Air conditioning device

Abstract

Provided is an air conditioning device that can more effectively perform sterilization processing in a room with a simple configuration and that can suppress drying of indoor air. The air conditioning device includes a housing, a fan, a photocatalyst filter, a water supply portion, and a light source. The fan takes in air outside the housing into a ventilation path inside the housing and discharges the air to the outside of the housing through a heat exchanger. The photocatalyst filter is a water-containing filter that includes a photocatalyst and is disposed in a portion of the ventilation path to allow the air to pass through. The water supply portion is capable of supplying water to the photocatalyst filter. The light source is capable of irradiating ultraviolet light to the photocatalyst filter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning device. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, an air conditioning device was proposed that uses high-voltage discharge to generate effective components with sterilization effects (such as OH radicals, ozone, etc.), which are then released into the room along with temperature-adjusted air for sterilization and deodorization. Another proposed air conditioning device supplies moisture to the discharge section to generate hydrogen peroxide containing effective components, which is then released along with temperature-adjusted air.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-196960

[0004] However, under current technology, the current situation is that it only involves supplying moisture around small discharge units to generate hydrogen peroxide, which is insufficient to effectively implement indoor drying measures. In particular, during winter when heating is in operation, indoor air dryness is often quite high. If indoor sterilization can be combined with suppressing indoor air dryness, it would be more meaningful to further improve the indoor environment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One example of the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an air conditioning device that, with a simple configuration, can more effectively perform indoor sterilization while suppressing indoor air dryness.

[0006] An air conditioning device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, a fan, a photocatalyst filter, a water receiving section, and a light source. The fan draws air from outside the housing into a ventilation path inside the housing, allowing the air to pass through a heat exchanger and then exhausting it to the outside of the housing. The photocatalyst filter is a water-containing filter that allows the air to pass through a portion of the ventilation path. The water receiving section is capable of supplying water to the photocatalyst filter. The light source is capable of irradiating the photocatalyst filter with ultraviolet light.

[0007] The aforementioned water receiving portion can retain the surfactant, which can continuously supply the surfactant component to the water supplied to the water receiving portion.

[0008] Alternatively, a water generating section may be provided on the air discharge side of the aforementioned housing, which generates water from the air flowing inside the aforementioned housing at least during heating operation.

[0009] Alternatively, the water generation section may include: a branch section that branches the refrigerant flow into a first branch path and a second branch path on the downstream side of the heat exchanger; a de-icing section provided in the first branch path that lowers the temperature of the refrigerant to below the temperature at which condensation water can be generated to produce condensation water supplied to the water receiving section; and a reheating section provided in the second branch path that heats the refrigerant whose temperature has been lowered in the de-icing section on the downstream side of the de-icing section so that it approaches the temperature of the refrigerant flowing in the second branch path and merges with the refrigerant flowing in the second branch path.

[0010] Alternatively, an ozone generating unit may be provided on the opposite side of the photocatalyst filter and upstream of the ventilation path, separated from the light source.

[0011] According to the above-described air conditioning device, for example, by simply irradiating the photocatalyst filter with ultraviolet light, holes can be formed on the surface of the photocatalyst filter. Electrons are then extracted from the hydroxide ions in the water impregnated in the photocatalyst filter, generating OH radicals with strong oxidizing power. At this time, because the photocatalyst filter can be sufficiently impregnated with water, hydrogen peroxide containing OH radicals can be sufficiently generated. As a result, with a simple configuration, hydrogen peroxide can be released into the room along with the temperature-adjusted air discharged from the ventilation duct, improving the indoor sterilization effect. Furthermore, because the photocatalyst filter, located midway through the ventilation duct, can be sufficiently impregnated with water, sufficient moisture can be released into the air. This helps to suppress indoor dryness. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is an illustrative and schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an air conditioning unit (indoor unit) according to an embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 This is an illustrative diagram illustrating the generation of OH radicals using a photocatalyst.

[0014] Figure 3 This is an illustration and schematic diagram showing how, in an air conditioning device according to an embodiment, hydrogen peroxide containing OH radicals is generated by irradiating a photocatalyst filter impregnated with condensation water with ultraviolet light.

[0015] Figure 4 This is an illustration and schematic diagram showing how, in an air conditioning device according to an embodiment, a surfactant is added to the water impregnated in the photocatalyst filter to generate accelerated hydrogen peroxide.

[0016] Figure 5This is an illustrative diagram illustrating, in an embodiment of an air conditioning unit, the use of a circulating refrigerant to generate condensation water during heating operation.

