Electric discharge-type air cleaner

Abstract

To provide an air cleaner collecting contaminants included in air by electric discharge.SOLUTION: The air cleaner includes a dust-collection water tank, a housing, an air supply unit, an exhaust unit, a plurality of discharge electrodes, a charging unit, and a rotary blade. The dust-collection water tank is configured to contain a liquid. The housing accommodates the dust-collecting water tank. The air supply unit is configured to supply air from the outside into the dust-collecting water tank to collect contaminants contained in the air. The exhaust unit includes an exhaust pipe disposed to face a water surface of the liquid, and is configured to discharge the air supplied to the dust-collecting water tank to the outside. The plurality of discharge electrodes are arranged along the circumference of the exhaust pipe. The charging unit is disposed in the dust-collecting water tank and charges the liquid to a polarity opposite to the polarity of the plurality of discharge electrodes so that an electric field is formed between the plurality of discharge electrodes and the liquid and contaminants are collected in the liquid. The rotary blade is installed at the bottom of the dust collecting tank and rotates the liquid so that a vortex flow is formed in the liquid. The air cleaner is configured such that a separation distance between a liquid level and the plurality of discharge electrodes is within a predetermined distance range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air purifier that collects pollutants contained in the air using a liquid. [Background technology]

[0002] Various types of air purifiers are used to purify indoor air by collecting pollutants such as fine dust generated indoors or coming in from the outside, and then discharge the purified air into the room. Such air purifiers can be broadly classified into dry type air purifiers and wet type air purifiers.

[0003] Dry air purifiers purify the air by using a filter to filter out pollutants or a dust collector to electrically collect pollutants. Dry air purifiers require periodic replacement or cleaning of the filter or dust collector. Replacing the filter or dust collector incurs additional costs, and cleaning the filter or dust collector is an inconvenience for the user.

[0004] A wet air purifier purifies air by precipitating or dissolving pollutants by contacting the air with a wet purifier such as water. In a wet air purifier, the small contact area between the air containing pollutants and the wet purifier reduces the air purification capacity of the wet air purifier. In addition, the container containing the wet purifier is easily contaminated by the wet purifier that is maintained in a static state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1998073 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air purifier that solves the problems of the prior art described above. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air purifier that exhibits high air purification performance with low power consumption in a wet environment. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air purifier that is used in a wet environment, does not require inconvenience such as filter replacement, and realizes automated operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The disclosed embodiment relates to an air purifier that removes pollutants in air by electrical discharge. The air purifier according to one embodiment includes a dust-collecting water tank, a housing, an air supply unit, an exhaust unit, a plurality of discharge electrodes, an electrifying unit, and a rotating blade. The dust-collecting water tank is configured to contain a liquid. The housing accommodates the dust-collecting water tank. The air supply unit is configured to supply air from the outside into the dust-collecting water tank to collect pollutants contained in the air. The exhaust unit has an exhaust pipe arranged to face the water surface of the liquid, and is configured to exhaust the air supplied to the dust-collecting water tank to the outside. The plurality of discharge electrodes are arranged along the circumference of the exhaust pipe. The electrifying unit is arranged in the dust-collecting water tank, and charges the liquid to a polarity opposite to that of the plurality of discharge electrodes so that an electric field is formed between the plurality of discharge electrodes and the liquid, and pollutants are collected in the liquid. The rotating blade is provided at the bottom of the dust-collecting water tank, and rotates the liquid so that a vortex is formed in the liquid. The air purifier is configured so that the distance between the surface of the liquid and the plurality of discharge electrodes is within a predetermined distance range.

[0008] In one embodiment, the plurality of discharge electrodes are configured to be charged to a (+) polarity, and the charging unit is configured to charge the liquid to a (-) polarity.

[0009] In one embodiment, a plurality of discharge electrodes each protrude from the exhaust pipe in a radial direction outward from the central axis of the exhaust pipe.

[0010] In one embodiment, the air purifier includes a grounding portion provided on the housing and configured to ground the dust-collecting water tank. The dust-collecting water tank may include a non-conductive material on an inner or outer peripheral surface of the dust-collecting water tank.

[0011] In one embodiment, the air purifier includes a rotary motor disposed in the housing and configured to rotate the rotor blades, the rotary motor being configured to vary a rotation speed of the rotary motor such that the separation distance is within a predetermined distance range.

[0012] In one embodiment, the air purifier includes a controller configured to control a rotary motor. The rotary motor is configured to detect a rotation speed of the rotary motor and transmit the detected rotation speed to the controller. The controller is configured to compare a reference rotation speed of the rotary motor that causes the separation distance to be within a predetermined distance range with the detected rotation speed input from the rotary motor, and to increase the rotation speed of the rotary motor to raise the level of the liquid so that the separation distance is within the predetermined distance range.

[0013] In one embodiment, the air purifier includes a water level detection sensor configured to detect the level of the liquid, and a control unit configured to adjust the separation distance based on a detection signal from the water level detection sensor so that the separation distance is within a predetermined distance range.

[0014] In one embodiment, the control unit is configured to change the number of rotations of the rotary motor so that the separation distance is within a predetermined distance range.

[0015] In one embodiment, the air purifier includes a refill tank for storing a refill liquid for refilling the liquid in the dust-collecting water tank, and a pump for supplying the refill liquid from the refill tank to the dust-collecting water tank. The control unit is configured to control the pump so that the separation distance is within a predetermined distance range.

[0016] In one embodiment, the air purifier includes a refill tank containing a refill liquid having a concentration different from that of the liquid, a connector connecting the dust-collection tank and the refill tank, a semipermeable membrane provided in the connector, and a valve provided in the connector and configured to open and close the connector, and a control unit configured to control the valve so that the separation distance is within a predetermined distance range.

[0017] In one embodiment, the control unit is configured to change the positions of the plurality of discharge electrodes. The plurality of discharge electrodes are configured to be movable up and down so that the separation distance is within a predetermined distance range. Effect of the Invention

[0018] In the electric discharge type air purifier according to one embodiment, the charged liquid in the dust collecting water tank and the protruding discharge electrodes arranged around the exhaust pipe and charged with a polarity different from that of the liquid form an electric field, and the charged liquid collects pollutants ionized with a polarity different from that of the liquid. Therefore, the electric discharge type air purifier according to one embodiment can exhibit high air purification performance with low power consumption in a wet environment and can eliminate the inconvenience of users such as replacement of filters or dust collectors.

