Droplet manufacturing apparatus and epidemic prevention system including same

Abstract

The present application provides a droplet manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing electrically charged droplets which are environmentally friendly, harmless to the human body, and spatially antibacterial, and an epidemic prevention system including the droplet manufacturing apparatus.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a droplet manufacturing device and an epidemic prevention system including the above droplet manufacturing device. Background Art

[0002] Generally, among the bacteria or viruses that widely inhabit the human living environment, some are pathogens that cause various diseases. In particular, some pathogenic bacteria cause food poisoning through food, and some pathogenic bacteria are transmitted into the air, causing a large number of casualties in a short time.

[0003] As an example, norovirus is a pathogenic bacterium of food poisoning transmitted through food, accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration after infection. Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with human body fluids, secretions, blood, etc. After infection with the Ebola virus, sudden fever, headache, and muscle soreness occur, and then it progresses to general weakness, rash, and systemic bleeding. Yersinia pestis is transmitted to humans by fleas parasitic on rats as host animals. After infection, sudden fever occurs, and it progresses to symptoms such as muscle soreness, headache, or vomiting, diarrhea, or cough, chest pain, etc.

[0004] Therefore, when there are infected persons with bacteria and viruses that induce diseases, the surrounding area where the infected persons are located should be quickly controlled to prevent the bacteria and viruses from spreading to the surrounding area. At the same time, the bacteria and viruses remaining in the infected area should be quickly sterilized.

[0005] Conventional epidemic prevention methods for sterilizing bacteria and viruses include spray disinfection and smoke screen disinfection. Spray disinfection is a method of spraying a mixture of medicine and water. The spraying area is small, but it minimizes environmental pollution, has a residual effect, and has a high insecticidal effect. The spraying area of smoke screen disinfection is large. Even in areas where air flow is blocked, such as in densely forested areas, the insecticide particles can penetrate deep into them, but there is no residual effect.

[0006] Such an epidemic prevention device using conventional epidemic prevention methods sprays the medicine in an aerosol state or forms a smoke screen, and there are problems of high cost and environmental pollution. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical Problem

[0008] The problem of the present application is related to a droplet manufacturing device that can manufacture charged droplets that are environmentally friendly, harmless to the human body, and can have spatial antibacterial properties, a manufacturing method of the above droplet manufacturing device, and an epidemic prevention system including the above droplet manufacturing device.

[0009] Solution to the Problem

[0010] To solve the above problems, according to an embodiment of the present application, a droplet manufacturing device is provided, which includes: a housing having an internal space; a droplet discharging unit that atomizes a droplet raw material and discharges it into the internal space; an electrode head that generates cations or anions; an air supply unit that supplies air to the side of the electrode head; and an ionic wind injection unit that injects a cationic or anionic ionic wind formed by mixing the supplied air with cations or anions onto the side of the droplets discharged into the internal space.

[0011] Effects of the Invention

[0012] The droplet manufacturing device of the present application can manufacture charged droplets that are environmentally friendly, harmless to the human body, and can have space antibacterial properties. Description of the Drawings

[0013] Figures 1 to 4 A diagram for illustratively showing a droplet manufacturing device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0014] Figure 5 And Figure 6 A diagram for illustratively showing a droplet discharging unit according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0015] Figure 7 A diagram for illustratively showing an electrode head according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0016] Figure 8 A scanning electron microscope (SEM) photograph showing an untreated electrode head.

[0017] Figure 9 A SEM photograph showing an electrode head with a second protrusion formed by an etching method.

[0018] Figure 10 A SEM photograph showing an electrode head with a second protrusion and a coating portion formed by an etching method and a deposition method. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0019] Hereinafter, the pathogen particle trapping device of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are illustrative, and the droplet manufacturing device of the present application is not limited to the drawings.

[0020] Figures 1 to 4 A diagram for illustratively showing a droplet manufacturing device according to an embodiment of the present application, Figure 5 And Figure 6 A diagram for illustratively showing a droplet discharging unit according to an embodiment of the present application, Figure 7 A diagram for illustratively showing an electrode head according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0021] Refer to Figure 1, the droplet manufacturing device of the present application includes a housing 100, a droplet ejection unit 200, an electrode head 300, an air supply unit 400, and an ionic wind injection unit 500.

[0022] The above-mentioned housing 100 has an internal space S. The above-mentioned housing 100 provides, for example, an internal space S where droplets and ionic wind can come into contact to form charged droplets.

[0023] The above-mentioned housing 100 has a cylindrical shape, and there may be opening parts in the upper part, lower part, and side part respectively. The opening part in the above-mentioned upper part can be connected to the droplet ejection unit 200, the opening part in the above-mentioned lower part is connected to the ejection tube 700, and the opening part in the above-mentioned side part is connected to the ionic wind injection unit 500. However, the droplet ejection unit 200 can be connected to the lower part or the side part in addition to the upper part according to the ejection method.

