JPH10337436A - Air purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unnecessitate an exchange of an adsorbing material, etc., in an air purifier for removing contaminated gas due to such as a volatile organic compound in room air. SOLUTION: This air purifier is constituted to arrange an adsorption means 12 made of the adsorbing material such as zeolite for adsorbing the contaminated gas, a desorption means 13 for desorbing the adsorbed contaminated gas, and a decomposition means 15 consisting of an electric heating body 14 for thermally decomposing the contaminated gas, and also to feed air to the adsorption means 12 with a blowing means 16 such as a fan. In this case, the contaminated gas in air is adsorbed to the adsorption means 16 in an adsorption mode, and then is desorded by the desorption means 13, and thermally decomposed the contaminated gas by the decomposition means 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention is represented by the odor of tobacco in indoor air, volatile organic compounds such as aldehydes generated from building materials, walls and furniture, and inorganic gases such as carbon monoxide generated from combustors. The present invention relates to an air purifier that incinerates, decomposes, and removes pollutant gases.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an air purifier having this kind of function is one that adsorbs and removes pollutant gas such as odor in the air to a deodorizing filter such as activated carbon, and that decomposes pollutant gas with a catalyst or ozone. There was one.

Further, as an air purifier for regenerating a deodorizing filter to an initial performance, there is known an air purifier described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-154302. As shown in FIG. 10, in this air purifier provided with an adsorption type deodorizing filter 1 for removing odors in the air and a blowing means 2, as shown in FIG. Then, a circulation cycle centered on a filter is formed in the airframe in order to approximate performance initialization, and the circulation filter includes a circulation blower 3, an air heater 4 such as a heater, an ozone generator and ozone decomposition. The deodorizing filter is refreshed in the cycle of odor re-emission by heating, odor re-release by heating, odor decomposition by ozone, and ozone removal.

An air purifier for regenerating a deodorizing filter to an initial performance by an adsorption type pyrolysis catalyst is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8
The one described in JP-A-52325 is known. As shown in FIG. 11, this apparatus has a deodorizing heater 6 provided with an adsorption-type pyrolysis catalyst layer on its surface and a blowing fan 7.
The odor component is adsorbed on the adsorption-type pyrolysis catalyst layer by a blower fan, and then the adsorption-type pyrolysis catalyst layer is heated to an activation temperature by a heater to oxidize and decompose the adsorbed odor component to the adsorption-type pyrolysis. This is to regenerate the adsorption capacity of the catalyst layer.

[0005]

However, in the air purifier provided with the above-mentioned conventional deodorizing filter, if used for a long time, the pores of the deodorizing filter are blocked by odorous components, so that the adsorption and deodorizing ability is reduced. Therefore, the filter needs to be replaced at regular intervals.

Further, in order to continuously treat pollutant gas by the ozone method or the catalyst method, even a household air purifier requires 1 m.
Since a processing air flow rate of 3 to 4 m3 / min was required, a large-scale apparatus was required.

Further, in a system as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-154302, a circulation path is required, and the size of the apparatus is increased.
Since the heat capacity is large, the processing time is long for a decomposition method by heating or decomposition by a catalyst, and a large amount of electric power is required.

Further, in the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-52325, in the case of a small heater, the amount of the adsorption-type pyrolysis catalyst layer that can be supported on the surface is limited. Frequent regeneration must be performed in order to remove continuously generated volatile organic compounds such as aldehydes. In addition, in the case of a substance in which the desorption temperature of the adsorption-type pyrolysis catalyst is lower than the catalyst activation temperature of the pyrolysis, there is a problem in that only desorption occurs immediately after the heater is energized, causing odor.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a zeolite or the like which selectively and sufficiently adsorbs contaminant gas comprising volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde and toluene in the air. An adsorbing means made of an adsorbent; a desorbing means such as an electric heater for heating the adsorbing means to desorb adsorbed contaminant gas; and a surface temperature at which the contaminant gas desorbed from the adsorbing means decomposes is 550 ° C. or higher. Disassembly means consisting of an electric heating element is arranged in the ventilation path of the main body,
In this configuration, the air containing the pollutant gas is blown to the adsorption means by the blowing means.

