80 mm and 48 cells / inch and made by plain weaving of stainless steel wire 304 having 0.15-0.22 mm in diameter was used. For comparison, a similar experiment was carried out using wire meshes 204 and 205, having 100 cells / inch in both cases, as internal and external electrodes.

Three hours after the start of the air conditioner, most of the widespread bacteria and fungi were destroyed, specifically 91% and 92%, respectively. In the comparative example, after three hours, 80% and 87%, respectively, of the widespread bacteria and fungi were removed. Thus, a more efficient sterilization was achieved in Example 32 than in the comparative example. In addition, most of the ozone formed with the negative and positive ions was decomposed by an activated carbon filter 1044 impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst, and there was no smell of ozone.

This proves that the air conditioner including the ion forming electrode element 202 according to this embodiment is capable of effectively destroying microbes in the air.

In the examples specifically described above, wire mesh obtained by plain weaving of 304 stainless steel wire, which is electrically conductive and oxidation resistant, was used as the inner and outer electrodes 204 and 205. However, these electrodes can be made of any other metal that is resistant to oxidation, for example tungsten, platinum, gold, silver or palladium. In particular, when a noble metal is used, such as platinum, gold, silver or palladium, the electrodes can be obtained by forming a coating of this metal on the surface of wire mesh of a less expensive metal, such as titanium.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention can be practiced otherwise than specifically described, within the scope of the appended claims.

Industrial applicability

As described above, in accordance with the present invention, the sterilization method includes the formation of negative and positive ions, respectively, O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n (where n is a natural number) and H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (where m is a natural number) and the release of these ions into the air, so that microbes in the air are destroyed as a result of the oxidation reaction by peroxide hydrogen H ₂ O ₂ or OH hydroxyl radical formed as active species as a result of a chemical reaction between negative and positive ions.

In this case, if the concentrations of negative and positive ions in both cases are 10,000 ions / cc or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which these ions are formed, satisfactory sterilization can be achieved.

In accordance with the present invention, the ion-forming device is equipped with a dielectric, a first electrode and a second electrode, and the first and second electrodes are arranged so that they face each other, and the dielectric is located between them. The ion-forming device forms, as negative and positive ions, respectively O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n (where n is a natural number) and H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (where m is a natural number) by applying an alternating current voltage between the first and second electrodes. These ions are released into the air, so that microbes in the air are destroyed as a result of the oxidative reaction under the influence of hydrogen peroxide H ₂ O ₂ or OH hydroxyl radical formed as active species as a result of the chemical reaction between negative and positive ions that occurs after the formation of these ions .

In this case, sufficient concentrations of negative and positive ions to achieve satisfactory sterilization are ensured by the application of a relatively low AC voltage of 2.0 kV rms or less. The concentrations of negative and positive ions thus provided in both cases are 10,000 ions / cc or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which ions are formed.

More specifically, in one arrangement, the ion-forming device is equipped with a dielectric, which has a cylindrical shape, an internal electrode, which is made in the form of a grid, and an external electrode, which is made in the form of a grid, and the inner and outer electrodes are arranged so that they are facing each other, and the dielectric is located between them. An ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions by applying an alternating current voltage between the internal and external electrodes.

In this case, the inner electrode can be made cylindrical by folding its material so that when the inner electrode is mounted on the inner surface of the cylindrical dielectric, the opposite side edges of the material being rolled overlap. This allows you to easily and reliably enter the inner electrode in contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical dielectric.

In this case, if it is assumed that the outer diameter of the dielectric is 20 mm or less, that its thickness is 1.6 mm or less, that the inner electrode has 40 cells / inch, and that the external electrode has 16 cells / inch, then sufficient the concentration of negative and positive ions to achieve satisfactory sterilization with minimal ozone formation is ensured by the application of a relatively low ac voltage of 2.0 kV rms or less. The concentrations of negative and positive ions thus provided in both cases are 10,000 ions / cc or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which ions are formed.

The dielectric can be fixed at both ends with elastic rubber elements, so that the inner and outer electrodes do not move relative to each other along the axis of the dielectric. This helps to stabilize the efficiency of the ion-forming device, so that it forms negative and positive ions with better reproducibility.

In this case, the elastic rubber elements are preferably made of ethylene-propylene rubber, which is ozone-resistant.

In addition, as conductors that are connected to the inner and outer electrodes, a stainless steel wire coated with a polyethylene fluoride resin, which is also ozone resistant, is preferably used.