[0024] The above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200 dropletizes the droplet raw material supplied to the above-mentioned internal space S and ejects the droplets. The above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200 can dropletize the supplied droplet raw material into droplets with a size in the range of several tens of nanometers to several hundreds of micrometers and eject them (or also called spray them). The above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200 can dropletize the droplet raw material by using ultrasonic waves, vibration, mechanical, or electrostatic spraying.

[0025] The present application may include a droplet raw material supply unit 600 that stores the droplet raw material and supplies the stored droplet raw material to the above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200. The above-mentioned droplet raw material may include an antibacterial substance harmless to the human body or water. The above-mentioned droplet raw material supply unit 600 may include a supply mechanism that quantitatively supplies the droplet raw material. For example, the above-mentioned droplet raw material supply unit 600 can quantitatively supply the droplet raw material through a water supply pump, a peristaltic pump, or a syringe pump.

[0026] In one example, the above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200 can be provided in the upper part 110 of the housing 100. Or, the above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200 can be provided at a position in the upper part facing the internal space S.

[0027] As another example, the above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200 can be provided in the lower part 120 of the housing 100. Or, the above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200 can be provided at a position in the lower part facing the internal space S.

[0028] As another example, the above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200 can be provided in the side part 130 of the housing 100. Or, the above-mentioned droplet ejection unit 200 can be provided at a position in the side part facing the internal space S.

[0029] For example, Figure 1 is an exemplary diagram in which the droplet ejection unit 200 is provided in the upper part 110 of the housing 100, Figure 2 and Figure 3An exemplary view in which the droplet ejection unit 200 is provided on the side portion 130 of the housing 100. Figure 4 An exemplary view in which the droplet ejection unit 200 is provided on the lower portion 120 of the housing 100.

[0030] Depending on the position of the droplet ejection unit 200, droplets can be ejected by a downward droplet ejection method, an upward droplet ejection method, or a left - right droplet ejection method.

[0031] As Figure 1 shown, when the droplet ejection unit 200 is provided on the upper portion 110 of the housing 100, the droplet ejection unit 200 can eject droplets by the downward droplet ejection method. When the above - mentioned downward droplet ejection is performed, the droplets ejected from the droplet ejection unit 200 can move from the upper portion 110 of the housing 100 toward the lower portion 120.

[0032] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, when the droplet ejection unit 200 is provided on the side portions 130A, 130B of the housing 100, the droplet ejection unit 200 can eject droplets by the left - right droplet ejection method. As Figure 2 shown, when the droplet ejection unit 200 is provided on the right side portion 130B, droplets can be ejected by the left - hand droplet ejection method. As Figure 3 shown, when the droplet ejection unit 200 is provided on the left side portion 130A, droplets can be ejected by the right - hand droplet ejection method. When the above - mentioned left - right droplet ejection is performed, the droplets ejected from the droplet ejection unit 200 can move from the left side to the right side or from the right side to the left side of the housing 100.

[0033] As Figure 4 shown, when the droplet ejection unit 200 is provided on the lower portion 120 of the housing 100, the droplet ejection unit 200 can eject droplets by the upward droplet ejection method. When the above - mentioned upward droplet ejection is performed, the droplets ejected from the droplet ejection unit 200 can move from the lower portion 120 of the housing 100 toward the upper portion 110.

[0034] Depending on the position of the droplet ejection unit 200, the positions of the ion wind injection unit 500 and the ejection tube 700 can be determined.

[0035] Specifically, the position of the ion wind injection unit 500 can be set in the ejection direction of the droplet ejection unit 200, at a position where ion wind can be injected in the tangential direction. For example, when the droplet ejection unit 200 is located on the upper portion 110 or the lower portion 120 of the housing 100, the ion wind injection unit 500 can be located on the side portions 130A, 130B. When the droplet ejection unit 200 is located on the side portions 130A, 130B of the housing 100, the ion wind injection unit 500 can be located on the upper portion 110 or the lower portion 120.

[0036] Further, when the droplet ejection unit 200 is located in the upper part 110, the ejection tube 700 may be located in the lower part 120, and when the droplet ejection unit 200 is located in the lower part 120, the ejection tube 700 may be located in the upper part 110. Further, when the droplet ejection unit 200 is located in the side parts 130A and 130B, the ejection tube 700 may be located in the upper part 110, the lower part 120, or the side parts 130A and 130B facing the droplet ejection unit 200. For example, when the droplet ejection unit 200 is located in the right side part 130B, the ejection tube 700 may be located in the left side part 130A, and when the droplet ejection unit 200 is located in the left side part 130A, the ejection tube may be located in the right side part 130B.

[0037] This application may include guide vanes for adjusting the ejection angle of the droplet ejection unit 100. By finely adjusting the ejection angle of the droplet ejection unit 100 using the above guide vanes, droplets can be ejected in a desired direction.

