WO2012093543A1

WO2012093543A1 - Electrostatic atomization device

Info

Publication number: WO2012093543A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/078271
Authority: WO
Inventors: 矢野　武志; 須川　晃秀
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2011-01-07
Filing date: 2011-12-07
Publication date: 2012-07-12
Also published as: JP2012143679A

Abstract

An electrostatic atomization device includes an ejection port that ejects electrically charged water particles generated by discharge electrodes, and an introduction tube having the upstream end thereof connected to the ejection port, wherein: the introduction tube has, in the middle of the flow path thereof, a bellows structure in which small-diameter parts and large-diameter parts are arranged contiguously in an alternating manner; and the inner diameter of each small-diameter part is made larger than the inner diameter of the part upstream of the bellows structure. Thus, the introduction tube can be connected easily to a target section through the effective use of the bellows structure, and also, the flow of air inside the introduction tube is less likely to be disturbed.

Description

Electrostatic atomizer

The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer capable of discharging charged fine particle water.

An electrostatic atomizer capable of generating charged fine particle water by an electrostatic atomization phenomenon and releasing it toward a target location is conventionally known. The charged fine particle water has a minute diameter and contains radicals, and exhibits a deodorizing effect on odors adhering to fabrics, an inhibitory effect on viruses and fungi, an inhibitory effect on allele substances, etc. (Patent Document 1) Etc.).

¡Once this charged fine particle water is released into the external space, it may adhere to other members and disappear before reaching the target location. In that case, the effect of charged fine particle water cannot be sufficiently obtained at the target location. Therefore, in order to efficiently supply the charged fine particle water to the target location, the introduction pipe is connected from the location where the charged fine particle water is generated to the target location.

JP 2010-89088 A

When the downstream end of the introduction pipe is connected to the target location by fitting or the like, there is a problem that the connection is not easy depending on the position and structure of the target location, and misalignment is likely to occur.

Therefore, the present inventors first considered providing a bellows structure in the middle of the flow path of the introduction pipe. However, in this case, there is a problem that the flow of air in the introduction pipe is likely to be disturbed in the portion of the bellows structure, and as a result, the amount of charged fine particle water supplied to the target location through the introduction pipe is reduced.

The present invention has been invented in view of the above-mentioned problems, and can easily connect the introduction tube to the target location without displacement, and the charged fine particle water can be efficiently supplied to the target location through the introduction tube. It is an object to provide an electrostatic atomizer that can be supplied with

In order to solve the above problems, an electrostatic atomizer of the present invention comprises a discharge electrode, water supply means for supplying water to the discharge electrode, and the water supplied to the discharge electrode by applying a voltage. A voltage applying means for electrostatic atomization, a discharge port for discharging charged fine particle water generated by electrostatic atomization, and an introduction pipe having an upstream end connected to the discharge port, the introduction pipe having a small diameter Having a bellows structure in which the portion and the large-diameter portion alternately continue in the middle of the flow path, the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion being larger than the inner diameter of the portion upstream of the bellows structure Features.

In the electrostatic atomizer of the present invention, the introduction pipe has a downstream end connected to the air passage of the air conditioner, and discharges the charged fine particle water to the outside space by the air blow of the air conditioner. It is preferable to provide it.

The present invention has an effect that the introduction pipe can be easily connected to the target location without displacement, and the charged fine particle water can be supplied to the target location with high efficiency through the introduction tube.

It is a fragmentary sectional view of the electrostatic atomizer of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the electrostatic atomizer of one Embodiment. It is principal part sectional drawing of the electrostatic atomizer of one Embodiment. (A) is a fragmentary sectional view of the electrostatic atomizer of a comparative example, (b) is the principal part enlarged view of (a). It is a graph which shows the experimental result of one Embodiment and a comparative example. It is a perspective view which shows the example of installation of the electrostatic atomizer of one Embodiment.

1 to 3 show an electrostatic atomizer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, since the basic structure of an electrostatic atomizer is well-known in the above-mentioned patent document etc., only a simple description is given below about a basic structure.

The electrostatic atomizer of this embodiment includes a columnar discharge electrode 1 as shown in FIG. 3 in a box-shaped housing 8, water supply means 2 for supplying water to the discharge electrode 1, and the discharge electrode. 1 is provided with voltage applying means 3 for applying a voltage.

The water supply means 2 includes a cooling device 4 that generates condensed water on the surface of the discharge electrode 1 by cooling the discharge electrode 1. The cooling device 4 cools the discharge electrode 1 using a plurality of Peltier elements, but may have other configurations as long as the discharge electrode 1 can be cooled. Further, the water supply means 2 may be configured to supply water from other locations such as a water tank to the discharge electrode 1.