In this case, the inner electrode should be at least thick enough so that one of the conductors can be connected to it.

An internal or external electrode may be provided with means for improving its contact with the dielectric. It also helps to stabilize the efficiency of the ion-forming device.

The dielectric surface may be impregnated with a catalyst to accelerate the decomposition of ozone. This helps to reduce the concentration of ozone generated as a by-product when the ion-forming device forms ions.

Instead, an internal or external electrode may be impregnated with a catalyst to accelerate the decomposition of ozone.

Instead, an element impregnated with a catalyst may be provided to accelerate the decomposition of ozone at a distance from the dielectric. This allows the use of 2.5 kV rms or less as an AC voltage.

In another arrangement, the ion-forming device in accordance with the present invention is equipped with a dielectric that has a cylindrical shape, an internal electrode that has the shape of a sheet, and an external electrode that is made in the form of a grid, and the inner and outer electrodes are arranged so that they face each other and a dielectric is located between them. The ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions as a result of applying an alternating current voltage between the internal and external electrodes.

With this arrangement, an electric discharge occurs between the electrodes, one of which serves as a set of points, and the other - lines. This ensures the stable formation of negative and positive ions. In addition, by modifying this arrangement similarly to the first arrangement described above, similar advantages can be obtained.

The outer electrode can be made longer than the inner electrode along their axis, and the inner and outer electrodes can be arranged so that when the outer electrode is projected onto the inner electrode, the inner electrode lies inside the projection of the outer electrode. This further increases the efficiency of the ion-forming device.

In this case, the inner electrode may be made of a polygonal sheet having several corners, so that when the inner electrode takes a cylindrical shape as a result of folding the polygonal sheet, at least one of the corners protrudes from the end of the cylinder. Such a corner protruding from the inner electrode is more likely to create an electric field concentration on it and, thereby, contributes to the formation of a more stable electric discharge than in the case of a cylinder with even ends.

The inner electrode may have a plurality of openings formed therein, and protrusions are formed around the openings so that they protrude toward the dielectric. This is more likely to create an electric field concentration also on the side surface of the cylinder and, thus, contributes to the formation of a stable and uniform electric discharge over the entire side surface of the inner electrode.

In accordance with the present invention, the ion-forming device is provided, in addition to the ion-forming device, as described above, with a high-voltage AC source for supplying the ion-forming device with AC voltage, by which the ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions, and a blower for creating a forced flow of negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device.

With such an ion-forming device, negative and positive ions generated by the ion-forming device, powered by an alternating current voltage from a high-voltage alternating current source, can be released into a large air space under the influence of a blower, so that microbes in the air are destroyed under the influence of these ions.

In accordance with the present invention, the air conditioning device is provided, in addition to the ion forming device, as described above, with a high voltage AC source for supplying the ion forming device with AC voltage, with which the ion forming device forms negative and positive ions, with a blower to create a forced flow of negative and positive ions formed by an ion-forming device, an inlet through which air is sucked in, an outlet a vent through which the negative and positive ions generated by the ion-forming device are blown together with air sucked in through the inlet and a filter located in the air flow channel passing from the inlet to the outlet to remove foreign particles from the air.

With this air conditioning device, the negative and positive ions generated by the ion forming device, powered by an alternating current voltage from a high voltage alternating current source, can be released into a large air space under the influence of a blower, so that microbes in the air are destroyed under the influence of these ions. In addition, while the air is circulating, the filter removes dust and other foreign particles, as well as odors from the air. This helps to create a comfortable and clean home environment.

Alternatively, in accordance with the present invention, the air conditioning device is provided, in addition to the ion forming device, as described above, with a high voltage AC source for supplying the ion forming device with AC voltage, with which the ion forming device forms negative and positive ions, with a blower for creating a forced flow negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device, an inlet through which air is sucked in, an outlet through which, under the action of the blower, the negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device are blown together with the air sucked through the inlet, a filter located in the air flow channel passing from the inlet to the outlet to remove foreign particles from the air, and a heat exchanger located in the air flow channel.

With this air conditioning device, the negative and positive ions generated by the ion forming device, powered by an alternating current voltage from a high voltage alternating current source, can be released into a large air space under the influence of a blower, so that microbes in the air are destroyed under the influence of these ions. In addition, while air is circulating, the temperature or humidity of the air is regulated by the heat exchanger, and the filter removes dust and other foreign particles, as well as odors from the air. This helps to create a comfortable and clean home environment.