[0038] Further, there may be a plurality of the above droplet ejection units 100. The droplet manufacturing apparatus according to this application may include a droplet ejection control unit for controlling the droplet ejection of the plurality of droplet ejection units 100. By separately controlling the droplet ejection of the plurality of droplet ejection units 100, the above droplet ejection control unit can adjust the droplet ejection amount ejected into the housing 100. Further, the droplet ejection control unit can adjust the flow rate of the droplet raw material. The above droplet ejection control unit can control the droplet ejection amount by adjusting the flow rate of the droplet raw material.

[0039] Referring to Figure 5 , the above droplet ejection unit 200 may include: a nozzle body 210 including an inlet 211 through which the droplet raw material flows in and a nozzle head 212 for ejecting the droplet raw material flowing in as droplets; and a power supply unit 220 for electrostatically charging the droplets ejected through the nozzle head 212 by applying a voltage. The power supply unit 220 may apply a voltage to the nozzle body 210 or to a separate electrode (not shown) connected to the nozzle body 210 so that the atomized droplets are electrostatically charged and ejected.

[0040] The above nozzle body 210 may have a droplet space for dropletizing the flowing-in droplet raw material.

[0041] As Figure 6 shown, the above nozzle body 210 may include one nozzle body unit or a plurality of nozzle body units 210A, 210B, and 210C laminated coaxially in a coaxial C1. By including a plurality of nozzle body units laminated coaxially in the above nozzle body 210, it is possible to easily control the composition, size, and shape of the droplets, and it is also easy to control the adjustment range of the ejection flow rate and speed. Figure 6 Illustratively showing 3 nozzle body units, but not limited thereto, the above nozzle body 310 may include nozzle body units in the range of 2 to 10.

[0042] The above nozzle body 210 can preferably be made of a conductive material to facilitate the flow of current through the applied voltage. For example, the above nozzle body 102 may include a transition metal composed of iron, tungsten, silver, copper, gold, nickel, cobalt, zinc, molybdenum, or an alloy thereof. Alternatively, the above nozzle body 102 may include stainless steel.

[0043] Moreover, the above nozzle body 210 may include first protrusions 213 of nanoscale formed on the surface. For example, when the nozzle body 310 includes a plurality of nozzle body units 210A, 210B, and 210C, the first protrusions 213 may be formed on the respective surfaces of the plurality of nozzle body units. The above first protrusions 213 can be formed by etching or an etching-chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. By including the first protrusions 213 on the surface, the above nozzle body 210 can reduce the magnitude of the applied voltage for electrostatic spraying or increase the charge amount of droplets relative to the same voltage, and can have the effect of suppressing the generation of by-products such as ozone.

[0044] The above electrode head 300 generates cations or anions. The cations or anions generated in the above electrode head can be mixed with the air supplied from the air supply unit 400 described later and released to the side of the ion wind injection unit 500.

[0045] More specifically, the above electrode head 300 may include an electrode body 310, second protrusions 320, and a coating portion 330.

[0046] The above electrode body 310 is the part that becomes the electrode body. In one illustration, the above electrode body 310 may be in the form of a pin. By the above electrode body 310 being in the form of a pin, when generating ions, the active area can be expanded while reducing the ionization discharge starting voltage for generating ions, and suppressing the generation of ozone as a by-product that may be generated during the ion generation process.

[0047] The above electrode body 310 may be composed of the materials of electrodes commonly used in the art. Specifically, the above electrode body 310 may include a transition metal composed of iron, tungsten, silver, copper, gold, nickel, cobalt, zinc, molybdenum, or an alloy thereof.

[0048] The above second protrusions 320 may be protrusions of nanoscale formed on the surface of the above electrode body 410. In this specification, "nano" may mean a size in nanometer (nm) units. For example, it may mean a size of 0.1 nm to 1000 nm, but is not limited thereto. And, in this specification, "nano pin" means that protrusions with an average diameter in nanometer (nm) units are formed on the surface of a body in the form of a pin. And, in this specification, "pin" has a rod shape with a length greater than the cross-sectional area, and may mean a structure in which the diameter becomes smaller towards the end side and is in a sharp form.

[0049] The second protrusion 320 is a portion protruding from the surface of the electrode body 410, formed on the surface of the electrode body 310, and may have a nanoscale size. By having the second protrusion 320 with a nanoscale size on the surface of the electrode body 310, the ionization discharge onset voltage required to generate ions is lowered, and the ions distributed on the surfaces of the electrode body 310 and the second protrusion 320 during ion generation are dispersed. Due to the reduced impact amount caused by the resulting low electron movement speed, compared to oxygen dissociation, mainly the outer electrons of oxygen atoms are detached, thereby suppressing the generation of ozone and inducing a shape that can increase the ion generation amount. And, thereby, the electrode head 310 can maintain the residual ozone concentration below the indoor reference value.