According to the invention, in the adsorption mode for removing the pollutant gas contained in the air in the room, only the blowing means is driven, and the air outside the main body is guided to the adsorption means and is adsorbed by the adsorption means. When a predetermined amount of contaminated gas is adsorbed on the adsorption means,
Next, the reproduction mode is entered. After stopping the blower or reducing the amount of air blow, the decomposer is driven and the desorber is driven, so that the polluted gas is desorbed from the adsorber and instantaneously oxidized by contacting the high-temperature electric heating element that is the decomposer. The volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide are decomposed into water and carbon dioxide. Since the adsorption means is regenerated to the original state, the contaminated gas can be adsorbed again, and maintenance such as replacement of the adsorption means can be made unnecessary.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to an adsorbing means made of an adsorbent such as zeolite in a corrugated shape for selectively and sufficiently adsorbing a contaminant gas comprising volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde and toluene in the air. A desorption means such as an electric heating element for heating the adsorption means to desorb the contaminated gas adsorbed thereon, and an electric heating element having a surface temperature of 550 ° C. or higher for decomposing the contaminated gas desorbed from the adsorption means. The disassembling means is arranged in a ventilation path of the main body, and air containing a pollutant gas is blown to the adsorption means by a blowing means such as a fan.

According to the invention, in the adsorption mode for removing the pollutant gas contained in the air in the room, only the blowing means is driven, and the air outside the main body is guided to the adsorption means and is adsorbed by the adsorption means. . When a predetermined amount of the contaminated gas is adsorbed on the adsorbing means, the apparatus enters a regeneration mode. After stopping the blowing means or reducing the amount of blowing, the decomposition means is driven, and the desorption means is driven, so that the contaminated gas is desorbed from the adsorption means and instantaneously oxidized by contacting the high-temperature electric heating element which is the decomposition means. The volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide are decomposed into water and carbon dioxide. Since the adsorption means is regenerated to the original state, the contaminated gas can be adsorbed again, and maintenance such as replacement of the adsorption means can be made unnecessary.

In a configuration in which a catalyst such as platinum is supported on a punching plate as a decomposition means, a substance which causes an oxidation reaction by the catalyst at room temperature, such as formaldehyde, is adsorbed in the adsorption mode, and desorbed from the adsorption means in the regeneration mode. Pollutant gas can be decomposed into water and carbon dioxide.

Further, when the decomposition means is an electric heating element and a catalyst such as platinum, the catalyst is heated by the electric heating element in the regeneration mode so that the catalyst temperature becomes 190 ° C. or more of the activation temperature, and desorbed from the adsorption means. The contaminated gas can be decomposed into water and carbon dioxide on the catalyst surface.

Further, when the decomposing means is an electric heating element carrying a catalyst, the heat capacity of the decomposing means is small, so that the catalyst temperature can be raised to the active temperature of 190 ° C. or more in a shorter time than indirect heating of the catalyst by the electric heating element. It is possible to suppress the odor at the initial stage of reproduction.

Further, when the decomposing means comprises a photocatalyst made of a semiconductor such as titania and an ultraviolet irradiation means such as an ultraviolet lamp having a wavelength of 400 nm, the contaminant gas desorbed from the adsorbing means in the regeneration mode is not thermally decomposed but photocatalyzed. It can be decomposed into carbon dioxide by the action and the temperature rise during regeneration can be suppressed.

Further, in the configuration in which the throttle section is provided between the suction means and the decomposition means in the ventilation path, the decomposition means can be downsized, so that the amount of heat generated per unit area of the electric heating element is increased, and the same power consumption is obtained. Thus, the temperature of the electric heating element and the catalyst can be made higher, so that the oxidizing ability of the contaminated gas desorbed from the adsorption means in the regeneration mode can be increased, and the odor during regeneration can be suppressed.

