WO2004110642A1

WO2004110642A1 - Electrostatic atomizer with anion ion generating function and air cleaner using same

Info

Publication number: WO2004110642A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/007597
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kazuhiro Suzuki; Kenji Obata; Takayuki Nakada; Hiroshi Suda; Mikio Ito; Atsushi Isaka
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-06-04
Filing date: 2004-05-26
Publication date: 2004-12-23
Also published as: TWI243713B; JP4186718B2; TW200427518A; JP2004358358A

Abstract

Negatively charged liquid particles are released by applying a high voltage between an eclectic discharge end of a carrier for carrying a liquid and an electrode opposed to the electric discharge end. Corona discharge is caused between an ionization needle provided separately from the carrier and a counter electrode opposed to the ionization needle to negatively charge molecules in the air to generate anions. The liquid carried by the carrier and the ionization needle are connected to a common negative electrode to apply the same high voltage between the electrical discharge end of the carrier and the electrode and between the ionization meddle and the counter electrode.

Description

Specification

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer having a negative ion generating function and an air purifier using the same.

The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer having a minus ion generating function added to an electrostatic atomizer function for discharging liquid as fine charged particles, and an air purifier using the same. Japanese Patent Publication No. 3260 150 discloses a conventional electrostatic atomizer. This electrostatic atomizer uses a capillary structure as a liquid carrier, supplies the liquid to the discharge end at the tip of the carrier using the capillary action, and transports the liquid so that the liquid is positively charged. A high voltage is applied between the transmitter and the surrounding eight housings to discharge liquid from the discharge end as charged fine particles. On the other hand, it is proposed to improve the indoor environment by causing corona discharge in air to negatively charge molecules such as oxygen, oxygen compounds, and nitrogen compounds present in the air to generate negative ions. Have been. Disclosure of the invention

According to the present invention, in addition to discharging liquid as fine charged fine particles by electrostatic atomization using the same high-voltage source, molecules existing in the air are negatively charged and negative ions are generated. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic atomizer capable of generating the air and an air purifier incorporating the electrostatic atomizer.

The electrostatic atomizer according to the present invention includes a carrier, the carrier having a liquid collecting end and a discharging end opposite to the liquid collecting end, wherein the liquid collecting end collects the liquid and discharges the liquid. Convey to the edge. This device includes a negative electrode for electrically charging the liquid to be negative, an opposite electrode facing the discharge end to create a predetermined potential difference with the negative electrode, and a voltage source. The voltage source applies a voltage between the negative electrode and the counter electrode, charges the liquid at the discharge end, and discharges it as fine negatively charged particles. The apparatus is further provided with an ionization needle, electrically connected to the negative electrode, and disposed close to the counter electrode, so that corona discharge occurs between the tip of the ionization needle and the effective electrode. They are generated to produce negative ions.

In a preferred embodiment, the counter electrode is negatively charged in cooperation with the discharge end of the carrier. A first edge for generating fine particles of the liquid, a second edge for generating the negative ions in cooperation with the ionization needle, and a shortest distance between the second edge and the ionization needle is equal to the first edge. It is longer than the shortest distance from the discharge end. By adopting such a configuration, two opposing electrodes for the carrier and the ionization needle can be formed by a single member, and the same high voltage is applied to the carrier and the ionization needle. The generation of unnecessary ozone between the ionization needle and the first edge can be avoided.

Preferably, a plurality of carriers are arranged circumferentially around the ionization needle, so that a large amount of liquid can be electrostatically atomized.

In this connection, the counter electrode has an opening edge ^ a single opening, around which a plurality of arcuate edges are aligned. Each arc-shaped portion surrounds the opposite discharge end at a fixed distance to define the first edge, and a connection point between two adjacent arc-shaped edges forms the second edge. As a result, the distance between the discharge ends of the plurality of carriers and the arc-shaped first edge facing the / S is constant, and a large amount of the liquid is stable from the discharge ends of the plurality of carriers. The atomization can be achieved, and the distance between the ionization needle and the second edge can be made relatively long, so that the generation of ozone can be suppressed and negative ions can be effectively generated in the air.