[0017] Figure 6 This is an illustrative diagram illustrating an air conditioning system in an embodiment where a circulating refrigerant is used to generate condensation water and the refrigerant used in water generation is returned to the circulation system.

[0018] Figure 7 This is an illustration and schematic diagram showing a system in a modified embodiment of the air conditioning device that uses ozone to improve the efficiency of accelerating the generation of hydrogen peroxide.

[0019] Explanation of symbols

[0020] 10: Air conditioning unit; 10A: Indoor unit; 10B: Outdoor unit; 12: Housing; 12a: Inlet; 12b: Outlet; 16: Fan; 18: Heat exchanger; 22: Hydrogen peroxide generating unit; 24: Light source; 26: Photocatalyst filter; 28: Water receiving unit; 32: OH radical; 34: Cooling pipe; 36: Hydrogen peroxide; 36A: Accelerated hydrogen peroxide; 38: Surfactant; 50: Water generating unit; 52: Low temperature unit (capillary); 54: Reheating unit (double-layer pipe unit); 56: Ozone generator; 58: Ozone. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in this specification, the constituent elements of the embodiment and their descriptions are sometimes described in various ways. The constituent elements and their descriptions are merely examples and are not limited to the descriptions in this specification. Constituent elements can also be identified by names different from those used in this specification. Moreover, constituent elements can also be described in ways different from those used in this specification.

[0022] Figure 1 This is an example and schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the air conditioning unit 10 (indoor unit 10A) according to the embodiment. Figure 1 The indoor unit 10A shown is, for example, a household air conditioner. The indoor unit 10A is installed inside the building and is connected to the outdoor unit 10B (see reference) via refrigerant piping and electrical wiring. Figure 5 (Connection). Furthermore, the air conditioning unit 10 is not limited to this example; it could also be other air conditioning units such as commercial air conditioners.

[0023] The indoor unit 10A of the air conditioning unit 10 includes a housing 12, an intake filter 14, a fan 16, a heat exchanger 18, and an airflow deflector 20. Furthermore, the indoor unit 10A of this embodiment further includes a light source 24, a photocatalyst filter 26, and a water collection section 28, which also function as a hydrogen peroxide generating unit 22.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, for convenience, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are defined in this specification. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are orthogonal to each other. The X-axis is set along the width of the indoor unit 10A (air conditioning unit 10). The Y-axis is set along the depth of the indoor unit 10A. The Z-axis is set along the height of the indoor unit 10A.

[0025] Furthermore, in this specification, the X, Y, and Z directions are defined. The X direction is the direction along the X-axis, including the +X direction indicated by the arrow on the X-axis and the -X direction, which is the opposite direction of the arrow on the X-axis. The Y direction is the direction along the Y-axis, including the +Y direction indicated by the arrow on the Y-axis and the -Y direction, which is the opposite direction of the arrow on the Y-axis. The Z direction is the direction along the Z-axis, including the +Z direction indicated by the arrow on the Z-axis and the -Z direction, which is the opposite direction of the arrow on the Z-axis. In this embodiment, the +Z direction is upward, and the -Z direction is downward.

[0026] The housing 12 is formed in a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along the X direction. Alternatively, the housing 12 can be formed in other shapes. The housing 12 is, for example, mounted on a building wall. Furthermore, in other examples, it can be arranged such that an air intake 12a and an air outlet 12b for conditioned air are formed in the wall, with the housing 12 itself embedded within the wall. Figure 1 In this case, the inlet 12a is located on the upper surface of the housing 12 and the outlet 12b is located on the side in the Y direction. However, as long as the indoor air can be smoothly drawn in and blown out, the positions of the inlet 12a and the outlet 12b can be appropriately changed.

[0027] The intake 12a opens at one end of the ventilation path WR, and the outlet 12b opens at the other end of the ventilation path WR. A heat exchanger 18, a fan 16, and a hydrogen peroxide generator 22 are arranged in a portion of the ventilation path WR. The indoor unit 10A (air conditioning unit 10) of this embodiment is a device for regulating the temperature of indoor air and for sterilizing indoor air using hydrogen peroxide (containing OH free radicals). In this specification, the side of the ventilation path WR closest to the intake 12a is sometimes referred to as the upstream side, and the side closest to the outlet 12b is sometimes referred to as the downstream side. Furthermore, the shape and position of the intake 12a and outlet 12b are not limited to the illustrated shapes and positions.

[0028] The intake filter 14 is disposed, for example, upstream of the fan 16 and the heat exchanger 18, in a portion of the intake 12a or in the ventilation path WR downstream of the intake 12a. The intake filter 14 is, for example, formed as a mesh, to filter the air drawn in from the intake 12a and capture dust particles in the air. Additionally, the indoor unit 10A may also be equipped with a cleaning mechanism to remove the dust captured by the intake filter 14.