Further, in a configuration in which a decomposition chamber having an intake port and an exhaust port and having an exhaust port below the ceiling surface is provided in the ventilation path, and the decomposition means is installed in the decomposition chamber, in the regeneration mode, the adsorption means is used in the regeneration mode. Desorbed pollutant gas enters the decomposition chamber through the intake port,
Since it is heated by the high-temperature electric heating element or catalyst and becomes an ascending airflow, which generates a flow from the ceiling surface of the decomposition chamber to the exhaust port, the time spent at high temperature in the decomposition chamber is prolonged, and desorption from the adsorption means in the regeneration mode The oxidizing ability of the contaminated gas can be increased, and the odor during regeneration can be suppressed.

In a configuration in which the decomposition means is provided above the adsorption means in the direction of gravity, the high-temperature pollutant gas generated in the desorption process rises upward in the direction of gravity due to buoyancy.
The pollutant gas can be efficiently decomposed by the decomposition means.

[0020]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes a main body having a ventilation passage 11, and the ventilation passage 11 is made of an adsorbent such as zeolite in a corrugated shape for selectively adsorbing a pollutant gas composed of volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde and toluene in the air. Adsorbing means 12, an adsorbing means 13 such as an electric heater for heating the adsorbing means 12 to 200 ° C., which is the desorbing temperature of the adsorbent, to desorb adsorbed contaminant gas, and decompose the contaminant gas desorbed from the adsorbing means 12 Decomposing means 15 composed of an electric heating element 14 having a surface temperature of 550 ° C. or higher is arranged, and air outside the main body 10 containing contaminated gas is blown to the adsorption means 12 by a blowing means 16 such as a fan. .

According to the above invention, in the adsorption mode for removing the pollutant gas contained in the air in the room, the air blowing means 1 is used.
6 is driven to guide the air outside the main body to the suction means 12 to be sucked by the suction means 12. When a predetermined amount of contaminated gas is adsorbed on the adsorbing means 12, the apparatus enters a regeneration mode. After stopping the blowing means 16 or reducing the blowing amount, the disassembling means 15
By driving the desorption means 13, the contaminated gas is desorbed from the adsorption means 12 with the temperature rise of the adsorption means 12,
It rises by buoyancy. Next, it comes into contact with the high-temperature electric heating element 14 as the decomposition means 15 and instantaneously reaches 550 ° C. or higher as shown in (Table 1), and the volatile organic compound is thermally decomposed into water and carbon dioxide. Since the adsorbing means 12 is regenerated to its original state, the adsorbing means 12 can adsorb the contaminated gas again, and maintenance such as replacement of the adsorbing means can be eliminated.

[0022]

[Table 1]

Since the adsorbing means 12 is independent,
The size of the adsorbent can be optimally set even for volatile organic compounds generated from furniture and building materials that are always generated indoors.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the configuration in which the disassembling means 15 is installed above the suction means 12 in the direction of gravity,
Since the high-temperature pollutant gas generated in the desorption process rises upward in the direction of gravity due to buoyancy, the pollutant gas can be efficiently decomposed by the decomposition means 15.

The same effect can be obtained by using a decompression means such as a vacuum pump as the desorption means 13.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The difference from the first embodiment is that a catalyst 18 in which a precious metal such as platinum is
Has just been used.

In the above configuration, in the adsorption mode, a substance which causes an oxidation reaction by a catalyst at room temperature, such as formaldehyde, is selectively adsorbed. Next, in the regeneration mode, the suction means 1
The catalyst 18 can decompose the contaminated gas desorbed into water and carbon dioxide with low power consumption.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

The difference from the first embodiment is that the decomposing means 19 is an electric heating element 20 and a catalyst 21 in which a noble metal such as platinum is supported on a punching plate.

In the regeneration mode after the end of the adsorption mode, the catalyst 21 is heated by the electric heating element 20 so that the catalyst temperature becomes 190 ° C. or more of the activation temperature, the desorption means 13 is driven, and the contaminants desorbed from the adsorption means 12 are driven. The gas is led to the surface of the catalyst 21. Above the activation temperature of the catalyst as shown in (Table 2), the pollutant gas composed of volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde and toluene undergoes thermal decomposition, and can be decomposed into water and carbon dioxide with low power consumption.