As the voltage applying means 3, an annular counter electrode 6 is disposed at a position facing the tip of the discharge electrode 1, and both electrodes 1, 6 are applied so that a predetermined voltage is applied between the counter electrode 6 and the discharge electrode 1. A voltage application unit 7 is connected between them. By applying a predetermined high voltage to the discharge electrode 1 in a state where water is supplied by the voltage application unit 7, negative charges are concentrated on the water held by the discharge electrode 1, and the nanometer is caused by the electrostatic atomization phenomenon. Generate charged fine particle water of a size. Here, the voltage applying unit 3 may be configured so that electrostatic atomization can be caused by voltage application and the counter electrode 6 is not disposed.

The charged fine particle water generated at the tip portion of the discharge electrode 1 is discharged through the central hole of the counter electrode 6 (see arrow a in FIG. 3). A discharge cylinder 9 through which the charged fine particle water that has passed through the counter electrode 6 passes is formed on one side surface of the housing 8, and the opening of the discharge cylinder 9 has a discharge port 10 that discharges the charged fine particle water to the outside of the housing 8. (See FIG. 1).

The electrostatic atomizer of this embodiment further includes an introduction tube 11. One end of the introduction tube 11 is fitted into the discharge tube 9, and the discharge port 10 at the tip of the discharge tube 9 is connected to one end (upstream end) of the introduction tube 11 by this fitting.

Note that the introduction tube 11 has a flow path. In addition, the introduction tube 11 has an axial direction and a radial direction. The axial direction of the introduction pipe 11 is defined as a direction along the flow path of the introduction pipe 11. The radial direction of the introduction pipe 11 is defined as a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the introduction pipe 11.

The introduction tube 11 is made of a flexible material such as rubber and is provided so as to be bent as a whole. Further, a bellows structure 14 in which small diameter portions 12 and large diameter portions 13 are alternately formed is provided in the middle of the flow path of the introduction pipe 11. In the following description, a portion upstream of the bellows structure 14 in the introduction pipe 11 is denoted as “upstream tube portion” 15 and a portion downstream of the bellows structure 14 is denoted as “downstream tube portion” 16. .

That is, the introduction pipe 11 has an upstream pipe part 15, a bellows structure 14, and a downstream pipe part 16. The downstream pipe portion 16 is located on the side opposite to the upstream pipe portion 15 when viewed from the bellows structure 14. Therefore, the downstream pipe portion 16 is located on the side opposite to the discharge port 10 when viewed from the bellows structure 14. The upstream pipe portion 15 is located on the same side as the discharge port 10 when viewed from the bellows structure 14. That is, the bellows structure 14 is located between the upstream pipe portion 15 and the downstream pipe portion 16. In other words, the introduction pipe 11 has a flow path defined by the upstream pipe part 15, the bellows structure 14, and the downstream pipe part 16. Therefore, the introduction pipe 11 has the bellows structure 14 in the middle of the flow path. The upstream pipe portion 15 is defined as a portion on the upstream side of the bellows structure 14. The upstream pipe 15 has an upstream end, whereby the introduction pipe 11 has an upstream end.

The upstream pipe part 15 and the downstream pipe part 16 are both circular and have the same diameter. As shown in FIG. 1, in the bellows structure 14, a large diameter portion 13 is continuously extended from the downstream end of the upstream pipe portion 15, and the small diameter portion 12, the large diameter portion 13, and the small diameter portion 12 are extended from the large diameter portion 13. ,... Are alternately formed, and downstream pipe portions 16 are continuously extended from the large-diameter portion 13 at the most downstream side.

In the introduction tube 11 of the present embodiment, the inner diameter r2 of the plurality of small diameter portions 12 and the inner diameter r3 of the plurality of large diameter portions 13 that form the bellows structure 14 are both portions other than the bellows structure 14 (that is, The upstream pipe part 15 and the downstream pipe part 16) are provided larger than the inner diameter r1. Note that the outer shape R1 of the upstream pipe portion 15 and the downstream pipe portion 16 is set to be larger than the inner diameter r2 of the small diameter portion 12 and smaller than the inner diameter r3 of the large diameter portion 13.

That is, the dimensional relationship of the introduction pipe 11 is r1 <r2 <R1 <r3.

Because of this dimensional relationship, the charged fine particle water transported through the introduction pipe 11 is efficiently transported to the target location while being suppressed as much as possible in the middle of the flow path. This is because the turbulence of the air in the bellows structure 14 is unlikely to occur in the introduction tube 11 of the present embodiment, so that the charged fine particle water does not adhere to the inner wall of the introduction tube 11 in the middle of the flow path and is easily transported. Because.