Claims (44)

1. A sterilization method for destroying microbes in the air in which O is formed $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n , where n is a natural number, as negative ions and h ⁺ (h ₂ o) _m , where m is a natural number, as positive ions, they release ions into the air and destroy microbes as a result of the oxidative reaction under the action of hydrogen peroxide H ₂ O ₂ or hydroxyl radical OH ^- formed as active species as a result of a chemical reaction between negative and positive ions. 2. The sterilization method according to claim 1, in which the concentration of negative and positive ions in both cases is 10,000 ion / cm ³ or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which ions are formed. 3. Ion-forming device for the formation of O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n , where n is a natural number, as negative ions and H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m , where m is a natural number, as positive ions, in which positive and negative ions form a peroxide as a result of a chemical reaction hydrogen H ₂ O ₂ or hydroxyl radical OH ^- for the oxidation and destruction of microbes in the air. 4. Ion-forming device for the formation of O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n , where n is a natural number, as negative ions and H ⁺ (Н ₂ О) _m , where m is a natural number, as positive ions, and the concentrations of negative and positive ions in both cases are 10,000 ions / cm ³ or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which the formation of ions of each type in which the positive and negative ions by a chemical reaction to form hydrogen peroxide H ₂ O ₂ or hydroxy radical OH ^- for oxidation and destruction of bacteria in the air. 5. Ion-forming device for the formation of O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n , where n is a natural number, as negative ions and H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m , where m is a natural number, as positive ions, and the ion-forming device contains a dielectric, a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes are arranged so that they are facing each other, and the dielectric is located between them, and the ion-forming device forms ions by applying an alternating current voltage between the first and second electrodes. 6. Ion-forming device for the formation of O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n , where n is a natural number, as negative ions and H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m , where m is a natural number, as positive ions, and the concentration of negative and positive ions in both cases is 10,000 ions / cm ³ or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which ions are formed, while the ion-forming device contains a dielectric, a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being located so that they face each other, and the dielectric is located between them , and the ion-forming device forms ions through m application of AC voltage between the first and second electrodes. 7. Ion-forming device for the formation of O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n , where n is a natural number, as negative ions and H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m , where m is a natural number, as positive ions, and the ion-forming device contains a dielectric, a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged so that they are facing each other, and the dielectric is located between them, and the ion-forming device forms ions by applying an alternating current voltage of 2.0 kV rms or less between the first and second electrodes. 8. Ion-forming device for the formation of O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (Н ₂ О) _n , where n is a natural number, as negative ions and Н ⁺ (Н ₂ O) _m , where m is a natural number, as positive ions, while the concentrations of negative and positive ions in both cases are 10,000 ion / cm ³ or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which ions are formed, the ion-forming device comprising a dielectric, a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being arranged so that they face each other, and the dielectric is located between them, and the ion-forming device forms ions through by applying an alternating current voltage of 2.0 kV rms or less between the first and second electrodes. 9. An ion-forming device for the formation of negative ions and positive ions, wherein the ion-forming device contains a dielectric that has a cylindrical shape, an internal electrode that is made in the form of a grid, and an external electrode that is made in the form of a grid, the inner and outer electrodes are arranged so that they are facing each other, and a dielectric is located between them, while the ion-forming device forms ions by applying an alternating current voltage between the internal and external electrodes. 10. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which the AC voltage is 2.0 kV rms or less. 11. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which the positive ions are H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m , where m is a natural number, and the negative ions are O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n , where n is a natural number. 12. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which the concentration of negative and positive ions in both cases is 10,000 ion / cm ³ or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which ions are formed. 13. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which the inner electrode is made of cylindrical shape by folding its material so that when the inner electrode is installed along the inner surface of the cylindrical dielectric, the opposite side edges of the material being rolled overlap. 14. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which the grid of the inner electrode has a finer cell than the grid of the outer electrode. 15. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which the dielectric is fixed at both ends using elastic rubber elements, so that the inner and outer electrodes do not move relative to each other along the axis of the dielectric. 16. The ion-forming device according to clause 15, in which the elastic rubber elements are made of ethylene-propylene rubber. 17. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which stainless steel wire coated with polyethylene fluoride resin is used as conductors connected to the inner and outer electrodes. 18. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which the internal or external electrode is equipped with a means for improving its contact with the dielectric. 19. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which the surface of the dielectric is impregnated with a catalyst to accelerate the decomposition of ozone. 20. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which the internal or external electrode is impregnated with a catalyst to accelerate the decomposition of ozone. 21. The ion-forming device according to claim 9, in which an element impregnated with a catalyst is provided at a distance from the dielectric to accelerate the decomposition of ozone. 22. The ion-forming device according to item 21, in which the AC voltage is 2.5 kV rms or less. 23. An ion-forming device for the formation of negative ions and positive ions, wherein the ion-forming device contains a dielectric that has a cylindrical shape, an inner electrode that is made in the form of a sheet, and an outer electrode that is made in the form of a grid, the inner and outer electrodes are arranged so that they are facing each other, and a dielectric is located between them, while the ion-forming device forms ions as a result of applying an alternating current voltage between the internal and external electrodes. 24. The ion-forming device according to item 23, in which the AC voltage is 2.0 kV rms or less. 25. The ion forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the positive ions are H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m , where m is a natural number and the negative ions are O $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{-}}{\text{2}}$ (H ₂ O) _n , where n is a natural number. 26. The ion-forming device according to item 23, in which the concentration of negative and positive ions in both cases is 10,000 ion / cm ³ or higher at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which ions are formed. 27. The ion forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the inner electrode is cylindrical in shape by folding its material so that when the inner electrode is installed along the inner surface of the cylindrical dielectric, the opposite side edges of the material being rolled overlap. 28. The ion-forming device according to item 23, in which the dielectric is fixed at both ends using elastic rubber elements, so that the inner and outer electrodes do not move relative to each other along the axis of the dielectric. 29. The ion forming device according to claim 28, wherein the elastic rubber elements are made of ethylene propylene rubber. 30. The ion-forming device according to claim 23, in which stainless steel wire coated with polyethylene fluoride resin is used as conductors connected to the internal and external electrodes. 31. The ion forming device according to claim 30, wherein the inner electrode has a thickness of at least sufficient to attach one of the conductors to it. 32. The ion-forming device according to item 23, in which the internal or external electrode is equipped with a means for improving its contact with the dielectric. 33. The ion-forming device according to item 23, in which the surface of the dielectric is impregnated with a catalyst to accelerate the decomposition of ozone. 34. The ion-forming device according to item 23, in which the internal or external electrode is impregnated with a catalyst to accelerate the decomposition of ozone. 35. The ion forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the element impregnated with an ozone decomposition catalyst is provided at a distance from the dielectric. 36. The ion-forming device according to clause 35, in which the AC voltage is 2.5 kV rms or less. 37. The ion-forming device according to item 23, in which the external electrode has a greater axial length than the internal electrode. 38. The ion-forming device according to item 23, in which the inner electrode is made of a polygonal sheet having several corners. 39. The ion-forming device according to item 23, in which the inner electrode is cylindrical in shape as a result of folding a polygonal sheet so that at least one of the corners protrudes from the end of the cylindrical shape. 40. The ion forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the inner electrode has a plurality of holes formed therein, and protrusions are formed around the holes so that they protrude toward the dielectric. 41. The ion-forming device containing the ion-forming device according to one of claims 3 to 40, which further comprises a high-voltage AC source for supplying the ion-forming device with AC voltage, with which the ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions, and a blower for creating a forced flow of negative and positive ions formed by the ion forming device. 42. An air conditioning device comprising an ion-forming device according to one of claims 3 to 40, which further comprises a high-voltage alternating current source for supplying an ion-forming device with AC voltage, with which the ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions; a blower to create a forced flow of negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device, an inlet through which air is sucked in, and an outlet through which negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device are blown out by the blower along with air sucked through the inlet. 43. An air conditioning device comprising an ion-forming device according to one of claims 3 to 40, which further comprises a high-voltage alternating current source for supplying an ion-forming device with AC voltage, with which the ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions; a blower for creating a forced flow of negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device, an inlet through which air is sucked in, an outlet through which negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device are blown together with air sucked through the inlet under the action of the blower, and a filter located in the air flow channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to remove foreign particles from the air. 44. An air conditioning device containing an ion-forming device according to one of claims 3 to 40, which further comprises a high-voltage AC source for supplying an ion-forming device with AC voltage, with which the ion-forming device forms negative and positive ions, a blower to create a forced flow of negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device, an inlet through which air is sucked in, an outlet through which The negative and positive ions formed by the ion-forming device blow the air together with the air sucked through the inlet, the filter located in the air flow channel passing from the inlet to the outlet to remove foreign particles from the air, and a heat exchanger located in air flow channel.

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