[0019] In the electric discharge type air purifier according to one embodiment, a rotating blade installed at the bottom of the dust collecting water tank forms a vortex in the charged liquid to increase the contact area between the surface of the charged liquid and the air. Therefore, the electric discharge type air purifier according to one embodiment can prevent a decrease in dust collection performance due to the accumulation of pollutants, can reform the surface of the charged liquid, and can prevent a short circuit due to pollutants between the discharge electrode and the liquid.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the electric discharge air purifier, the distance between the surface of the charged liquid and the discharge electrode can be maintained within a distance range suitable for maintaining the ionized pollutants, and in order to maintain the distance, the number of rotations of the rotary motor can be changed or the position of the discharge electrode relative to the liquid can be changed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an electric discharge type air purifier according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a plurality of discharge electrodes according to an embodiment; [Figure 4]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing an example of the water surface shape of liquid rotated by a rotating blade. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the rotary vanes and rotary motor shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an operating unit of an electric discharge type air purifier including a control unit according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an operating unit of an electric discharge type air purifier according to an embodiment including a control unit and a water level detection sensor. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an operating unit of an electric discharge type air purifier according to an embodiment in which liquid in a dust-collecting water tank is replenished by a pump. [Figure 9] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operating unit of an electric discharge type air purifier according to an embodiment in which liquid in a dust-collecting water tank is replenished by osmotic pressure. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an operating unit of an electric discharge type air purifier according to an embodiment configured to change the position of a discharge electrode. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a discharge electrode moving part and an exhaust pipe according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an electric discharge air purifier according to an embodiment showing an example of an arrangement of discharge electrodes. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an electric discharge air purifier according to an embodiment showing another example of the arrangement of the discharge electrodes. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an electric discharge air purifier according to an embodiment, showing yet another example of the arrangement of the discharge electrodes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated for the purpose of explaining the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure, and the scope of the rights of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments presented below or the specific descriptions of these embodiments.

[0023] All technical and scientific terms used in this disclosure have the meanings commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs, unless otherwise defined. All terms used in this disclosure are selected for the purpose of more clearly describing this disclosure, and are not selected to limit the scope of the rights of this disclosure.

[0024] As used in this disclosure, terms such as "including," "comprising," "having," and the like, should be understood as open-ended terms that include the possibility of including other embodiments, unless otherwise stated in the phrase or sentence in which the term or phrase contains the term.

[0025] The singular terms described in this disclosure may include plural meanings unless otherwise stated, and this also applies to the singular terms described in the claims.

[0026] The terms "first", "second", etc. used in this disclosure are used to distinguish multiple elements from each other, and do not limit the order or importance of the elements.

[0027] In this disclosure, when a component is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly connected or coupled to the other component, or may be connected or coupled via a new component.

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components are given the same reference numerals. In addition, in the following description of the embodiments, duplicated description of the same or corresponding components may be omitted. However, even if a description of a component is omitted, it is not intended that such a component is not included in a certain embodiment.

[0029] The embodiments described below and those shown in the accompanying drawings relate to an electric discharge air purifier that ionizes pollutants contained in the air by electric discharge and collects the ionized pollutants with a charged liquid to purify the air. The electric discharge air purifier (hereinafter simply referred to as an air purifier) ​​according to the present disclosure can be used to remove pollutants contained in indoor air, but the place where the air purifier according to the present disclosure is used is not limited to indoors.

[0030] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an air purifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 will be referred to in the following description.

[0031] The air purifier 10 according to the embodiment includes a dust-collecting water tank 100 configured to contain a liquid 110, and a housing 200 that contains the dust-collecting water tank 100.

[0032] The liquid 110 collects pollutants contained in the air (e.g., indoor air). The pollutants contained in the air may be, for example, fine dust (PM10, PM2.5, etc.), formaldehyde, radon, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, heavy metals, carbon monoxide, etc. The liquid contained in the dust collection water tank 100 may include a liquid with a low vapor pressure such as water, oil, ether, etc., to collect the pollutants contained in the air. Additives may be added to the liquid to improve the pollutant collection ability or to reduce the evaporation of the liquid.

[0033] The dust collecting water tank 100 may be made of a transparent material and may have a shape like an inverted truncated cone with a diameter that increases toward the top. The dust collecting water tank 100 may be provided in the housing 200 so as to be removably fixed to the housing 200. As an example, the dust collecting water tank 100 may have a circular bottom wall 121 and a cylindrical side wall 122. The dust collecting water tank 100 is accommodated in the housing 200 and is supported by the housing 200.

[0034] The housing 200 functions as a support for accommodating the components of the air purifier 10, and holds and supports the dust-collecting water tank 100. As an example, the housing 200 includes an outer housing 210 that forms the exterior of the air purifier 10, and an inner housing 220 that is located inside the outer housing 210 and fixed to the outer housing 210. The outer housing 210 has an opening 211 that penetrates at its upper end and a number of air intake holes 212 that penetrate at its side wall. The outer housing 210 may be placed on the bottom of a room or on the surface of a suitable structure. The inner housing 220 defines an exposure opening 221 that penetrates in the front-rear direction of the air purifier. The dust-collecting water tank 100 may be located at the exposure opening 221 and fixed to a bottom wall 222 of the inner housing 220.

[0035] The air purifier 10 includes an air intake unit 300 and an exhaust unit 400. The air intake unit 300 and the exhaust unit 400 are provided in a housing. The air intake unit 300 is configured to supply air from the outside of the air purifier 10 to the dust-collecting water tank 100 in order to collect and purify pollutants contained in the air using the liquid 110. The exhaust unit 400 is configured to exhaust the air, which has been supplied to the dust-collecting water tank 100 and from which pollutants have been collected by the liquid 110, from the dust-collecting water tank 100 to the outside of the air purifier 10.