[0029] The fan 16 rotates about a rotation axis extending in the X direction, thereby drawing air from outside the housing 12 through the intake port 12a into the ventilation path WR inside the housing 12, and then expelling this air through the heat exchanger 18 to the outside of the housing 12. In other words, the indoor unit 10A draws air from outside the housing 12 (indoor air) into the ventilation path WR inside the housing 12 through the intake port 12a. The drawn-in air then passes through the heat exchanger 18 and the hydrogen peroxide generator 22, and is blown out from the outlet 12b as temperature-adjusted air with a sterilization effect.

[0030] Heat exchanger 18 is located in ventilation path WR. Figure 1 In this case, the heat exchanger 18 is arranged in the ventilation path WR to surround the fan 16. In other examples, the heat exchanger 18 may be arranged upstream of the fan 16, and in yet another example, it may be arranged downstream of the fan 16. The heat exchanger 18 has, for example, refrigerant piping and multiple fins. The heat exchanger 18 exchanges heat with the surrounding gas in the ventilation path WR. The heat exchanger 18 is located in the ventilation path WR, so when the fan 16 is driven and blows air downstream, the air drawn in from the intake port 12a is sent into the heat exchanger 18 and passes through it. Thus, the air flowing in the ventilation path WR exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 18, cooling the air (wind) flowing in the ventilation path WR during cooling operation and heating the air (wind) flowing in the ventilation path WR during heating operation. In addition, in this embodiment, the heat exchanger 18 is arranged to surround the Z-direction side (upper side in the figure) of the fan 16 along the X direction. The configuration and shape can be appropriately changed according to the path of the ventilation path WR, the shape of the housing 12, the layout of the internal components, etc.

[0031] The airflow vane 20 is also called a louver. The airflow vane 20 is located near the air outlet 12b of the indoor unit 10A. The airflow vane 20 is located downstream of the fan 16. The airflow vane 20 can... Figure 1The airflow can move continuously or intermittently between the closed position Pc (shown by the dashed line) and the open position Po (shown by the solid line). When in the closed position Pc, the airflow vane 20 covers approximately the entire area of ​​the outlet 12b. By controlling the opening angle of the airflow vane 20, the direction of the airflow from the outlet 12b can be adjusted. For example, if the airflow vane 20 is opened to a near-horizontal position, airflow is directed further away from the indoor unit 10A; by bringing the airflow vane 20 closer to the closed position Pc, airflow is directed closer to the indoor unit 10A. Furthermore, left and right airflow vanes that can swing in both the X and -X directions can be simultaneously provided, allowing control of the direction of the airflow from the outlet 12b in both directions.

[0032] As described above, the hydrogen peroxide generating unit 22 includes a light source 24, a photocatalyst filter 26, and a water receiving unit 28, and generates hydrogen peroxide inside the housing 12.

[0033] The light source 24 can, for example, irradiate light capable of exciting the electrons in the valence band of a photocatalyst such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) into the conduction band, such as ultraviolet light. The light source 24 can continuously irradiate ultraviolet light during operation of the indoor unit 10A, or it can irradiate ultraviolet light only when the sterilization mode is selected. The light source 24 has an irradiation surface and an irradiation area in the extending direction (X-axis direction) of the surface of the photocatalyst filter 26, so that ultraviolet light of a predetermined intensity can be irradiated onto approximately the entire surface of the photocatalyst filter 26. Furthermore, as described later, in the case of the hydrogen peroxide generating unit 22 of this embodiment, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the light source 24 is configured to be sandwiched between two photocatalyst filters 26, and is configured to irradiate ultraviolet light onto both photocatalyst filters 26. Therefore, multiple light sources 24 may be provided in the X direction at predetermined intervals to avoid blocking the air passing through the photocatalyst filters 26. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the light source 24 may irradiate ultraviolet light from a position that does not obstruct airflow in the ventilation path WR (e.g., above the ventilation path WR). In this case, the light source 24 may also be a single irradiation surface capable of covering the irradiated area.

[0034] The photocatalyst filter 26 is a water-containing component containing a photocatalyst, installed in a manner that allows air to pass through, within a portion of the ventilation path WR. Specifically, the photocatalyst filter 26 is a flat component arranged longitudinally, extending along the X direction and approximately perpendicularly along the Z direction, and is formed, for example, from non-woven fabric. The shape and arrangement of the photocatalyst filter 26 can be appropriately varied depending on the path of the ventilation path WR, the shape of the housing 12, and the layout of the built-in components. Furthermore, the lower end of the photocatalyst filter 26 in the Z direction is immersed in water stored in the water receiving portion 28, and water is drawn to the upper end of the photocatalyst filter 26 using capillary action. That is, the photocatalyst filter 26 can maintain a state rich in water. The photocatalyst filter 26 may, for example, support powdered titanium dioxide (titanium dioxide TiO2).