In addition, the apparatus is provided with a tank for storing the liquid, and the carrier collects the liquid by immersing the liquid collecting end in the liquid in the tank and transports the collected liquid to the discharging end. The ionization needle protrudes into this tank and maintains electrical contact with the liquid, so that the ionization needle is reliably kneaded on the negative side of the high voltage applied to the liquid.

It is desirable to incorporate the electrostatic liquid atomizing device having such a configuration into a device such as an air purifier. The air purifier is equipped with a filter that traps contaminants and a fan that circulates air through this filter, so the atomizer is installed inside the fan and the downstream of the filter. I do. As a result, the fine charged fine particles of liquid and negative ions generated from the ionization needles can be widely released into the room by placing them on a clean airflow from which contaminants have been removed by the filter, and the deodorizing effect exhibited by these substances Other environmental improvement effects can be provided over a wide area and within the room.

The above-described problems and other advantages will be clarified in the description of the embodiment with reference to the drawings. Brief description of the drawings '' m1 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid electrostatic atomizer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same device.

m 3 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the above device.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the electrode plate used in the above device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an example of an air purifier incorporating the above device.

FIG. ⁶ is a longitudinal sectional view showing an electrostatic atomizer according to another embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The electrostatic atomizer M according to an embodiment of the present invention is manufactured to make water fine and charge it to produce nanometer-sized charged fine particle water as an example; As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electrostatic atomizer M includes a base 1 O for holding a plurality of capillary carriers 20, a cylindrical body 30 surrounding the upper surface of the base 10, and a cylindrical body 30. It comprises an electrode plate 40 housed in the upper end opening, and a water tank 50 detachably attached to the lower surface of the base 1O. Each capillary transport body 20 is formed of porous ceramic as a porous rod having a diameter of about 5 mm and a length of about 7 Omm, penetrates the base 10, and protrudes to the upper surface side of the base 10. The tip of the portion is sharpened, and this is defined as a discharge end 21, and the portion protruding to the lower surface side of the base 10 is defined as a liquid collection end 22. The liquid collecting end 22 is immersed in water in the water tank 50, absorbs water from the liquid collecting end 22, and transports the water to the discharge end 21 by capillary action. The base 10 is formed of a conductive synthetic resin, and functions as a negative electrode that applies a negative potential to each of the capillary carriers 20. A terminal 12 connected to the negative potential of the high voltage power supply 70 is provided on a part of the peripheral surface of the base 10. An electrode tube 14 protrudes from the lower surface of the base 10 into the water tank 50 so that the water in the water tank 50 also applies the same negative potential as that of the capillary carrier 20.

For example, the high-voltage power supply 70 applies a high voltage having an electric field strength of 500 VZmm between the base 10 and the electrode plate 40, and as a result, as shown in FIG. The atomization phenomenon occurs between the discharge m 21 and the electrode plate 40 that constitutes the counter electrode facing the discharge, and fine water is charged as charged particles from the discharge end 21 to the electrode plate 4 O. To release it. That is, due to the action of the high voltage, the water sent out from the discharge end 21 undergoes rail splitting to generate negatively charged water of the charged fine particles, thereby discharging the mist of the charged fine particles.

The electrode plate 40 is made of a conductive synthetic resin and has a circular outer periphery, and is formed into an opening at the center. Then, an opening edge 41 is formed on the periphery of the central opening. The opening edge 41 faces the discharge end 21 of each of the capillary transport bodies 20 and discharge occurs between the opening edge 41 and the discharge end 21. A terminal 48 connected to the positive side of the high-voltage power supply 70 is formed on a part of the electrode plate 20 in the circumferential direction. A continuous or pulsed high voltage is applied between the electrode plate 40 and the base 10 from the high voltage source.