[0036] The air intake unit 300 is located inside the outer housing near the top of the outer housing. The air intake unit 300 may be fixed inside the outer housing 210 between the outer housing 210 and the inner housing 220. As an example, the air intake unit 300 may have an intake device 310 for drawing in air containing pollutants from outside the housing 200, and an air intake pipe 320 extending from the intake device 310. The intake device 310 may have an intake fan 311 arranged toward the intake hole 212, and a fan motor 312 for rotating the intake fan 311. As the intake fan 311 rotates by the fan motor 312, air outside the air purifier may be supplied to the air intake pipe 320 via the intake device 310. The operation of the fan motor 312 may be controlled by a control unit of the air purifier. For example, the amount of air supplied to the dust-collecting water tank 100 may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the intake fan 311 rotated by the fan motor 312, and the dust collection speed of the pollutants may be adjusted. The air intake pipe 320 guides the air blown by the intake device 310 toward the dust-collecting water tank 100. The air intake pipe 320 is disposed toward the inside of the inner housing 220. For example, the air intake pipe 320 may extend from the intake device 310 toward the dust-collecting water tank 100. For another example, the air intake pipe 320 may extend from the intake device 310 toward the exhaust unit 400 in a straight line or diagonally, and the air blown from the air intake pipe 320 may be guided along the exhaust unit 400 to the dust-collecting water tank 100.

[0037] The exhaust unit 400 discharges air from which contaminants have been collected and removed in the liquid 110 to the outside of the air purifier. The exhaust unit 400 may be located above the dust collecting water tank 100 and coupled to the upper part of the outer housing 210. The exhaust unit 400 is configured to discharge the air from the dust collecting water tank 100 from which contaminants have been removed upward from the dust collecting water tank 100. As an example, the exhaust unit 400 may be configured as a modularized part and may be removably coupled to the upper part of the outer housing 210. Therefore, when the exhaust unit 400 is removed from the housing 200, the dust collecting water tank 100 located in the inner housing 220 and the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100 may be exposed. In this state, the liquid 110 may be replenished through the opening 211 of the outer housing 210.

[0038] The exhaust unit 400 has a cover part 410 coupled to the opening 211 of the outer housing 210, and an exhaust pipe 420 extending downward from the cover part 410. The cover part 410 has a number of exhaust holes 411 at its upper part through which air from which pollutants have been removed is discharged. The exhaust pipe 420 extends downward from the lower part of the cover part 410, and the cover part 410 has an internal space communicating with the exhaust pipe 420. The exhaust pipe 420 is formed in the exhaust part 400 so as to be disposed coaxially with the central axis CA of the dust-collecting water tank 100. The exhaust pipe 420 is disposed in the exhaust part 400 so as to face the water surface 111 of the liquid 110 in a downward direction. Therefore, the exhaust part 400 is coupled to the housing 200 so that the exhaust pipe 420 is spaced upward from the water surface 111 of the liquid 110. The lower end of the exhaust pipe 420 faces the water surface of the liquid 110.

[0039] The air purifier 10 according to one embodiment ionizes or charges the pollutants in the air supplied through the air supply unit 300 to a positive or negative polarity by electrical discharge, and charges the liquid 110 that collects the pollutants to a polarity opposite to that of the pollutants. As a result, the pollutants in the air supplied to the dust-collecting water tank 100 are collected in the liquid 110 in the dust-collecting water tank 100. To collect the pollutants, the air purifier 10 includes a discharge electrode 510 that performs electrical discharge on the air introduced into the dust-collecting water tank 100, and a charging unit 520 that charges the liquid 110.

[0040] 3 is a perspective view showing a plurality of discharge electrodes disposed in an exhaust pipe of an exhaust unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, both FIG. 2 and FIG.

[0041] A plurality of discharge electrodes 510 are arranged along the circumference of the exhaust pipe 420. For example, four to six discharge electrodes 510 may be arranged along the circumference of the exhaust pipe 420, but the number of discharge electrodes is not limited thereto. A plurality of discharge electrodes 510 are arranged around the exhaust pipe 420 at equal intervals or at predetermined intervals around the exhaust pipe 420. For example, each discharge electrode 510 may be made of carbon fiber. A carbon fiber discharge electrode may be used with low voltage and low power consumption, and may have a small amount of heat. In an embodiment of the air purifier, a plurality of discharge electrodes 510 may be connected to the exhaust pipe 420, the exhaust unit 400, or the dust collecting water tank 100 and arranged along the circumference of the exhaust pipe 420.

[0042] 2 and 3, the plurality of discharge electrodes 510 are coupled to the exhaust pipe 420 so as to protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the exhaust pipe 420 in an outer radial direction RO of the central axis CA of the exhaust pipe. The plurality of discharge electrodes 510 are arranged at equal intervals or at predetermined intervals around the exhaust pipe 420 near the lower end of the exhaust pipe 420. Since the plurality of discharge electrodes 510 protrude in all directions from the center of the exhaust pipe 420, the discharge efficiency does not decrease in a high humidity environment.

[0043] 2, the charging unit 520 is disposed in the dust collecting water tank 100 so as to be immersed in the liquid 110, and charges the liquid 110. The charging unit 520 is configured to charge the liquid 110 with a polarity opposite to that to which the plurality of discharge electrodes 510 are charged. As the charging unit 520 charges the liquid 110, an electric field is formed between the plurality of discharge electrodes 510 and the liquid 110, and contaminants are collected in the liquid 110. The charging unit 520 may include a charging electrode immersed in the liquid 110, and an electric wire connected to the charging electrode may be attached to an inner circumferential surface of the dust collecting water tank 100 and extend into the housing 200.