[0050] A plurality of the second protrusions 320 may be formed on the surface of the body 310, but the number is not particularly limited. In this specification, the term "plurality" means two or more, and the upper limit is not particularly limited.

[0051] In one example, the radius of curvature of the second protrusion 320 may be from 1 nm to 10 μm. Specifically, the radius of curvature of the second protrusion 320 may be from 5 nm to 8 μm, from 10 nm to 6 μm, from 50 nm to 4 μm, or from 100 nm to 2 μm. By having the radius of curvature within the above range, the ionization discharge onset voltage for generating anions can be reduced, and thereby the electric field strength can be reduced to suppress ozone generation.

[0052] For example, the ionization discharge onset voltage of the electrode body 310 for generating ions may be from 0.02 kV to 20 kV. Specifically, it may be from 0.05 kV to 18 kV, from 0.1 kV to 15 kV, from 0.5 kV to 13 kV, or from 1 kV to 10 kV. By the ionization discharge onset voltage of the above electrode satisfying the above range, the electric field strength can be reduced to suppress ozone generation.

[0053] At this time, the ionization discharge onset voltage (V s ) for generating ions can be calculated according to the following general formula 1.

[0054] General formula 1

[0055]

[0056] In the above general formula 1, r is the radius of curvature of the protrusion, E is the electric field strength when ionization starts to occur on the surfaces of the electrode body and the protrusion for generating ions, and d is the distance between the electrode and the ground plate. At this time, the above electric field strength (E) can be substituted with the ionization discharge onset voltage (Vs Calculate based on the curvature radius (r) of the specified protrusion and the distance (d) between the electrode and the ground plate.

[0057] The distance (d) between the above-mentioned electrode body 310 and the ground plate can be 4 mm to 16 mm in the air. Specifically, the lower limit can be 6 mm or more, 8 mm or more, or 10 mm or more, and the upper limit can be 14 mm or less or 12 mm or less. By making the distance between the above-mentioned electrode and the ground plate satisfy the above range, the voltage application for generating ions can be lowered, the electric field intensity can be reduced, and ozone generation can be suppressed. However, when the distance between the above-mentioned electrode and the ground plate exceeds the above range, the voltage application for generating anions becomes higher, and there may be disadvantages such as increased electric field intensity and increased ozone generation.

[0058] In one example, the above-mentioned second protrusion 320 is integrated with the above-mentioned electrode body 310 through the etching, dipping, and spraying processes described later and can be composed of the same material as the above-mentioned body 310. For example, the above-mentioned protrusion 320 may include transition metals composed of iron, tungsten, silver, copper, gold, nickel, cobalt, zinc, molybdenum, or their alloys.

[0059] The above-mentioned coating part 330 is a part formed by coating the surfaces of the above-mentioned electrode body 310 and the second protrusion 320 through the deposition process described later and is a part formed by coating conductive carbon on the above-mentioned surface. By including the coating part 330 with conductive carbon coated on the above-mentioned surface, the electrode head 300 can prevent electrode corrosion and exhibit excellent antibacterial properties.

[0060] As an example, the above-mentioned coating part 330 can be formed in the form of a film or fiber on the surfaces of the above-mentioned electrode body 310 and the second protrusion 320. By being in the above-mentioned form, the coating part 330 can prevent electrode corrosion and exhibit excellent antibacterial properties.

[0061] The above-mentioned conductive carbon is conductive carbon and can be included in the above-mentioned electrode in an amount of 10 parts by weight to 40 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the above-mentioned transition metal. Specifically, the above-mentioned conductive carbon can be included in the above-mentioned electrode head 300 in an amount of 13 parts by weight to 38 parts by weight, 15 parts by weight to 35 parts by weight, 18 parts by weight to 33 parts by weight, 20 parts by weight to 30 parts by weight, 23 parts by weight to 28 parts by weight, or 25 parts by weight to 28 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the above-mentioned transition metal. By including the above-mentioned conductive carbon in the electrode head 300 in the above-mentioned content, the ion generation concentration is excellent, the residual ozone concentration is maintained below the indoor reference value, and excellent antibacterial properties can be exhibited.

[0062] In one example, the ion generation concentration of the electrode head 300 can be 8×10 5 ions / cm 3Above. Specifically, the ion generation concentration of the above electrode can be 9×10 5 ions / cm 3 or more, 10×10 5 ions / cm 3 or more, 11×10 5 ions / cm 3 or more, or 12×10 5 ions / cm 3 or more. And, the upper limit of the ion generation concentration of the above electrode measured under the above conditions can be 1×10 8 ions / cm 3 or less, 5×10 7 ions / cm 3 or less, 1×10 7 ions / cm 3 or less, 5×10 6 ions / cm 3 or less, 4×10 6 ions / cm 3 or less, 35×10 5 ions / cm 3 or less, or 33×10 5 ions / cm 3 or less.