In this regard, FIG. 4 shows an electrostatic atomizer of a comparative example, and FIG. 5 shows experimental results of the electrostatic atomizer of this comparative example and the electrostatic atomizer of this embodiment. Show.

In the electrostatic atomizer of the comparative example shown in FIG. 4, only the inner diameters r2 and r3 of the small-diameter portion 12 and the large-diameter portion 13 constituting the bellows structure 14 are different from the electrostatic atomizer of the present embodiment. Provided. Specifically, the inner diameter r2 of the small diameter portion 12 is set smaller than the inner diameter r1 of the upstream pipe portion 15, and the inner diameter r3 of the large diameter portion 13 is set larger than the inner diameter r1 and the outer shape R1 of the upstream pipe portion 15. Yes. That is, the dimensional relationship of the introduction pipe 11 in the comparative example is r2 <r1 <R1 <r3.

FIG. 5 shows the number of charged fine particle water particles discharged from the main body of the electrostatic atomizer (that is, the number of charged fine particle water particles discharged from the discharge port 10 of the housing 8). The number of charged fine particle water particles discharged to the target location through the introduction tube 11 and the number of charged fine particle water particles discharged to the target location through the introduction tube 11 of the comparative example are shown. The introduction pipe 11 of this embodiment and the introduction pipe 11 of the comparative example both have a total length of 250 mm.

From the results shown in the figure, when the inner diameter r2 of the small-diameter portion 12 is set smaller than the inner diameter r1 of the upstream pipe portion 15 as in the comparative example, the number of particles significantly reduced compared to the stage of discharge from the discharge port 10. However, it can be seen that the charged fine particle water cannot be transported to the target location.

Similarly, from the results shown in the figure, when the inner diameter r2 of the small-diameter portion 12 is larger than the inner diameter r1 of the upstream pipe portion 15 as in the present embodiment, the reduction width from the stage of discharge from the discharge port 10 is reduced. It can be seen that the charged fine particle water can be transported to the target location with the number of particles suppressed as much as possible.

As shown by an arrow b in FIG. 4B, if the minimum diameter portion of the small diameter portion 12 protrudes inward from the inner wall of the upstream pipe portion 15, the presence of the small diameter portion 12 disturbs the air. This is because it tends to occur. The charged fine particle water having a nanometer-sized minute diameter is easily affected by the disturbance. Therefore, when the air in the introduction pipe 11 is disturbed, the rate of adhering to the inner wall of the introduction pipe 11 and disappearing increases. In addition, the portion where the charged fine particle water adheres is negatively charged, and this negatively charged portion works to inhibit the flow of the negatively charged charged fine particle water. Since these act synergistically, in the introduction pipe 11 of the comparative example, it is considered that the number of charged fine particle water particles is greatly reduced before reaching the target location.

On the other hand, in the introduction pipe 11 of the present embodiment, although the bellows structure 14 exists in the middle of the flow path, the minimum diameter portion of the small diameter portion 12 is provided so as not to protrude inward from the inner wall of the upstream pipe portion 15. Yes. Therefore, the occurrence of turbulence in the air is minimized. As described above, charged fine particle water having a nanometer-sized minute diameter is easily affected by disturbance, but in this embodiment, this disturbance is suppressed as much as possible, and the number of charged fine particle water particles at the time of reaching the target location is reduced. The amount of decrease is minimized.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the air passage 20 of the air conditioner is selected as the target location for transporting the charged fine particle water. The air passage 20 is a conduit for sending air after being air-conditioned by the air conditioner body (not shown) to the external space. The downstream end of the introduction pipe 11 is positioned in the air passage 20, and Charged particulate water is supplied into the air passage 20 through the downstream end opening. Thereby, it becomes possible to discharge the charged fine particle water to the outside space vigorously in the air blow of the air conditioner. Even if the target location for transporting the charged fine particle water is another location, if the flexibility and stretchability of the bellows structure 14 are effectively utilized, the introduction tube 11 can be easily connected without misalignment. .

As described above, the electrostatic atomizer of this embodiment includes the discharge electrode 1, the water supply means 2 for supplying water to the discharge electrode 1, and the water supplied to the discharge electrode 1 by applying a voltage. Voltage applying means 3 for electrostatic atomization, a discharge port 10 for discharging charged fine particle water generated by electrostatic atomization, and an introduction pipe 11 having an upstream end connected to the discharge port 10. The introduction pipe 11 has a bellows structure 14 in which small-diameter portions 12 and large-diameter portions 13 are alternately continuous in the middle of the flow path, and an inner diameter r2 of the small-diameter portion 12 is set to an inner diameter of a portion upstream of the bellows structure 14. It is larger than r1.