[0044] According to an embodiment, the plurality of discharge electrodes 510 are configured to be charged with a (+) polarity, and the charging unit 520 is configured to charge the liquid 110 with a (-) polarity. The plurality of discharge electrodes 510 charged with a (+) polarity electrically destroy contaminants around the discharge electrodes and ionize them into cations. For example, a positive corona discharge may be generated in the plurality of discharge electrodes 510. The contaminants ionized into cations may be attracted to the liquid 110 charged with a (-) polarity by, for example, a force due to an electric field or an electrostatic attraction, and may be collected in the liquid 110. Since the discharge electrode 510 is charged with a (+) polarity, the amount of ozone formed by oxygen radicals generated at the discharge electrode combining with oxygen in the air is small. As another example, the plurality of discharge electrodes 510 may be charged with a (-) polarity, the charging unit 520 may charge the liquid 110 with a (+) polarity, and the contaminants may be ionized into anions by the discharge electrode 510.

[0045] According to some embodiments, the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100 may be stored in the dust collecting water tank 100 so as not to have fluidity. When the air purifier 10 is operated, contaminants may accumulate on the surface of the liquid 110, reducing the dust collection efficiency, and the collected contaminants may electrically connect the discharge electrode 510 and the liquid 110. In one embodiment, the air purifier 10 rotates the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank to form a vortex in the liquid 110. This may modify the water surface 111 of the liquid 110, prevent a reduction in the dust collection efficiency, and prevent an electrical short circuit caused by the contaminants.

[0046] The air purifier 10 of one embodiment includes a rotating blade 610 that is provided on the bottom wall 121 of the dust-collecting water tank 100 and rotates the liquid 110. The rotating blade 610 is rotatably coupled to the bottom wall 121 of the dust-collecting water tank 100 so as to rotate around the central axis CA of the dust-collecting water tank 100. As an example, the rotating blade 610 has a base portion 611 formed in a disk shape and a plurality of blade portions 612 protruding upward from the base portion 611. Each blade portion 612 may be formed to extend from near the rotation center of the base portion 611 to an edge of the base portion 611.

[0047] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing an example of the water surface shape of the liquid rotated by the rotating blades. In the following description, both Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 will be referred to.

[0048] As the rotating blades 610 rotate around the central axis CA, a vortex is formed in the liquid 110. As the rotating blades 610 rotate, the height of the water surface 111 of the liquid 110 may rise, and a vortex rotating around the central axis CA is formed in the liquid 110. In the liquid 110 in which the vortex is formed, the water surface 111 may have a generally V-shape concave downward. The rotating blades 610 rotate the liquid 110 so that the water surface 111 of the liquid 110 in which the vortex is formed is located close to the tip of the discharge electrode 510 but does not contact each other. As the vortex is formed in the liquid 110, the water surface 111 of the liquid 110 changes from a flat shape to a concave shape downward, and the contact area between the air containing pollutants and the water surface 111 of the liquid 110 increases. That is, as the rotating blades 610 rotate, the water surface 111 may have an increased contact area, and the dust collection efficiency of the pollutants may be further increased. In addition, the liquid 110 in which the vortex is formed can wash the dust collecting water tank 100, so that the internal contamination of the dust collecting water tank can be reduced, and the generation of water stains in the dust collecting water tank due to the collected contaminants can be prevented. In addition, the water surface 111 of the liquid 110 can be reformed, so that the electrical short circuit between the discharge electrode and the liquid due to the contaminants can be prevented.

[0049] The air purifier 10 of an embodiment includes a rotary motor 620 configured to rotate the rotary impeller 610. In some embodiments, the air purifier 10 may not include the rotary motor 620 for rotating the rotary impeller 610. The rotary motor 620 may be installed in the housing 200 and directly or indirectly connected to the rotary impeller 610. The rotary shaft of the rotary motor 620 and the rotary shaft of the rotary impeller 610 may be directly connected to each other. In this case, one of the rotary shaft of the rotary motor 620 and the rotary shaft of the rotary impeller 610 may pass through the bottom wall 121 of the dust-collecting water tank 100, and a sealing member for preventing leakage of liquid may be interposed between the bottom wall 121 of the dust-collecting water tank and the rotary shaft. The rotary shaft of the rotary motor 620 and the rotary shaft of the rotary impeller 610 may be separated from each other, and the rotary force of the rotary motor 620 may be transmitted to the rotary impeller 610 in a non-contact manner. In this case, a rotating shaft penetrating the bottom wall 121 of the dust-collecting water tank 100 and a sealing member therefor are not required, so leakage of liquid can be prevented.

[0050] Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the rotary vane and rotary motor shown in Fig. 2. In the following description, both Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 will be referred to.

[0051] The inner housing 220 has a motor housing portion 223 formed by being recessed downward from the bottom wall 222. The rotary motor 620 is provided in the motor housing portion 223 of the inner housing 220. The bottom wall 121 of the dust collecting water tank 100 is closed, and a support shaft 123 protrudes from the bottom wall 121. A base portion 611 of the rotary vane 610 is connected to the support shaft 123 so as to rotate around the support shaft 123. The rotary motor 620 has a driving plate 622 connected to an end of the rotating shaft 621 and having a disk shape. The driving plate 622 may have approximately the size of the base portion 611 of the rotary vane.

[0052] The driving plate 622 is configured to rotate the rotary vane 610 by a magnetic force. In order to rotate the rotary vane 610 with the rotation of the driving plate 622, the driving plate 622 may have a plurality of magnets 623 arranged at intervals in its circumferential direction, and the rotary vane 610 may have a plurality of metal parts 613 corresponding to the magnets 623 on the base part 611. Alternatively, the base part 611 of the rotary vane 610 may have a plurality of magnets 623 arranged at intervals in its circumferential direction, and the driving plate 622 may have a plurality of metal parts 613 corresponding to the magnets. Alternatively, the driving plate 622 and the base part 611 may be provided with a plurality of pairs of magnets facing each other in a vertical direction. Thus, the rotational force of the rotary motor 620 may be transmitted to the rotary vane 610 by magnetic interaction between the driving plate 622 and the base part 611, and the rotary vane 610 separated from the rotary motor 620 may be rotated by the rotation of the rotary motor 620.