[0035] As in Figure 2 As illustrated and schematically shown, the photocatalyst filter 26 (photocatalyst 26a) emits electrons 26b from its surface when irradiated by ultraviolet light (UV) from the light source 24. The pores that have lost electrons 26b are called holes and carry a positive charge 26c. These holes have strong oxidizing power and steal electrons from hydroxide ions 30 (OH-) present in water. The hydroxide ions 30 that have lost electrons become highly unstable OH radicals 32. OH ​​radicals 32 have strong oxidizing power and steal electrons from nearby organic matter to become stable. As a result, the organic matter that has lost electrons is broken down and ultimately released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and water. That is, it can deactivate bacteria and viruses that are organic matter.

[0036] By utilizing the airflow passing through the photocatalyst filter 26 from the airflow in the ventilation path WR, the OH radicals 32 generated by the photocatalyst filter 26 can be more effectively removed. Therefore, the photocatalyst filter 26 is preferably set to roughly cover the size of the ventilation path WR, but considering air resistance in the ventilation path WR, etc., the air resistance can be adjusted as follows. Figure 1 As shown, the area where the photocatalyst filter 26 is not present can be appropriately adjusted. Alternatively, for example, the photocatalyst filter 26 can be installed in a rotatable manner, and by rotating the photocatalyst filter 26, its tilt can be changed, thereby appropriately adjusting the air resistance in the ventilation path WR.

[0037] The water receiving section 28 can, for example, use a drain pan (not shown) to collect condensation water generated by the heat exchanger 18 during the cooling operation of the indoor unit 10A, and collect and store it through piping (not shown). It can also collect and store water supplied from the outside via a water tank, water inlet, etc. When water is supplied from the water tank, water containing surfactants can be pre-introduced into the water tank, thereby supplying the water containing surfactants to the water receiving section 28. Thus, as described later, accelerated hydrogen peroxide generation can be achieved. Furthermore, although described later, condensation water actively generated using the refrigerant circulating in the heat exchanger 18 between the outdoor unit 10B and the indoor unit 10A can also be stored. As described above, the lower end of the photocatalyst filter 26 is immersed in the water receiving section 28, and by utilizing capillary action, the photocatalyst filter 26 can sufficiently contain the stored water.

[0038] Figure 3 This is an illustration and schematic diagram showing that in the indoor unit 10A (air conditioning unit 10), a photocatalyst filter 26 containing condensation water is irradiated with ultraviolet light to generate hydrogen peroxide 36 containing OH free radicals 32.

[0039] As described above, when the photocatalyst filter 26, which carries a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide, draws water (H2O) stored in the water receiving section 28 using capillary action, and is irradiated with ultraviolet light (UV) from the light source 24, such as in... Figure 2 As explained earlier, electrons 26b escape from the surface of the photocatalyst filter 26. At this time, the holes formed after the electrons 26b detach carry a positive charge 26c. These holes then steal electrons from hydroxide ions 30 and other ions present in the water drawn from the water receiving section 28. The hydroxide ions 30 that have lost electrons become highly unstable OH radicals 32. Since there is ample water (H2O) supplied from the water receiving section 28 and drawn from the photocatalyst filter 26 around the generated OH radicals 32, the OH radicals 32 dissolve in the water to generate hydrogen peroxide 36 (H2O2). OH radicals 32 are normally easily oxidized and have a short lifespan, but by becoming hydrogen peroxide 36, they are difficult to oxidize and their lifespan is extended.

[0040] Hydrogen peroxide 36 generated by the hydrogen peroxide generating unit 22 flows inside the casing 12 due to the operation of the fan 16, and is released to the outside (indoors) of the indoor unit 10A by the airflow W passing through the photocatalyst filter 26. The hydrogen peroxide 36 released from the indoor unit 10A combines with positive ions (H+) and negative ions (O2-) on the surface of airborne viruses, etc., and a portion returns as OH radicals 32. The more oxidizing OH radicals 32 strip hydrogen atoms (H) from the surface of viral proteins, thus deactivating them (sterilizing). Additionally, the OH radicals 32 combine with the stripped hydrogen atoms (H), reacting to form water (H2O) which returns to the air.