[0032]

[Table 2]

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the disassembling means of FIG.

The difference from the first embodiment is that the decomposition means 22 comprises a catalyst 24 having a noble metal such as platinum on the surface of an electric heating element 23.
Is carried.

In the regeneration mode after the end of the adsorption mode in the above configuration, the catalyst 24 and the electric heating element 23 are integrated and the heat capacity of the decomposition means 22 is small, so that the catalyst is heated indirectly by the electric heating element in a shorter time. The catalyst temperature can be set to the activation temperature of 190 ° C. or more, and the odor at the initial stage of regeneration can be suppressed.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

The difference from the first embodiment is that the decomposition means 25 is composed of a photocatalyst 26 carrying a semiconductor such as titania carrying a noble metal such as platinum on a punching plate and a wavelength 4 such as an ultraviolet lamp.
Here, the ultraviolet irradiation means 27 of 00 nm is used.

In the regeneration mode after the end of the adsorption mode, the contaminated gas desorbed from the adsorption means can be decomposed into carbon dioxide not by thermal decomposition but by photocatalysis, and the temperature rise during regeneration can be suppressed.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

The difference from the first embodiment is that a throttle section 28 is provided between the suction means 12 and the decomposition means 15 in the ventilation passage 11.

In the regeneration mode after the end of the adsorption mode, the contaminated gas desorbed from the adsorption means 12 is released by the buoyancy into the ventilation path 1.
1, the flow is throttled by the throttle unit, and the flow is guided to the decomposition unit 15. In the above configuration, since the decomposition unit 15 can be made small, the amount of heat generated per unit area of the electric heating unit 14 increases, and the temperature of the electric heating unit and the catalyst can be increased with the same power consumption. The oxidizing ability of the contaminated gas desorbed from the substrate 12 can be increased, and the odor during regeneration can be further suppressed.

The same effect can be obtained even if the decomposition means 15 is an electric heating element and a catalyst or an electric heating element carrying a catalyst.

(Embodiment 7) FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the disassembly chamber of FIG.

The difference from the first embodiment is that
A decomposition chamber 32 having an intake port 29 and an exhaust port 30 and the exhaust port 30 is below a ceiling surface 31 is provided.
The disassembling means 15 is located inside.

In the above configuration, in the regeneration mode after the end of the adsorption mode, the contaminated gas 33 desorbed from the adsorption means 12 rises in the ventilation passage 11 by buoyancy and flows through the intake port 29 to the decomposition chamber 3.
2 and a decomposition means 1 comprising a high-temperature electric heating element 14
5, the air becomes an ascending airflow 34 indicated by an arrow, and a flow 35 is generated from the ceiling surface of the decomposition chamber toward the exhaust port. It can suppress the smell during reproduction.

The same effect can be obtained even if the decomposition means 15 is an electric heating element and a catalyst or an electric heating element carrying a catalyst.

[0047]

As described above, the air purifier of the present invention has the following effects.

(1) The adsorption means is regenerated to its original state by desorbing the contaminant gas from the adsorption means by the desorption means and thermally decomposing the volatile organic compound by the decomposition means comprising a high-temperature electric heating element. A contaminated gas can be adsorbed again, and an air purifier that does not require maintenance such as replacement of the adsorption means can be realized.

(2) In a configuration provided with a catalyst as a decomposing means, contaminant gas, such as formaldehyde desorbed from the adsorbing means, which causes an oxidation reaction by the catalyst at normal temperature can be decomposed into water and carbon dioxide.

(3) When the decomposition means is an electric heating element and a catalyst such as platinum, the pollutant gas desorbed from the adsorption means is heated by the electric heating element in the regeneration mode so that the catalyst temperature becomes the active temperature. Since it can be disassembled, it is possible to realize an air purifier that requires less maintenance and requires less power consumption.