[0063] By satisfying the above range with the ion generation concentration, the electrode head 300 has an excellent ion generation concentration and can maintain the residual ozone concentration below the indoor reference value. At this time, since the ion measurement unit is provided at a predetermined distance from the part that generates the above ions, it can be measured after the generated ions are sufficiently diffused in the air, and thus, the measurement reliability can be improved.

[0064] The above electrode head 300 can apply a direct current (DC) negative voltage or a DC positive voltage to the electrode body 410 to generate anions or cations. For example, a DC positive voltage or a DC negative voltage of 7 kV can be applied to generate cations or anions.

[0065] Specifically, the second protrusion 320 and the coating part 330 of the electrode head 300 can be formed by the following method.

[0066] 1) Liquid phase etching method: As the liquid phase etching method, a method of immersing the electrode body 310 in an etching reagent (also called a corrosion liquid or an etching liquid) to form the second protrusion 320 can be cited. In the above liquid phase etching method, physical factors such as the stirring speed, temperature, and ultrasonic application of the etching reagent can be adjusted to adjust the etching intensity, speed, and shape, and an electric field can be generated in the etching to perform liquid phase etching electrochemically.

[0067] 2) Dry etching method: As a dry etching method, examples include sputtering that generates the second protrusion 320 on the surface by causing the electrode body 310 to collide with high-energy electrons or ions to detach surface components, or photoirradiation that applies high-energy light to the surface of the electrode body 310 and ablates the surface components to generate the second protrusion 320 on the surface, or a method of generating the second protrusion 320 on the surface of the electrode body 310 by mechanical grinding.

[0068] 3) Jetting method: As a jetting method, an example is a method of jetting droplets of a solution in which a precursor material of the second protrusion 320 is dispersed to generate the second protrusion 320 on the surface of the electrode body 310.

[0069] 4) Deposition method: As the above deposition method, an example is a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The above deposition method can be used as a method for forming the coating portion 330 and can impart an additional function to the electrode body 310 having the second protrusion 320 formed thereon. For example, the coating portion 330 can deposit a carbon-based conductive material to increase the ion release amount of the electrode head 300, or impart a function of preventing moisture condensation on the head or preventing corrosion.

[0070] The above etching, jetting, and deposited substances (or solutions) use the material of the second protrusion 320 or the coating portion 330 as the base material, and in addition to the above base material, additives such as a hydrophobic coating agent for preventing moisture condensation on the surface of the electrode head 300 and a fixing component for increasing the fixing force with the surface of the electrode head 300 can be included.

[0071] And after forming the second protrusion 320, heat treatment (sintering or thermal curing) can be performed to increase the fixing force of the electrode head between the second protrusion 320 and the electrode body 310.

[0072] In one embodiment, an experiment is performed using the above method to confirm whether the second protrusion 320 and the coating portion 330 are formed on the surface of the electrode body 310.

[0073] Figure 8 (A) is a SEM photograph showing an untreated electrode head. Figure 9 (B) is a SEM photograph showing an electrode head with protrusions formed by the etching method. Figure 10 (C) is a SEM photograph showing an electrode head with protrusions and a coating portion formed by the etching method and the deposition method.

[0074] Figures 8 to 10 (A) is a 500-fold magnification SEM photograph. Figure 8 and Figure 9The SEM photograph of (B) is at a magnification of 10,000 times. Figure 10 The left photograph of (B) is an SEM photograph at a magnification of 10,000 times, and the right photograph is an SEM photograph obtained by magnifying the "A region" of the left photograph 50,000 times.

[0075] Specifically, Figure 9 This is a photograph of the electrode head of the electrode body 310 where the second protrusion 320 is formed by immersing it in a tungsten etching solution for 5 minutes under 40 kHz ultrasonic conditions. Figure 10 This is a photograph of the electrode head electrode body 410 where, after forming the second protrusion 320 by immersing the electrode body in a tungsten etching solution for 5 minutes under 40 kHz ultrasonic conditions, CVD is performed at 650 °C, 3 Torr, in an environment of acetylene and nitrogen (volume ratio 1:5) to form the coating portion 330.

[0076] Referring to Figures 8 to 10 , it can be confirmed that the electrode head 300 with the second protrusion 320 and the coating portion 330 formed on the surface of the electrode body 310 can be manufactured by the above-mentioned various methods.

[0077] On the other hand, the above-mentioned air supply unit 400 supplies air toward the electrode head 300. The electrode head 300 can be provided on the air supply line of the air supply unit 400. The above-mentioned air can be mixed with cations or anions generated in the electrode head 300 to form an ionic wind. The above-mentioned ionic wind can mean that ions in the air are in a suspended state. The air supply unit 400 can include a speed adjustment unit for adjusting the supply speed of the air. The speed adjustment unit can adjust the supply speed of the air to control the injection speed of the ionic wind.