[0041] Thus, in this embodiment, the air conditioning unit 10 (indoor unit 10A) can generate highly oxidizing OH radicals 32 simply by irradiating the photocatalyst filter 26 with ultraviolet light. At this time, since the photocatalyst filter 26 can be sufficiently impregnated with water, hydrogen peroxide 36 containing OH radicals 32 can be sufficiently generated. Since the photocatalyst filter 26 of sufficient area (size) can be easily arranged in the ventilation path WR, a sufficient amount of hydrogen peroxide 36 can be generated. As a result, with a simple configuration, the temperature-adjusted air discharged from the ventilation path WR contains hydrogen peroxide 36 and is released into the room, thereby improving the indoor sterilization effect. Furthermore, since the photocatalyst filter 26 installed in the ventilation path WR can be sufficiently impregnated with water, sufficient moisture can be released into the air, and the released OH radicals 32, after sterilization treatment, return to water, thus allowing the moisture to return to the room, which helps to suppress indoor dryness. As described above, the water-immersed photocatalyst filter 26 is relatively easy to assemble as a large component in the housing 12, thus enabling the release of more moisture and easy suppression of indoor dryness.

[0042] However, OH radicals 32, when combined with surfactants, can become so-called "accelerated hydrogen peroxide," further enhancing sterilization capabilities (increased sterilization efficiency). It can be considered that accelerated hydrogen peroxide, through the action of surfactants, allows OH radicals to easily penetrate the surface of bacteria and viruses, deactivating them in a shorter time. Therefore, in the air conditioning unit 10 (indoor unit 10A) of this embodiment, as... Figure 4As shown, the water receiving portion 28 can hold the surfactant 38. For example, a holding portion is formed on the bottom surface 28a of the water receiving portion 28 to hold surfactant flakes, bead-shaped surfactant beads, etc., which are surfactants 38, so that the surfactant component can be continuously supplied to the water stored in the water receiving portion 28. The holding portion is formed, for example, a holding area made of a net or the like, to suppress the surfactant 38 from floating inside the water receiving portion 28 and moving to a biased position, thereby achieving uniformity of the concentration of the surfactant component in the water stored in the water receiving portion 28. In addition, the surfactant 38 held in the water receiving portion 28 is preferably configured to allow the surfactant component to gradually dissolve over a long period of time, so that it does not require maintenance (no surfactant addition operation is required) for a long period of time. In other embodiments, an automatic addition device for periodically adding solid or liquid surfactants 38 can also be provided. In order to suppress the concentration deviation of the surfactant component, a stirring device or the like can also be provided in the tank of the water receiving portion 28. For example, vibrations can be applied periodically to the water receiving section 28, or a stirring plate that operates periodically can be installed inside the water receiving section 28.

[0043] Thus, surfactant 38 is added to the water receiving section 28, so that the stored water contains surfactant components and is drawn into the photocatalyst filter 26. Furthermore, by irradiating the photocatalyst filter 26 with ultraviolet light (UV) from the light source 24, accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A (H2O2) can be easily generated and reacted with… Figure 3 Similar to other examples, the airflow in the ventilation path WR allows for more efficient and accelerated release of hydrogen peroxide 36A into the room. Furthermore, the concentration of the surfactant used to generate the accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A is low, so even if the solution returns to water after sterilization, wiping is unnecessary. Additionally, since it does not contain salts like hypochlorous acid, there is no need to worry about rusting.

[0044] However, when the indoor unit 10A (air conditioning unit 10) is operating, condensation generally occurs in the heat exchanger 18 during cooling operation, but not during heating operation. Therefore, in order to generate hydrogen peroxide 36 and accelerate hydrogen peroxide 36A using the photocatalyst filter 26 during heating operation, water needs to be supplied to the water receiving section 28 from the outside.

[0045] Therefore, the indoor unit 10A (air conditioning unit 10) of this embodiment includes a water generation section that generates condensation water even during heating operation. For example, such as Figure 4As shown, a portion of the wall of the water receiving section 28, such as the bottom portion 28a, has a cooling pipe 34 forming part of the water generating section below, which cools the water receiving section 28 itself. The refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit including the heat exchanger 18 flows in the cooling pipe 34 at a state of approximately 5°C. As a result, the water receiving section 28 can be cooled even during heating operation, causing condensation to form on the wall of the water receiving section 28 and accumulating condensate. Furthermore, the configuration involves placing insulation material around the cooling pipe 34 on the outer wall of the water receiving section 28, causing condensation to form on the inner wall side of the water receiving section 28 (inside the tank or container). Alternatively, the cooling pipe 34 can be piped by thickening the outer wall of the water receiving section 28 to embed it within. Furthermore, the cooling pipe 34 can also be disposed inside the water receiving section 28 (e.g., on the upper surface of the bottom portion 28a).