(4) When the decomposition means is an electric heating element carrying a catalyst, the temperature of the catalyst can be raised to the active temperature of 190 ° C. or more in a short time, and the odor at the beginning of regeneration can be suppressed.

(5) When the decomposing means is composed of a photocatalyst and an ultraviolet irradiation means, it can be decomposed into carbon dioxide by a photocatalytic action and the temperature rise during regeneration can be suppressed.

(6) In the configuration in which the throttle portion is provided between the adsorption means and the decomposition means in the ventilation path, the amount of heat generated per unit area of the electric heating element is increased, and the odor during reproduction can be suppressed.

(7) In a configuration in which a decomposition chamber having an intake port and an exhaust port and an exhaust port below the ceiling surface is provided in the ventilation path, and decomposition means is installed in the decomposition chamber, the temperature of the decomposition chamber becomes high. The staying time becomes longer, and the odor at the time of reproduction can be suppressed.

(8) In a configuration in which the decomposition means is provided above the adsorption means in the direction of gravity, the high-temperature contaminated gas generated during the desorption process rises upward in the direction of gravity due to buoyancy.
The pollutant gas can be efficiently decomposed by the decomposition means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a disassembling means of the air purifier.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an air purifier according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a disassembly chamber of the air purifier.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a conventional air purifier.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a conventional air purifier.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body 11 Ventilation path 12 Adsorption means 13 Desorption means 14,20,23 Electric heating element 15,17,19,22 Decomposition means 16 Blowing means 18 Catalyst 21 Catalyst 24 Catalyst 26 Photocatalyst 27 Ultraviolet irradiation means 28 Narrow part 29 Suction port 30 Exhaust port 31 Ceiling surface 32 Disassembly room

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Takeyama 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Hiroaki Fujii 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kunio Ogita 1006 Odaka Kadoma Kadoma City, Osaka Pref. 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A main body having a ventilation path, adsorption means for adsorbing pollutant gas in the air disposed in the air path, desorption means for desorbing the contamination gas adsorbed by the adsorption means, and desorption from the adsorption means Decomposition means for decomposing the contaminated gas, and blowing means for blowing air to the adsorption means,
An air purifier characterized in that the decomposition means is an electric heating element. 2. A main body having a ventilation path, adsorption means for adsorbing pollutant gas in the air disposed in the air path, desorption means for desorbing the contamination gas adsorbed by the adsorption means, and desorption from the adsorption means. Decomposition means for decomposing the contaminated gas, and blowing means for blowing air to the adsorption means,
An air purifier characterized in that the decomposition means is a catalyst. 3. A main body having a ventilation path, adsorption means for adsorbing pollutant gas in the air disposed in the air path, desorption means for desorbing the contamination gas adsorbed by the adsorption means, and desorption from the adsorption means. Decomposition means for decomposing the contaminated gas, and blowing means for blowing air to the adsorption means,
An air purifier characterized in that the decomposition means is an electric heating element and a catalyst. 4. A main body having a ventilation path, adsorption means for adsorbing pollutant gas in the air disposed in the air path, desorption means for desorbing the contamination gas adsorbed by the adsorption means, and desorption from the adsorption means. Decomposition means for decomposing the contaminated gas, and blowing means for blowing air to the adsorption means,
An air purifier characterized in that the decomposition means is an electric heating element carrying a catalyst. 5. A main body having a ventilation path, adsorption means for adsorbing pollutant gas in the air disposed in the air path, desorption means for desorbing the contamination gas adsorbed by the adsorption means, and desorption from the adsorption means. Decomposition means for decomposing the contaminated gas, and blowing means for blowing air to the adsorption means,
An air purifier, wherein the decomposition means comprises a photocatalyst and an ultraviolet irradiation means. 6. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein a throttle section is provided between the adsorption means and the decomposition means in the ventilation path. 7. A disassembly chamber having an intake port and an exhaust port in the ventilation path, the exhaust port being provided below the ceiling surface, and disassembly means being installed in the decomposition chamber. 3,
4. The air purifier according to 4. 8. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the decomposing means is installed above the adsorbing means in the direction of gravity.