[0078] The above-mentioned ionic wind injection unit 500 injects the cationic or anionic ionic wind formed by mixing the supplied air with cations or anions to the side of the droplets ejected into the above-mentioned housing 100. The ionic wind injection unit 500 can include an inflow unit for allowing the cationic or anionic ionic wind to flow in and an outflow unit for allowing the cationic and anionic ionic winds flowing in through connection with the side opening of the housing 100 to flow out to the side of the droplets ejected into the above-mentioned housing 100.

[0079] In a specific example, the above-mentioned ionic wind injection unit 500 can include: a first ionic wind injection unit 500A that injects a cationic ionic wind to the side of the droplets ejected into the internal space S; and a second ionic wind injection unit 500B that injects an anionic ionic wind to the side of the droplets ejected into the above-mentioned internal space S.

[0080] The droplet manufacturing device according to the present invention can control the polarity of the charged droplets through the first ionic wind injection unit 500A and the second ionic wind injection unit 500B that inject ionic winds of different polarities.

[0081] The above-mentioned housing 100 includes a first region where cationic ionic wind is injected by the first ionic wind injection unit 500A and a second region where anionic ionic wind is injected by the second ionic wind injection unit 500B, and the first region and the second region can be separated from each other. At this time, the droplet discharging unit 200 may include a first droplet discharging unit that discharges droplets to the first region and a second droplet discharging unit that discharges droplets to the second region. The droplet manufacturing device according to the present invention can manufacture droplets charged with different polarities in separated spaces respectively.

[0082] In a specific example, the above-mentioned ionic wind injection unit 500 can inject cationic or anionic ionic wind to swirl in the internal space S. In other words, the above-mentioned ionic wind injection unit 500 can inject cationic or anionic ionic wind to swirl along the inner peripheral surface of the housing 100 facing the internal space S. The swirled-injected cationic or anionic ionic wind can rotate along the circumferential direction of the internal space S and move to the side of the discharge tube 700.

[0083] The above-mentioned droplet discharging unit 200 can discharge droplets to the side of the discharge tube 700 along the central axis C direction of the housing 100, for example, and the above-mentioned ionic wind injection unit 500 can inject cationic or anionic ionic wind along an imaginary injection line having a predetermined inclination with respect to the central axis C direction of the housing 100. The above-mentioned ionic wind injection unit 500 can also inject cationic or anionic ionic wind to flow into the inner peripheral surface of the housing 100 along the tangential direction. The above-mentioned cationic or anionic ionic wind can move downward obliquely in the direction toward the discharge tube 700 along the tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the housing 100. Maximizing the contact frequency between the swirled-injected ionic wind and the discharged droplets can present the advantage of high charging efficiency.

[0084] In an illustration, the above-mentioned discharged droplets can come into contact with the injected cationic or anionic ionic wind and be charged as cationic droplets or anionic droplets. For example, when only the first ionic wind injection unit 500A is operating, the discharged droplets can come into contact with the cationic ionic wind and be charged with a positive (or cationic, +) polarity, and when only the second ionic wind injection unit 500B is operating, the discharged droplets come into contact with the anionic ionic wind and be charged with a negative (or anionic, -) polarity. And when the first ionic wind injection unit 500A and the second ionic wind injection unit 500B are operating simultaneously, a part of the discharged droplets can come into contact with the cationic ionic wind and be charged with a + polarity, and a part come into contact with the anionic ionic wind and be charged with a - polarity. In particular, compared with droplets charged with a single polarity (+ or -), the antibacterial efficiency of droplets charged with an anode (+ and -) may be more excellent.

[0085] The droplet manufacturing device of the present application may include a discharge tube 700 that discharges the above-mentioned charged droplets. The above-mentioned charged droplets can be supplied to a place where space epidemic prevention is required through the above-mentioned discharge tube 700.

[0086] The above-mentioned ejection tube 700 can eject cation droplets and anion droplets separately or together. Also, the above-mentioned ejection tube 700 can eject cation ionic wind and anion ionic wind separately or together. The above-mentioned ejection tube 700 can eject the above-mentioned droplets and ionic wind separately and singly, or eject them together or crosswise.

[0087] Also, it may further include a discharge amount control unit for controlling the discharge amount of the above-mentioned ejection tube 700. The above-mentioned discharge amount control unit can control the discharge amounts of the droplets and the ionic wind.

[0088] The above-mentioned ejection tube 700 includes a first ejection tube for the movement of cation droplets and a second ejection tube for the movement of anion droplets, and the first ejection tube and the second ejection tube can be separated. The first ejection tube 700 can be connected to the first area of the housing 100, and the second ejection tube is connected to the second area of the housing 100. The first area of the housing 100 can be an area where cation ionic wind is injected by the first ionic wind injection unit 500A, and the second area of the housing 100 is an area where anion ionic wind is injected by the second ionic wind injection unit 500B.