[0053] The air purifier 10 according to an embodiment may include a grounding unit 130 provided in the housing 200 and configured to ground the dust-collecting water tank 100. Referring to FIG. 2, the grounding unit 130 may be provided in the inner housing 220 such that a grounding terminal thereof protrudes from the exposure opening 221 toward the dust-collecting water tank 100. The grounding terminal of the grounding unit 130 contacts the surface of the dust-collecting water tank 100. In detail, the grounding unit 130 is positioned such that the grounding terminal contacts the vicinity of the bottom wall 121 of the dust-collecting water tank 100. As another example, the grounding unit 130 may be provided in the inner housing 220 such that the grounding terminal contacts the underside of the bottom wall 121 of the dust-collecting water tank 100. When the air purifier 10 is operated, the liquid 110 is charged by the charging unit 520, and the dust-collecting water tank 100 is grounded by the grounding unit 130, thereby improving safety for the user.

[0054] The charging unit 520 for charging the liquid 110 and the grounding unit 130 for grounding the dust collecting water tank 100 are separated from each other above and below. For example, the charging unit 520 may be located above the grounding unit 130. Also, the charging unit 520 and the grounding unit 130 may be disposed in the dust collecting water tank 100 so as to be electrically separated from each other. In this regard, a part of the dust collecting water tank 100 may be made of a non-conductive material. For example, the dust collecting water tank 100 may include a non-conductive material on its inner or outer circumferential surface, and the non-conductive material may be formed as a part of the dust collecting water tank or may be coated on the inner or outer circumferential surface of the dust collecting water tank.

[0055] When the air purifier 10 is operated, the pollutants are ionized by the discharge of the discharge electrode 510, and the liquid 110 is charged by the charging unit 520. In addition, a vortex is formed in the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank by the rotating blades 610. The discharge electrode 510 is charged to a (+) polarity, and a (+) polarity discharge is performed, and the pollutants are ionized into cations. For example, the (+) polarity discharge may last for several microseconds, and the duration of the state in which the pollutants are ionized into cations may be very short. Therefore, it is important to maintain an appropriate distance between the discharge electrode 510 and the water surface 111 of the liquid when the air purifier 10 is operated.

[0056] As the air purifier 10 operates for a predetermined time, the height of the water surface 111 of the liquid 110 decreases due to a natural vaporization phenomenon that occurs in the liquid 110. In this case, the appropriate distance between the discharge electrode 510 and the water surface 111 cannot be maintained and increases, and the ionized pollutants cannot be smoothly guided to the liquid 110, which may deteriorate the dust collection performance. In this regard, the air purifier 10 according to an embodiment is configured to maintain a separation distance between the water surface 111 of the liquid and the discharge electrode 510, that is, the separation distance is within a predetermined distance range. The separation distance may mean the shortest distance between the water surface 111 of the liquid 110 where a vortex is formed and the discharge electrode 510, as shown by the symbol SD in FIG. 4. As an example, the predetermined distance range may be 3 cm to 4 cm, but may vary depending on factors such as the power applied to the discharge electrode, the volume of the liquid, and the size of the dust collection water tank.

[0057] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to maintain the separation distance within the predetermined distance range, the amount of evaporation of the liquid in the dust collecting water tank may be suppressed, and a change in the liquid level may be minimized. As one example, the liquid that collects the pollutants may include an additive such as salt and have a low evaporation rate. As another example, the liquid that collects the pollutants may be cooled, and a cooler for cooling the liquid may be provided in the housing so as to be in contact with the dust collecting water tank.

[0058] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of maintaining the separation distance within the predetermined distance range can be realized by adjusting the separation distance by increasing the rotation speed of the liquid 110 as the water level of the liquid 110 (the height of the water surface 111 relative to the bottom wall 121 of the dust collecting water tank) becomes lower, adjusting the separation distance by supplying supplementary liquid to the dust collecting water tank 100 so that the water level of the liquid 110 is maintained at a constant height, adjusting the separation distance from the discharge electrode 510 by moving the discharge electrode 510, or adjusting the separation distance by moving the exhaust pipe 420 in which the discharge electrode 510 is disposed. In addition, a water level detection sensor configured to detect the water level of the liquid 110 may be adopted in the air purifier 10, and the separation distance may be adjusted based on a signal from the sensor. In addition, the above-mentioned method may be automatically executed under the control of a control unit provided inside the air purifier 10.

[0059] According to an embodiment, the rotary motor 620 for rotating the rotary vanes 610 is configured to change its rotation speed. In detail, referring to FIG. 4, the rotary motor 620 is configured to change its rotation speed so that the separation distance SD is within the predetermined distance range. As the level of the liquid 110 decreases due to the operation of the air purifier 10, the rotary motor 620 may increase its rotation speed. A faster vortex may be formed in the liquid 110, and the level of the liquid 110 may increase as the speed of the vortex increases. As a result, the separation distance SD may be maintained within the predetermined distance range.

[0060] The air purifier 10 may include a controller that controls components belonging to the operating unit. The controller may include a processor and various electric and electronic components, and may be provided inside the housing 200 or outside the housing 200. The controller may be connected to a power source for driving components of the operating unit of the air purifier. The controller may be configured to control the operation of the air supply unit, the discharge electrode, the charging unit, the rotary motor, etc. FIG. 6 is a block diagram that shows a schematic configuration of the operating unit of the air purifier according to one embodiment including the controller. In the following description, both FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 will be referred to.

[0061] The control unit 700 is configured to control the rotary motor 620. The rotary motor 620 is configured to detect the number of revolutions of the rotary shaft 621 of the rotary motor and transmit the detected number of revolutions to the control unit 700. In this regard, the rotary motor 620 may have a sensor or an encoder for detecting the number of revolutions of the rotary shaft 621. The control unit 700 may store a reference number of revolutions of the rotary motor 620 at which the separation distance SD is maintained within the predetermined distance range. When the level of the liquid is lowered due to the operation of the air purifier, the control unit 700 may compare the reference number of revolutions with the detected number of revolutions and control the rotary motor 620 so that a higher power is applied to the rotary motor 620. For example, the control unit 700 may increase the number of revolutions of the rotary motor 620 to raise the level of the liquid 110 so that the separation distance SD is maintained within the predetermined distance range based on the result of the comparison.