In addition, an ionization needle 60 is held at the center of the base 10, and the tip is projected above the base 10 so as to be substantially at the same height as the discharge end at the tip of the capillary carrier 20. It is charged to the same potential as. As shown in FIG. 4, the capillary transport bodies 20 are arranged at equal angular intervals on a concentric circle with the ionization needle 60 as a center. The encircling portion 41 of the electrode plate 40 serving as a common counter electrode for the capillary carrier 20 and the ionization needle 60 has a shape in which a plurality of arcuate edges 42 are continuous, and each arcuate edge 42 is It has a semicircular shape centered on the discharge end 21 of the opposed capillary carrier 20, and the distance from the discharge end 21 is constant. Between adjacent arc-shaped edges 42, a second edge 44 protruding inward in the radial direction is defined. The second edge 44 faces the ionization needle 6 O at the shortest distance, and a corona discharge is generated between the two edges. This causes negatively charged molecules such as oxygen, oxygen compounds, and nitrogen compounds in the air to generate negative ions while suppressing the generation of ozone. In other words, the distance R 2 between the second edge 44 and the cutter needle ionization needle 60 is greater than the distance R 1 between the first squash-shaped first edge 42 and the discharge end 21 and has the same height. While applying a negative potential of voltage to the ionization needle 60 and the discharge end 21 of the carrier 20, the optimal conditions for atomizing the liquid at the discharge end 2 and generating negative ions at the ionization needle 6 O are respectively optimized. It can be done in.

The capillary carrier 20 is a porous ceramic having a particle diameter of 2 to 500 m and a porosity of 10 to 70%, and discharges water by a capillary action through a fine channel formed inside. Convey to edge 21. As the ceramic, a mixture of one or any combination of alumina, titania, zirconia, silica, and magnesium is used. As the ceramic material, a material whose equipotential point of this material is lower than the water port H used is used. The reason for selecting a ceramic material based on such criteria is that if the water used contains mineral components such as Mg and C a, these components will travel to the discharge end 21 of the capillary transporter 20 and become air CO ₂ and Han'asa prevented from precipitating as M gO Yu C a C0 ₃ in, is intended to prevent the electrostatic atomizing is impaired by precipitation of such components. That is, by utilizing the electroosmotic flow in the capillary carrier 20, Mg ions dispersed in water, C a This is to prevent ions from entering the discharge end 21.

A plurality of opening windows 32 are formed on the outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical body 30. By taking in the air flow from the opening window 32, an air flow discharged from the central opening of the electrode plate 40 can be generated, and the discharge end 2 is formed. The negatively charged fine particle water generated between the electrode plate 1 and the electrode plate 40 can be sent to a large space in a misted state by being carried on this air flow. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, by incorporating the electrostatic atomizer M into the air purifier 100, the charged fine particles can be utilized by using the forced air flow created by the air purifier 100. Water can be scattered over a wide area. The air purifier 100 is provided with an air suction unit 102 and an air blowing unit 104, and is provided with a fan 110 and a filter 120 for collecting dust in the housing 101. External air is sucked through the filter 120 by 10 and clean air is blown out from the CM O 4. The electrostatic atomizer M is disposed downstream of the filter 120 and the fan 110 and in the vicinity of the air blower D 104 of the air cleaner.

The mist of charged particle water generated by electrostatic atomization is 3 to 1 O Onm when the tip diameter of the capillary transporter 20 is 0.5 mm or less and the electric field strength is 500 VZmm or more and about 0.02 m〗 / min. It becomes ultra-fine particles of nanometer size and can contain active species such as hydroxyl radical, superoxide, nitric oxide radical, and oxygen radical in combination with oxygen in the air. When the mist of charged particle water such as shin is released into the indoor space, it can deodorize adhering substances adhering to the indoor air and the indoor wall surface. The following equation is a deodorizing reaction equation between the active species and the odor that show the deodorizing effect of these active species.