[0089] In an example, the above-mentioned ejection tube 700 can be subjected to a hydrophobic surface treatment. The inner surface of the above-mentioned ejection tube 700 that can come into contact with the droplets can be subjected to a hydrophobic surface treatment. The hydrophobic surface treatment can be used to prevent moisture condensation or condensation and corrosion caused by charged droplets in the ejection tube 700.

[0090] As an example, the above-mentioned ejection tube 700 can include a moisture absorption column or a heating mechanism. The above-mentioned moisture absorption column or heating mechanism can play a role in preventing moisture condensation caused by charged droplets in the ejection tube due to long-term use of the droplet manufacturing device. Also, the above-mentioned moisture absorption column or heating mechanism can promote the evaporation of charged droplets in the ejection tube 700, realizing a supply mainly composed of free radicals or ions.

[0091] In a specific example, the droplet manufacturing device according to the present invention can include an electric field application mechanism 800 for applying an electric field to the above-mentioned ejection tube 700 and a magnetic field application mechanism 900 for applying a magnetic field to the above-mentioned ejection tube 700. By applying an electric field to the ejection tube 700, the above-mentioned electric field application mechanism can make the charged droplets move and eject from the ejection tube 700 in the form of a waterproof spray type or a jet spray form. Also, by applying a magnetic field to the ejection tube 700, the above-mentioned magnetic field application mechanism can accelerate the flow rate of the droplets.

[0092] Furthermore, the droplet manufacturing device according to the present invention may include a collection unit 1000, and the collection unit 1000 is used to collect the condensed water formed by the droplets discharged into the internal space S adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the housing 100 facing the internal space S. The condensed water may be a factor reducing the performance of the droplet manufacturing device. By collecting the condensed water, the collection unit 1000 can prevent the performance of the droplet manufacturing device from decreasing. The collection unit 1000 may include a drainage unit for discharging the collected condensed water.

[0093] In one example, the air supply unit 400 may include a filter. The air supply unit 400 may supply clean air through the filter, and the filter may be a HEPA filter, but is not limited thereto.

[0094] The droplet manufacturing device according to the present invention may be, for example, a device for manufacturing droplets with an epidemic prevention function. The droplets with an epidemic prevention function can be supplied to places in need of epidemic prevention and play a role in removing pollution sources such as bioaerosols.

[0095] In one example, the droplet raw material may include water or an antibacterial substance.

[0096] The antibacterial substance may include, for example, substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS, Generally Recognized As Safe) designated by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

[0097] The GRAS substances may include, for example, one or more selected from the group consisting of metal chlorides, metal oxides, metal nitrides, and organic antibacterial substances.

[0098] As the metal chloride, sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), or magnesium chloride (MgCl 2 ) etc. may be cited.

[0099] As the metal oxide, magnesium oxide (MgO), zinc oxide (ZnO), copper oxide (CuO), manganese oxide (MnO), or iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) etc. may be cited.

[0100] As the metal nitride, silver nitride (AgNO 3 ), magnesium nitride (Mg(NO 3 ) 2 ), or zinc nitride (Zn(NO 3 ) 2 ) etc. may be cited.

[0101] Also, as the above-mentioned organic antibacterial substances, examples include acetic acid, benzoic acid, benzonates, dimethyl dicarbonate, lactic acid, lactates, lactoferrin, lysozyme, nisin, parabens, propionic acid, propionates, sorbic acid, sorbates, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorine dioxide, or peroxyacids, etc.

[0102] In addition to the above-mentioned GRAS substances, various known particulate substances or antibiotic substances that exhibit antibacterial functions can be used as droplet raw materials. For example, as droplet raw materials, GRAS substances, particulate substances, and antibiotic substances can be used alone or in combination.

[0103] As the above-mentioned particulate substances, examples include silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotube, carbon nanofiber, carbon nanodot, graphitic carbon nitride, boron nitride, silicon (Si), silicon oxide, tellurium (Te), selenium (Se), or nanoclay, etc.

[0104] As the above-mentioned antibacterial substances, examples include sulfornamides, penicillin, erythromycin, natamycin, vancomycin, methicillin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, linezolid, or ceftaroline, etc.

[0105] The present application also relates to an epidemic prevention system including the above droplet manufacturing device. The above epidemic prevention system can release or eject charged droplets manufactured by the above droplet manufacturing device into a space that needs epidemic prevention to perform space epidemic prevention.