[0046] like Figure 5 As shown, the outdoor unit 10B of the air conditioning unit 10 includes an outdoor heat exchanger 40, an outdoor fan 42, a compressor 44, a four-way valve 46, and an expansion valve 48. The outdoor heat exchanger 40, compressor 44, four-way valve 46, and expansion valve 48 of the outdoor unit 10B are connected to the heat exchanger 18 (indoor heat exchanger) of the indoor unit 10A via refrigerant piping P (P1~P5), forming a refrigerant circuit in which the refrigerant can circulate. Figure 5 In this case, the outdoor heat exchanger 40 and the receiver 44a connected to the compressor 44 are connected via a refrigerant pipe P1 through a four-way valve 46, and the compressor 44 is connected to the (indoor) heat exchanger 18 via a refrigerant pipe P2 through a four-way valve 46. Furthermore, in the indoor unit 10A of this embodiment, a water generating section 50 for generating condensate in the water receiving section 28 is disposed between the (indoor) heat exchanger 18 and the expansion valve 48 of the outdoor unit 10B. The (indoor) heat exchanger 18 is connected to the water generating section 50 via a refrigerant pipe P3, and the water generating section 50 is connected to the expansion valve 48 via a refrigerant pipe P4. The expansion valve 48 is also connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 40 via a refrigerant pipe P5.

[0047] The outdoor heat exchanger 40 exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing in the heat transfer pipe (not shown) and the external gas introduced by the outdoor fan 42.

[0048] The compressor 44 compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant, transforming it into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant before discharging it. Additionally, a receiver 44a for gas-liquid separation of the refrigerant is connected to the suction side of the compressor 44.

[0049] Expansion valve 48 is a valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant after it has condensed in either the outdoor heat exchanger 40 (which acts as a condenser) or the (indoor) heat exchanger 18. The refrigerant, after being reduced in pressure by expansion valve 48, is directed to the other heat exchanger, either the outdoor heat exchanger 40 or the (indoor) heat exchanger 18, which acts as an evaporator.

[0050] In addition, the refrigerant flowing in the heat transfer tubes inside the (indoor) heat exchanger 18 exchanges heat with the indoor air supplied by the (indoor) fan 16.

[0051] The four-way valve 46 is a valve that switches the refrigerant flow path according to the operating mode of the air conditioning unit 10.

[0052] For example, during cooling operation, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuit in the following order: compressor 44, outdoor heat exchanger 40, expansion valve 48, and (indoor) heat exchanger 18. As a result, heat exchange occurs between indoor air and the refrigerant in the (indoor) heat exchanger 18, and the air cooled by this heat exchange is discharged into the room, lowering the indoor temperature. The heat recovered through the heat exchange (the heat from the refrigerant) is exchanged with outdoor air in the outdoor heat exchanger 40, discharged outdoors, and exited from the refrigerant circuit. Conversely, during heating operation, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuit in the following order: compressor 44, (indoor) heat exchanger 18, expansion valve 48, and outdoor heat exchanger 40. As a result, heat exchange occurs between indoor air and the refrigerant in the (indoor) heat exchanger 18, and the air heated by this heat exchange is discharged into the room, raising the indoor temperature. The refrigerant, which is cooled by heat exchange, exchanges heat with the outdoor air in the outdoor heat exchanger 40, recovers heat from the outside, and draws it into the refrigerant circuit.

[0053] Figure 6 This is an illustration of a system in the water generation section 50 of an air conditioning unit 10 (indoor unit 10A) that uses circulating refrigerant to generate condensate and returns the used refrigerant to the circulation system.

[0054] During heating operation, the refrigerant discharged into the refrigerant piping P3 as a result of heat exchange between the (indoor) heat exchanger 18 and the indoor air is, for example, a medium-temperature, medium-pressure liquid. At the branch S downstream of the heat exchanger 18, the refrigerant flow is branched into a first branch path P31 and a second branch path P32. A low-temperature section 52 is provided in the first branch path P31, which lowers the refrigerant temperature below the temperature at which condensation occurs and supplies it to the cooling pipe 34, which is arranged in contact with the water collection section 28. The low-temperature section 52 can be, for example, a capillary tube in which the refrigerant expands, lowering the refrigerant temperature to, for example, about 5°C. Downstream of the low-temperature section 52 is the cooling pipe 34, such as... Figure 4 It is connected to the bottom part 28a of the water receiving part 28 as shown. As a result, the water receiving part 28 is cooled during heating operation, causing condensation to form in the surrounding air. Condensation water is generated inside the water receiving part 28 (in the tank), which is used to generate OH free radicals 32 and further generate hydrogen peroxide 36 (accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A).