[0062] For example, liquid that is reduced in volume due to evaporation of the liquid applies a reduced load to the rotating impeller. Since power is supplied to the rotary motor 620 to rotate the rotary shaft 621 at the reference rotation speed, the detected rotation speed of the rotary motor 620 with respect to the rotary shaft 621 may be greater than the reference rotation speed when the volume of the liquid is reduced and the load is reduced. Therefore, when the control unit 700 determines that the detected rotation speed is greater than the reference rotation speed, the control unit 700 may control the rotary motor 620 to rotate at a rotation speed higher than the detected rotation speed by increasing the power supplied to the rotary motor 620 to be greater than the power applied at the reference rotation speed so that the rotary impeller 610 rotates at a faster speed to increase the level of the liquid.

[0063] The air purifier may include a water level detection sensor configured to detect the level of the liquid, and the control unit of the air purifier may maintain the separation distance based on a detection signal from the water level detection sensor. Figure 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operating unit of an air purifier according to an embodiment including a control unit and a water level detection sensor. In the following description, both Figures 4 and 7 will be referred to.

[0064] The water level detection sensor 810 is configured to detect the water level of the liquid 110 and transmit a detection signal to the control unit 700. The control unit 700 is configured to adjust the separation distance SD so that the separation distance SD is maintained within the predetermined distance range based on the detection signal from the water level detection sensor 810. The water level detection sensor 810 may be provided in the dust-collecting water tank 100 or in the housing 200 above the dust-collecting water tank 100. As an example, the water level detection sensor 810 may be, but is not limited to, a sensor that measures the amount of the liquid 110 by a change in electrical resistance, or a sensor that measures the separation distance SD by microwave pulses, ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, or the like, or a sensor that detects the water level of the liquid using a float.

[0065] As an example, the control unit 700 can adjust the separation distance SD by changing the rotation speed of the rotation motor 620. The control unit 700 is configured to store a reference water level of the liquid 110 when the separation distance SD is within the predetermined distance range, compare a detection signal from the water level detection sensor 810 with the reference water level, and control the rotation motor 620 to increase the rotation speed of the rotation motor 620 when the water level according to the detection signal is lower than the reference water level. Also, the control unit 700 can be configured to decrease the rotation speed of the rotation motor 620 so that the separation distance SD is within the predetermined distance range when the water level according to the detection signal is higher than the reference water level.

[0066] The air purifier can maintain the separation distance by replenishing the liquid in the dust-collecting water tank with a pump based on a detection signal from the water level detection sensor. Figure 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operating unit of an air purifier according to an embodiment in which the liquid in the dust-collecting water tank is replenished with a pump. In the following description, both Figures 4 and 8 will be referred to.

[0067] The air purifier 10 may include a refill tank 821 that contains a refill liquid for refilling the liquid 110 in the dust-collecting water tank 100, and a pump 822 that is configured to supply the refill liquid in the refill tank 821 to the dust-collecting water tank 100 and controlled by the control unit 700. The liquid 110 in the dust-collecting water tank 100 and the refill liquid in the refill tank 821 may be the same liquid. The control unit 700 may be configured to control the pump 822 so that the separation distance SD is maintained within the predetermined distance range. In detail, the control unit 700 may compare a detection signal from the water level detection sensor 810 with the reference water level, and if the water level according to the detection signal is lower than the reference water level, control the pump 822 so that the pump 822 supplies the refill liquid in the refill tank 821 to the dust-collecting water tank 100. Also, if the water level according to the detection signal approaches the reference water level after the pump 822 is operated, the control unit 700 may stop the operation of the pump 822.

[0068] As an example, the refill water tank 821 may be separated from the dust collecting water tank 100 and may be disposed in the housing 200 or in a separate housing different from the housing 200, and the refill water tank 821 and the dust collecting water tank 100 may be connected to each other via a connecting pipe 823 in which a pump 822 is disposed. As another example, the dust collecting water tank 100 may be configured to integrally include a first portion that contains the liquid 110 that collects pollutants and forms a vortex in the liquid 110, and a second portion that contains the refill liquid and surrounds or is connected to the first portion. In such an example, one dust collecting water tank may be formed in a dual structure having a portion that contains the liquid 110 that collects pollutants and a portion that contains the refill liquid.

[0069] The air purifier can maintain the separation distance by replenishing the liquid in the dust-collecting water tank using osmotic pressure based on a detection signal from the water level detection sensor. Figure 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operating unit of an air purifier according to an embodiment configured to replenishing the liquid in the dust-collecting water tank using osmotic pressure. In the following description, both Figures 4 and 9 will be referred to.

[0070] The air purifier 10 may include a refill tank 831 that contains a refill liquid having a concentration different from that of the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100, a connection part 832 that connects the dust collecting water tank 100 and the refill tank 831, a semipermeable membrane 833 provided in the connection part 832, and a valve 834 provided in the connection part 832 and configured to open and close the connection part 832 and controlled by the control part 700. The liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100 and the refill liquid in the refill tank 831 may be the same liquid but with different concentrations.

[0071] The control unit 700 may be configured to control the valve 834 so that the separation distance SD is maintained within the predetermined distance range. In particular, the control unit 700 may compare the detection signal from the water level detection sensor 810 with the reference water level, and control the valve 834 to open the connection part 832 when the water level according to the detection signal is lower than the reference water level. As an example, when the concentration of the refill liquid is higher than the concentration of the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100, the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100 may be refilled by osmotic pressure action by opening the valve 834. As another example, when the concentration of the refill liquid is lower than the concentration of the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100, the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100 may be refilled by reverse osmotic pressure action by opening the valve 834. In this example, pressure may be applied to the refill liquid in the refill water tank 831 due to reverse osmotic pressure action. If the water level according to the detection signal approaches the reference water level after the valve 834 is operated, the control unit 700 can control the valve 834 to close the connection unit 832 .

[0072] As an example, the refill water tank 831 may be separated from the dust collecting water tank 100 and may be disposed in the housing 200 or in a separate housing different from the housing 200, and the refill water tank 831 and the dust collecting water tank 100 may be connected to each other via a connection part 832 in which a semipermeable membrane 833 and a valve 834 are disposed. As another example, the dust collecting water tank 100 may be configured to integrally include a first part that contains the liquid 110 that collects pollutants and forms a vortex in the liquid 110, and a second part that contains the refill liquid having a concentration different from that of the liquid 110 and surrounds or is connected to the first part. In such an example, one dust collecting water tank may be formed in a double structure having a part that contains the liquid 110 that collects pollutants and a part that contains the refill liquid.