[0106] The above epidemic prevention system may include a moving mechanism for moving the droplet manufacturing device, a sensor for measuring the concentration of contaminants in the epidemic prevention area, and a control unit for controlling the moving direction of the moving mechanism and the operation of the droplet manufacturing device based on the above sensor. The above sensor can measure the concentration of bioaerosols or microorganisms in the epidemic prevention area. After the control unit moves the moving mechanism to an area where the concentration of contaminants exceeds an allowable value range, the control unit operates the droplet manufacturing device to supply the manufactured droplets to the area. Through the above control unit, the unmanned operation of the epidemic prevention system can be achieved.

[0107] Moreover, the epidemic prevention system according to the present invention may include a data receiving unit. The above data receiving unit receives data comparing the concentration of contaminants after epidemic prevention with the concentration of contaminants before epidemic prevention and the environmental reference concentration through a sensor for measuring the concentration of contaminants. The above data receiving unit can receive data through a wired / wireless communication unit and provide the received data to the user.

[0108] The example of the epidemic prevention process of the above epidemic prevention system may be carried out in the following order of 1) to 6).

[0109] 1) Measurement of the concentration of contaminants in the epidemic prevention area.

[0110] 2) Comparative operation between the measured concentration and the environmental reference.

[0111] 3) Transmission of whether the epidemic prevention system operates through the operation.

[0112] 4) When it is determined that the epidemic prevention system operates, the droplet manufacturing device is moved to the epidemic prevention area through the moving mechanism, and the droplet-ion wind is mixed and ejected, the droplet-ion wind is cross-ejected, or after the droplets are ejected, the epidemic prevention is performed in the mode of ejecting the ion wind.

[0113] 5) After the epidemic prevention, the concentration of contaminants is measured through the sensor, and then the data is transmitted.

[0114] 6) When the concentration of contaminants is appropriately reduced, the droplet manufacturing device is restored to its original position through the moving mechanism, or when additional reduction of the concentration of contaminants is required, after additional epidemic prevention is performed, when it is appropriately reduced, the droplet manufacturing device is restored to its original position through the moving mechanism.

[0115] Description of reference numerals

[0116] 100: Housing

[0117] 200: Droplet ejection part

[0118] 300: Electrode tip

[0119] 400: Air supply unit

[0120] 500: Ion wind injection unit

Claims

1. A droplet manufacturing device, characterized in that, it includes: a housing having an internal space; a droplet discharging unit that atomizes a droplet raw material and discharges it into the internal space; an electrode head that generates cations or anions; an air supply unit that supplies air to the electrode head side; and an ion wind injection unit that injects a cation or anion ion wind formed by mixing the supplied air with cations or anions onto the side of the droplets discharged into the internal space.

2. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the droplet discharging unit is provided at the upper part of the housing.

3. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the droplet discharging unit is provided at the lower part of the housing.

4. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the droplet discharging unit is provided at the side part of the housing.

5. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the droplet discharging unit includes: a nozzle body including an inlet through which a droplet raw material flows in and a nozzle head for discharging the droplet raw material flowing in as droplets; and a power supply unit that electrostatically charges the droplets discharged through the nozzle head by applying a voltage.

6. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, the nozzle body includes one nozzle body unit or a plurality of nozzle body units laminated coaxially.

7. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, the nozzle body includes first protrusions with a nanoscale size formed on the surface.

8. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the electrode head includes: an electrode main body; second protrusions having a nanoscale size, formed on the surface of the electrode main body; and a coating part, on the surfaces of the electrode main body and the second protrusions, is coated with conductive carbon.

9. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the ion wind injection unit includes: a first ion wind injection unit that injects a cation ion wind onto the side of the droplets discharged into the internal space; and a second ion wind injection unit that injects an anion ion wind onto the side of the droplets discharged into the internal space.

10. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the ion wind injection unit injects in such a way that a cation or anion ion wind circulates in the internal space.

11. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 10, characterized in that, the ion wind injection unit injects in such a way that a cation or anion ion wind circulates along the inner peripheral surface of the housing facing the internal space.

12. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the discharged droplets come into contact with the injected cation or anion ion wind and are charged as cation droplets or anion droplets.

13. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 12, characterized in that, it includes a discharge tube that discharges the charged droplets.

14. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 13, characterized in that, the discharge tube discharges cation droplets and anion droplets separately or together.

15. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 13, characterized in that, The above-mentioned discharge pipe is subjected to a hydrophobic surface treatment.

16. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 13, wherein, it includes: an electric field application mechanism that applies an electric field to the above-mentioned discharge pipe; and a magnetic field application mechanism that applies a magnetic field to the above-mentioned discharge pipe.

17. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein, it includes a collection part for collecting condensed water formed by droplets discharged into the internal space and adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the outer shell facing the internal space.

18. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein, the above-mentioned air supply part includes a filter.

19. The droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein, the droplet raw material includes water or an antibacterial substance.

20. An epidemic prevention system, wherein, it includes the droplet manufacturing device according to claim 1.

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