[0055] Furthermore, during heating operation (indoors), the refrigerant discharged into the refrigerant piping P3 as a result of heat exchange between the heat exchanger 18 and the indoor air needs to be supplied to the expansion valve 48 at a medium temperature and medium pressure. In this case, when the refrigerant flowing in the branch section S to the first branch path P31, which has become low temperature and low pressure, is kept in this state and merges with the medium temperature and medium pressure refrigerant flowing in the second branch path P32, backflow occurs, and therefore the merging cannot be smooth. Therefore, the water generation section 50 reheats the refrigerant that has helped to generate condensation water by passing through the cooling pipe 34. Specifically, a reheating section 54 is provided downstream of the low temperature section 52 in the first branch path P31. This reheating section 54 uses the medium temperature and medium pressure refrigerant flowing in the second branch path P32 to reheat the refrigerant whose temperature has decreased in the low temperature section 52, so that it is close to the temperature of the refrigerant flowing in the second branch path P32. The reheating section 54, for example, has a spiral double piping structure formed between the downstream piping section of the cooling pipe 34 and the second branch path P32. The refrigerant flowing in the second branch path P32 at medium temperature and medium pressure heats the refrigerant that has passed through the cooling pipe 34 and discharges it into the refrigerant flow path P33. Then, the second branch path P32 after passing through the reheating section 54, i.e., the refrigerant piping P34, merges with the refrigerant flow path P33, which supplies the reheated refrigerant, at the confluence section J. As a result, the refrigerant that has become low-temperature and low-pressure while flowing in the first branch path P31 is reheated, allowing it to smoothly merge with the medium-temperature and medium-pressure refrigerant flowing in the second branch path P32, enter the refrigerant piping P4, and be supplied to the expansion valve 48. That is, condensation can be easily generated even during refrigeration operation. In addition, the cryogenic section 52 can be constructed cheaply by using a capillary tube, but it can also be constructed by, for example, an expansion valve instead of a capillary tube, to achieve the same effect.

[0056] Additionally, during cooling operation, condensation occurs during heat exchange in the (indoor) heat exchanger 18. In this case, condensation can also be supplied to the water collection section 28. Sometimes, more condensation than is required to generate hydrogen peroxide 36 (accelerating hydrogen peroxide 36A) may be generated. In this case, a water level sensor can be installed in the water collection section 28, and excess water can be discharged from the drain outlet of the drain pan when more than the required amount of condensation flows into the water collection section 28. Furthermore, when sufficient condensation can be generated in the heat exchanger 18 during cooling operation, the water generation section 50 can temporarily stop condensation generation. In this case, for example, switching valves can be installed at the branch section S and the confluence section J to prevent refrigerant from being supplied to the first branch path P31.

[0057] Figure 7 This is an illustrative diagram illustrating a modified example of an air conditioning unit 10 (indoor unit 10A) in which ozone 58 is used to enhance the efficiency of accelerating the generation of hydrogen peroxide 36A. Figure 3 In the case of the hydrogen peroxide generation unit 22 shown, ultraviolet light is irradiated from the light source 24 onto the photocatalyst filter 26 to generate hydroxide ions 30, which further generate OH radicals 32, and finally generate hydrogen peroxide 36.

[0058] on the other hand, Figure 7 The hydrogen peroxide generating unit 22A shown uses an ozone generator 56 (ozone generating unit) to generate ozone 58 (O3), and generates accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A based on the generated ozone 58. The ozone generator 56 is, for example, disposed on the upstream side of the ventilation path WR opposite to the photocatalyst filter 26, separated by the light source 24.

[0059] Ozone 58 can be generated using a known ozone generating device. For example, ozone can be easily generated by applying an alternating voltage between electrodes separated by a dielectric material (e.g., glass) to induce a silent discharge. At this time, water (H2O) containing dissolved surfactant 38 is distributed throughout the photocatalyst filter 26 via capillary action. In this state, when ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the photocatalyst filter 26 by the light source 24, ozone 58 is decomposed by the photocatalyst to generate singlet oxygen (O + O2). This singlet oxygen reacts with the water (H2O) present in the photocatalyst filter 26 to generate two molecules of OH radical 32. Furthermore, since water containing surfactant 38 is present around the generated OH radical 32, the OH radical 32 dissolves in the water to generate accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A (H2O2).