[0073] According to another embodiment, the dust collecting water tank 100 and the refilling water tank 831 may be connected via a connection part 832 having only a valve 834, and the refilling liquid may be stored in the refilling water tank 831 at a water level higher than the water level of the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100. In this example, the control part 700 may control the valve 834 to open and close the connection part 832 so as to adjust the separation distance, and the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100 may be refilled from the refilling liquid in the refilling water tank 831 depending on the water level difference.

[0074] According to another embodiment, the dust collecting water tank that contains the liquid that collects the pollutants may be configured to change its inner diameter. When the inner diameter of the dust collecting water tank is narrowed, the level of the liquid in which the vortex is formed may increase. For example, the upper part of the dust collecting water tank may be made of a flexible material such as silicone, and the upper part of the dust collecting water tank may be contracted by a user or a control unit to change the inner diameter of the dust collecting water tank.

[0075] The air purifier can maintain the separation distance by changing the position of the discharge electrode based on the detection signal of the water level detection sensor. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operating unit of an air purifier configured to change the position of the discharge electrode according to an embodiment. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a discharge electrode moving unit and an exhaust pipe according to an embodiment. The following description will refer to Figures 4, 10 and 11.

[0076] The control unit 700 may be configured to change the positions of the plurality of discharge electrodes 510. The control unit 700 may be configured to change the positions of the plurality of discharge electrodes 510 with respect to the water surface of the liquid 110. To this end, the plurality of discharge electrodes 510 may be configured to be movable up and down with respect to the exhaust pipe 420 such that the separation distance SD is maintained within the predetermined distance range.

[0077] In relation to the up and down movement of the discharge electrode, the air purifier 10 may include a discharge electrode support part 431 coupled to the exhaust pipe 420 so as to be able to move up and down along the exhaust pipe, and a discharge electrode moving part 432 configured to raise and lower the discharge electrode support part 431.

[0078] The discharge electrode 510 is coupled to the discharge electrode support part 431 so as to protrude from the discharge electrode support part 431 in an outer radial direction RO with respect to a central axis CA of the exhaust pipe 420. The discharge electrode support part 431 has a ring shape and supports the discharge electrode 510. The discharge electrode support part 431 may have a predetermined width in a vertical direction so as not to be inclined with respect to the exhaust pipe 420. The discharge electrode support part 431 may be coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the exhaust pipe 420 so as to be vertically movable or slidable. As the discharge electrode support part 431 moves vertically, the separation distance SD may be adjusted to be within the predetermined distance range. In order to minimize friction between the discharge electrode support part 431 and the exhaust pipe 420, the discharge electrode support part 431 may have a roller on its inner circumferential surface, or the discharge electrode support part 431 may be made of a material exhibiting low friction, or a lubricant such as grease may be applied between the discharge electrode support part 431 and the exhaust pipe 420.

[0079] The discharge electrode moving part 432 is controlled by the control part 700. When the water level according to the detection signal of the water level detection sensor 810 is lower than the reference water level, the control part 700 can control the discharge electrode moving part 432 so that the discharge electrode support part 431 is lowered by the discharge electrode moving part 432. As a result, the increased separation distance SD caused by the drop in the water level due to evaporation of the liquid can be maintained within the predetermined distance range. When a large amount of liquid 110 is stored or replenished in the dust collecting water tank 100, the separation distance SD can be reduced. In this case, the discharge electrode moving part 432 can be driven to raise the discharge electrode support part 431, and the separation distance SD can be maintained within the predetermined distance range.

[0080] The discharge electrode moving part 432 may include a power source 433 and a connecting part 434 connecting the power source 433 and the discharge electrode support part 431. The power source 433 may be an electric motor such as a step motor or a DC motor. Alternatively, the power source 433 may be a power generating source such as a biometal, a shape memory alloy, an actuator, or an artificial muscle. The connecting part 434 may be coupled to a rotating shaft or an actuating shaft provided in the power source 433.

[0081] As an example, the connecting unit 434 may include a rotating body that is connected to a rotating shaft of the power source 433 and rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by the power source 433, and a wire connecting the rotating body and the discharge electrode support unit 431. The rotating body may have a cylindrical or ring shape. An upper end of the wire may be connected to the rotating body, and a lower end of the wire may be connected to the discharge electrode support unit 431. A part of the wire including the upper end may be wound around the rotating body. As the rotating body rotates due to the rotational force of the power source 433, the wire may lower or raise the discharge electrode support unit 431. Therefore, the discharge electrode moving unit 432 may be configured to raise and lower the discharge electrode support unit 431 by the wire. As another example, the rotating body may be a pulley around which the wire is wound. Also, the connecting unit 434 connecting the power source 433 and the discharge electrode support unit 431 may have another lifting structure without using a wire.

[0082] According to another embodiment, the plurality of discharge electrodes 510 may be coupled to the exhaust pipe 420 so as to penetrate the exhaust pipe 420 and protrude in an outer radial direction of the central axis CA of the exhaust pipe 420, and move in an outer radial direction and an inner radial direction through the exhaust pipe 420. In this example, the inner end of the discharge electrode 510 may be connected to the power source 433 described above, and the protruding degree of the discharge electrode 510 may be adjusted by operating the power source 433. As the control unit 700 controls the power source 433, the protruding degree of the discharge electrode 510 may be changed, and the separation distance may be maintained within the predetermined distance range.