More specifically, the electrostatic atomizer of this embodiment includes a discharge electrode 1, a water supply unit 2, a voltage application unit 3, a discharge port 10, and an introduction tube 11. The water supply means 2 is configured to supply water to the discharge electrode 1. The voltage application means 3 is configured to apply a voltage to the discharge electrode 1, thereby electrostatically atomizing water supplied to the discharge electrode 1. When water supplied to the discharge electrode 1 is electrostatically atomized, charged fine particle water is generated. The discharge port 10 is configured to discharge charged fine particle water generated by electrostatic atomization. The introduction pipe 11 has an upstream end. The upstream end of the introduction pipe 11 is connected to the discharge port 10. The introduction tube 11 has a flow path. The introduction pipe 11 has a bellows structure 14 in the middle of the flow path. In the bellows structure 14, the small diameter portions 12 and the large diameter portions 13 are alternately continued. The introduction pipe 11 has an upstream portion located upstream from the bellows structure 14. The inner diameter of the small diameter portion 12 is larger than the inner diameter of the upstream portion located upstream from the bellows structure 14.

Thereby, in the electrostatic atomizer of the present embodiment, the introduction tube 11 can be easily connected to the target location without misalignment by effectively utilizing the flexibility and stretchability of the bellows structure 14. Moreover, in spite of having the bellows structure 14, the air flow in the introduction pipe 11 is hardly disturbed. Therefore, the charged fine particle water can be supplied to the target location through the introduction pipe 11 with high efficiency.

The introduction pipe 11 has an upstream pipe part 15 and a downstream pipe part 16. The flow path of the introduction pipe 11 is defined by the upstream pipe part 15, the bellows structure 14, and the downstream pipe part 16. The bellows structure 14 is located between the upstream pipe portion 15 and the downstream pipe portion 16. Thereby, the bellows structure 14 is provided in the middle of the flow path. The upstream pipe portion 15 is located on the same side as the discharge port 10 when viewed from the bellows structure 14.

Note that an upstream portion located upstream from the bellows structure 14 is defined as an upstream pipe portion 15.

Further, the inner diameter r2 of all the small diameter portions 12 is larger than the inner diameter r1 of the upstream portion located on the upstream side of the bellows structure 14.

Further, the inner peripheral surface of the bellows structure 14 is located on the outer side in the radial direction of the introduction pipe 11 with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the upstream portion located upstream of the bellows structure 14. More specifically, the entire inner peripheral surface of the bellows structure 14 is positioned on the outer side in the radial direction of the introduction pipe 11 with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the upstream portion positioned upstream of the bellows structure 14.

In addition, in the electrostatic atomizer of this embodiment, the voltage application means 3 is comprised so that a predetermined voltage may be applied between the discharge electrode 1 and a counter electrode. However, the voltage application means 3 should just be comprised so that electrostatic atomization may be produced by applying a voltage to the discharge electrode 1. FIG. That is, the voltage applying means 3 may be configured to apply a voltage to the discharge electrode 1. Therefore, the counter electrode can be omitted.

In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the introduction pipe 11 has a downstream end connected to the air passage 20 of the air conditioner, and discharges charged fine particle water to the external space by being put on the air blow of the air conditioner. Provided. Thereby, the electrostatic atomizer main body is provided in a place different from the air conditioner main body, and the charged fine particle water sent from the electrostatic atomizer main body through the introduction pipe 11 with high efficiency is used as the wind of the air conditioner. It can be sent to the outside space vigorously.

That is, the electrostatic atomizer of this embodiment is suitable for attachment to an air conditioner.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment shown to an accompanying drawing, this invention is not limited to embodiment of each said example, If it is in the range which this invention intends, in each example suitably It is possible to change the design of the above and to apply a combination of the configurations of the examples as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Discharge electrode 2 Water supply means 3 Voltage application means 10 Discharge port 11 Introductory tube 12 Small diameter part 13 Large diameter part 14 Bellows structure 20 Blower path r1 inner diameter r2 inner diameter

Claims

A discharge electrode; water supply means for supplying water to the discharge electrode; voltage application means for electrostatically atomizing the water supplied to the discharge electrode by applying a voltage; A discharge port that discharges the charged fine particle water, and an introduction pipe having an upstream end connected to the discharge port, and the introduction pipe has a bellows structure in which small-diameter portions and large-diameter portions continue alternately. An electrostatic atomizer characterized by having an inner diameter of the small-diameter portion larger than an inner diameter of a portion upstream of the bellows structure.
The introduction pipe has a downstream end connected to an air passage of an air conditioner, and is provided so as to discharge the charged fine particle water to an external space by being put on the air of the air conditioner. The electrostatic atomizer of Claim 1.