Ammonia 2ΝΗ ₃ + 6OH- * N ₂ + 6H ₂₀

§ Se Bok aldehyde _{CH 3 CHO + 6 · OH +} 0 2 → 2C0 2 + 5H 2 0

Acetic acid CH ₃ COOH + 4 0H + 0 ₂ → 2C0 ₂ + 4H ₂₀

Methane gas CH ₄ + 4 ■ 0H + 0 ₂ → C0 ₂ + 4H ₂ 0

Carbon monoxide _{CO + 2 · OH → C0 2} + H 2 0

Nitric oxide _{2NO + 4 · OH-N 2} +2 · 0 2 + 2H 2 0

Formaldehyde _{HCHO + 4 · OH- C0 2 +} 3H 2 0

Reference numeral 6 denotes another embodiment of the present invention, which is basically the same as the above embodiment, except that the ionization needle 60 penetrates the base 10 and protrudes into the water tank 50. It is designed to come into contact with the water stored here. Members in common with the above-described embodiment include No. is added. As described above, the electrode tube 14 protrudes from the base 10 into the water tank 50, contacts the water over a wide range, and negatively charges the water, and the ionization needle 60 also passes through the water. Even if a sufficient electrical connection cannot be obtained at the joint between the base 10 and the ionization needle 60, the ionization needle 60 is reliably charged to the negative and stable. To generate negative ions. The lower end of the ionization needle 60 is held by a perforated cap 54 attached to the lower end of the electrode tube 51.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a foldable handle 80 is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical body 30. The bundle 80 is usually folded so as to overlap the outer periphery of the upper end of the simple body 30, and is used by being pulled upward when carrying the entire device.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which water is used to generate a mist of charged fine particle water has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It can be applied to electrostatic atomization. Applicable liquids include water containing active ingredients such as vitamin C and amino acids, water containing aroma oils and air fresheners and deodorants, as well as, for example, a color solution such as a cosmetic mouth lotion. is there.

Claims

am seeking range

1. Electrostatic atomizer with negative ion generation function,

A carrier, the carrier having a liquid collecting end and an opposite discharging end, wherein the liquid collecting end collects the liquid and conveys the liquid to the discharging end;

A negative electrode that electrically charges the liquid negatively,

The electrode facing the discharge end!

A voltage source, which applies a voltage between the negative electrode and the counter electrode, charges the liquid at the discharge end, and discharges it as fine charged particles;

An ionization needle, which is electrically connected to the negative electrode and forms a negative polarity, is disposed in proximity to the counter electrode, generates a corona discharge during this interval, and discharges a negative ion.

2. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1,

The counter electrode has a first edge portion that is negatively charged in cooperation with the discharge end of the carrier to generate liquid fine particles,

The counter electrode has a second part that generates the negative ion in cooperation with the ionization needle.

The shortest distance between the second edge and the ionization needle was longer than the shortest distance between the first edge and the discharge end.

3. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 2,

The above-mentioned device is provided with a plurality of the above-mentioned carriers in the form of a pointed rod, and these carriers are arranged along the circumferential direction around the above-mentioned ionization needle.

4. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 3,

The counter electrode comprises a single opening with an opening periphery;

The peripheral edge is formed from a plurality of arc-shaped edges, each arc-shaped edge surrounding each of the discharge ends at a fixed distance to define the first edge, and the arc-shaped edge extends along the peripheral edge. The second edge is formed at the connection point between the two arcuate edges that are arranged and adjacent to each other.

5. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1,

The device has a tank for storing liquid,

Wherein the carrier collects the liquid by immersing the liquid collecting end in the liquid in the tank and conveys the liquid to the discharging end;

The ionization needle projects into the tank to maintain electrical contact with the liquid in the tank.

6. An air purifier including the electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1,

This air purifier has a nozzle equipped with a filter for trapping contaminants and a fan for circulating air through the filter.

The spraying device is disposed downstream of the fan and the filter in the housing.