[0060] Thus, in the hydrogen peroxide generation unit 22A, ozone 58 is pre-generated, thereby interacting with... Figure 3Compared to the method of generating OH radicals 32 and hydrogen peroxide 36 (accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A) simply by irradiating the photocatalyst filter 26 with ultraviolet light, this method can generate a larger amount of hydrogen peroxide 36 (accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A) more effectively. Furthermore, when the concentration of ozone 58 is high, it can sometimes cause a noticeable odor or adverse effects on the human body; however, in this embodiment, ozone 58 is decomposed, thus easily eliminating such adverse conditions.

[0061] In this case, the accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A generated in the hydrogen peroxide generating unit 22A also flows inside the housing 12 due to the operation of the fan 16, and is released to the outside (indoors) of the indoor unit 10A by the airflow W passing through the photocatalyst filter 26. The accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A released from the indoor unit 10A combines with positive ions (H+) and negative ions (O2-) on the surface of viruses and other airborne particles, and a portion returns as OH radicals 32. The OH radicals 32, which have strong oxidizing power, strip hydrogen atoms (H) from the surface of the virus proteins, rendering them inactive (sterilization). In addition, the addition of surfactant 38 to the hydrogen peroxide generating unit 22A can be omitted. In this case, a large amount of hydrogen peroxide 36 can be effectively generated for sterilization.

[0062] Thus, according to the hydrogen peroxide generation unit 22A, accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A (hydrogen peroxide 36) containing OH radicals 32 can be easily and abundantly generated by using ozone 58. In this case, a photocatalyst filter 26 with a sufficient area (size) can be easily configured in the ventilation path WR, thereby generating a sufficient amount of accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A (hydrogen peroxide 36). As a result, with a simple configuration, the accelerated hydrogen peroxide 36A (hydrogen peroxide 36) is released into the room along with the temperature-adjusted air discharged from the ventilation path WR, thereby improving the sterilization effect of the room. Furthermore, since the photocatalyst filter 26 installed in the ventilation path WR can be sufficiently impregnated with water, sufficient moisture can be released into the air, and the sterilization result of the released OH radicals 32 is returned as water, thus allowing the moisture to return to the room, which helps to suppress indoor dryness. As described above, the photocatalyst filter 26, which can be impregnated with water, is relatively easy to assemble as a large component in the housing 12, thus easily achieving the suppression of indoor dryness.

[0063] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the hydrogen peroxide generating units 22 and 22A are positioned downstream of the fan 16, but this is not a limitation. For example, the hydrogen peroxide generating units 22 and 22A can also be positioned upstream of the fan 16. That is, the hydrogen peroxide generating units 22 and 22A only need to be positioned in the ventilation path WR. In addition, in the above embodiment, a residential air conditioning unit 10 is assumed to have been described, but the configuration of this embodiment can also be applied to various air conditioning units 10. For example, the configuration of this embodiment can also be applied to commercial air conditioning units, air conditioning units installed in vehicles, airplanes, ships, etc., and the same effect can be obtained.

[0064] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but these embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the patent claims and its equivalents.

Claims

1. An air conditioning device, comprising: case; The fan draws air from outside the housing into the ventilation path inside the housing, and then exhausts the air to the outside of the housing through a heat exchanger. A water-containing photocatalyst filter, comprising a photocatalyst, is configured in a portion of the aforementioned ventilation path to allow the aforementioned air to pass through; The water receiving section is capable of supplying water to the aforementioned photocatalyst filter; as well as The light source is capable of irradiating the aforementioned photocatalyst filter with ultraviolet light. Multiple light sources are arranged at predetermined intervals in the X direction to avoid blocking the air passing through the photocatalyst filter. A water generating unit is provided on the air discharge side of the aforementioned housing, which generates water from the air flowing inside the aforementioned housing, at least during heating operation. The aforementioned water generation section includes: The branch section, on the downstream side of the aforementioned heat exchanger, branches the refrigerant flow into a first branch path and a second branch path; A low-temperature section, provided in the first branch path, lowers the temperature of the refrigerant to below a temperature at which condensation can occur, thereby generating condensation that is supplied to the water receiving section; and The reheating section is provided in the second branch path and heats the refrigerant whose temperature has been reduced in the low-temperature section downstream of the low-temperature section so that it approaches the temperature of the refrigerant flowing in the second branch path and merges with the refrigerant flowing in the second branch path.

2. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein, The aforementioned water receiving portion can retain the surfactant, which can continuously supply the surfactant component to the water supplied to the water receiving portion.

3. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein, An ozone generating unit is provided on the opposite side of the photocatalyst filter and upstream of the ventilation path, separated by the aforementioned light source.

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