[0083] According to another embodiment, the exhaust unit 400 may be configured to adjust the separation distance SD by moving the exhaust pipe 420 up and down. As an example, the exhaust pipe 420 may have a screw thread at an upper end, and the cover unit 410 may have a screw thread corresponding to the screw of the exhaust pipe 420. The protruding length of the exhaust pipe 420 from the cover unit 410 may be adjusted by rotating the exhaust pipe 420 about the central axis CA. Thus, when the water level of the liquid 110 in the dust collecting water tank 100 is lowered and the separation distance SD is changed, the height of the exhaust pipe 420 may be adjusted by rotating the exhaust pipe 420, and the separation distance SD may be adjusted. As an example, the height adjustment of the exhaust pipe 420 may be performed manually. As another example, a power source and a gear device for rotating the exhaust pipe 420 may be disposed on the upper portion of the exhaust pipe 420 and the cover unit 410, and the control unit may control the power source to perform the height adjustment of the exhaust pipe.

[0084] 12 to 14 show other examples of the arrangement of the discharge electrodes in the air purifier according to one embodiment. In the following description, reference will be made to Figs. 12 to 14.

[0085] The discharge electrodes are arranged along the circumference of the exhaust pipe and are charged with a polarity opposite to the polarity of the charging unit that charges the liquid. Referring to FIG. 12, the discharge electrodes 510 are coupled to the exhaust pipe 420 so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the exhaust pipe 420 in an oblique direction between the outer radial direction RO and the downward direction UD. Referring to FIG. 13, the discharge electrodes 510 are coupled to the dust-collecting water tank 100 so as to protrude from the side wall 122 of the dust-collecting water tank 100 toward the lower end of the exhaust pipe 420. The tips of the discharge electrodes 510 may be located at the same level as the lower end of the exhaust pipe 420. Referring to FIG. 14, the discharge electrodes 510 are coupled to the exhaust part 400, specifically, the cover part 410 or the upper end of the exhaust pipe 420, and protrude in the downward direction UD. The discharge electrodes 510 are spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the exhaust pipe 420 in the outer radial direction RO, and the tips of the discharge electrodes 510 may be located at the same level as the lower end of the exhaust pipe 420. 12 to 14, the separation distance between the liquid surface 111 and the discharge electrode 510 can be maintained within the predetermined distance range by the methods described above. For example, as described above, the separation distance can be maintained by increasing the rotation speed of the liquid, by supplying supplemental liquid to the dust-collecting water tank, or by moving the discharge electrode.

[0086] Although the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure has been described above by way of some embodiments and examples shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that various substitutions, modifications and changes can be made without departing from the technical idea and scope of the present disclosure that can be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Furthermore, such substitutions, modifications and changes should be considered to fall within the scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 10 air purifier, 100 dust collecting water tank, 110 liquid, 111 water surface, 130 grounding part, 200 housing, 300 air intake part, 400 exhaust part, 420 exhaust pipe, 510 discharge electrode, 520 charging part, 610 rotating blade, 620 rotating motor, 700 control part, 810 water level detection sensor, 821 refill water tank, 822 pump, 831 refill water tank, 832 connection part, 833 semipermeable membrane, 834 valve, CA central axis of exhaust pipe, SD separation distance

Claims

1. A dust collecting water tank configured to contain a liquid; a housing for accommodating the dust collecting water tank; an air supply unit configured to supply air from the outside into the dust-collecting water tank in order to collect contaminants contained in the air; an exhaust unit having an exhaust pipe arranged to face the water surface of the liquid and configured to exhaust the air supplied to the dust-collecting water tank to the outside; A plurality of discharge electrodes arranged along a circumference of the exhaust pipe; a charging unit disposed in the dust-collecting water tank, which charges the liquid to a polarity opposite to a polarity of the plurality of discharge electrodes so that an electric field is formed between the plurality of discharge electrodes and the liquid, and the contaminants are collected in the liquid; a rotating blade provided at a bottom of the dust collecting water tank for rotating the liquid so as to form a vortex in the liquid, A distance between the water surface of the liquid and the plurality of discharge electrodes is configured to be within a predetermined distance range. Electric discharge air purifier.

2. The plurality of discharge electrodes are configured to be charged to a (+) polarity, and the charging unit is configured to charge the liquid to a (-) polarity. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 1.

3. The plurality of discharge electrodes each protrude from the exhaust pipe in a radial direction outward from a central axis of the exhaust pipe. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 1.

4. The housing further includes a grounding portion configured to ground the dust-collecting water tank. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 1.

5. The dust-collecting water tank includes a non-conductive material on an inner or outer peripheral surface of the dust-collecting water tank. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 4.

6. a rotary motor disposed in the housing and configured to rotate the rotor blades; The rotary motor is configured to change a rotation speed of the rotary motor so that the separation distance is within the predetermined distance range. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 1.

7. The rotor blade further includes a rotary motor provided in the housing and configured to rotate the rotary blade; and a controller configured to control the rotary motor. The rotary motor is configured to detect a rotation speed of the rotary motor and transmit the detected rotation speed to the control unit; The control unit is configured to compare a reference rotation speed of the rotary motor that causes the separation distance to be within the predetermined distance range with the detected rotation speed input from the rotary motor, and to increase the rotation speed of the rotary motor to raise the water level of the liquid so that the separation distance is within the predetermined distance range. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 1.

8. and a control unit configured to adjust the separation distance so that the separation distance is within the predetermined distance range based on a detection signal from the water level detection sensor. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 1.

9. a rotary motor disposed in the housing and configured to rotate the rotor blades; The control unit is configured to change the rotation speed of the rotary motor so that the separation distance is within the predetermined distance range. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 8.

10. The dust collecting water tank further includes a refilling water tank for storing a refilling liquid for refilling the liquid in the dust collecting water tank, and a pump for supplying the refilling liquid in the refilling water tank to the dust collecting water tank, The control unit is configured to control the pump so that the separation distance is within the predetermined distance range. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 8.

11. The apparatus further includes a refill tank for storing a refill liquid having a concentration different from that of the liquid, a connection part for connecting the dust collection tank and the refill tank, a semipermeable membrane provided in the connection part, and a valve provided in the connection part and configured to open and close the connection part, The control unit is configured to control the valve so that the separation distance is within the predetermined distance range. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 8.

12. The control unit is configured to change the positions of the plurality of discharge electrodes. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 8.

13. The plurality of discharge electrodes are configured to be movable up and down so that the separation distance is within the predetermined distance range. The electric discharge air purifier according to claim 12.

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