Space purification device

Abstract

A space purification device (2) is provided with: a storage unit (5) for storing an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution (6) containing sodium chloride or potassium chloride; an electrolysis unit (27) provided by being immersed in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution (6) and generating the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution (6) by electrolysis; and an air supply unit (7) for releasing air (3a) taken from the outside into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution (6) as bubbles (8). The air supply unit (7) has a solution suction port (7a), an air suction port (7b), and a discharge unit (7d), and releases bubbles (8) into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution (6) stored in the storage unit (5) via the discharge unit (7d) while mixing the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution (6) taken into the storage unit (5) via the solution suction port (7a) with air (3a) taken into the storage unit (5) via the air suction port (7b). The electrolysis unit (27) is disposed adjacent to the solution suction port (7a) in a front region of the solution suction port (7a).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a space purification device for sterilizing a single room space or the like. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a device for sterilizing a living space or the like to reduce the risk of infectious diseases, there is known an air conditioner (space purification device) that foams air in an aqueous solution containing hypochlorous acid (for example, an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution) to generate bubbles, and releases the hypochlorous acid gas contained in the floating bubbles together with the air into the target space (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-305100 Summary of the Invention

[0006] However, in the conventional space purification device based on the foaming method, hypochlorous acid gas is taken into the bubbles during the process in which the generated bubbles float toward the liquid surface due to buoyancy. Therefore, in the case where sufficient gas-liquid contact time with the aqueous solution containing hypochlorous acid cannot be ensured, there is a problem that it is difficult to ensure the required concentration of hypochlorous acid gas.

[0007] Therefore, the present disclosure is for solving the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for increasing the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in bubbles in a space purification device based on the foaming method.

[0008] Moreover, in order to achieve this object, the space purification device of the present disclosure includes: a storage unit that stores an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution; an electrolysis unit that is immersed in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution and generates an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution by electrolysis; and an air supply unit that is immersed in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution and releases air taken in from the outside into the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution as bubbles. The air supply unit has a solution suction port, an air suction port, and a discharge unit, and while mixing the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution taken into the inside from the storage unit via the solution suction port and the air taken in from the outside via the air suction port, releases bubbles into the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution stored in the storage unit via the discharge unit. And the electrolysis unit is disposed adjacent to the solution suction port in the front region of the solution suction port.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, in a space purification device based on the foaming method, it is possible to increase the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in bubbles. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] Figure 1 It is a schematic side view showing a setting example of setting the space purification device of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure in a single room space.

[0011] Figure 2 It is a schematic side view showing the structure of the space purification device.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a schematic perspective front view showing the structure of the space purification device. Detailed implementation mode

[0013] The space purification device of the present disclosure includes: a storage unit that stores an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution; an electrolysis unit that is immersed in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution and generates an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution by electrolysis; and an air supply unit that is immersed in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution and releases the air taken in from the outside into the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution as bubbles. The air supply unit has a solution suction port, an air suction port, and a discharge unit, and while mixing the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution taken into the inside from the storage unit via the solution suction port and the air taken in from the outside via the air suction port, it releases bubbles into the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution stored in the storage unit via the discharge unit. And the electrolysis unit is arranged adjacent to the solution suction port in the front region of the solution suction port.

[0014] According to such a structure, it is possible to take the hypochlorous acid generated in the electrolysis unit into the inside of the air supply unit via the solution suction port before it diffuses into the entire aqueous solution in the storage unit. As a result, in the process of mixing the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution and air inside the air supply unit, an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution with a higher concentration than the average hypochlorous acid concentration in the storage unit can be brought into contact with the air. As a result, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in the air taken into the inside of the air supply unit can be increased, so when the bubbles reach the liquid surface, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas released from the bubbles can be increased. That is to say, the space purification device can increase the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in the bubbles, so that a higher concentration of hypochlorous acid gas can be supplied to the outside. All in all, for a space purification device based on the bubbling method, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in the bubbles can be increased.

[0015] In addition, in the space purification device of the present disclosure, preferably, the electrolysis unit is configured to have a pair of plate-shaped electrodes facing each other, and the surfaces of the pair of plate-shaped electrodes facing each other are arranged along the solution suction direction, and this solution suction direction is along the central axis of the solution suction port. In this way, it is possible to suppress the situation where the surfaces of the plate-shaped electrodes facing each other interfere with the flow of the aqueous solution in the suction direction of the solution suction port, so that the hypochlorous acid generated on the surfaces of the plate-shaped electrodes facing each other can be efficiently sucked in from the solution suction port. As a result, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in the air taken into the inside of the air supply unit increases, so the hypochlorous acid gas taken into the bubbles further increases. As a result, when the bubbles reach the liquid surface, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas released from the bubbles can be further increased.

[0016] In addition, in the space purification device of the present disclosure, preferably, the space purification device includes: a lower partition plate disposed to extend upward in the vertical direction from the bottom of the storage portion, and having an upper opening portion through which the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution can flow on the upper side of the storage portion; and an upper partition plate located on the side of the electrolysis portion relative to the lower partition plate, disposed to extend downward in the vertical direction from the upper portion of the storage portion, and having a lower opening portion through which the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution can flow on the bottom side of the storage portion. The lower partition plate and the upper partition plate divide the storage portion into: a first region where a solution suction port is disposed and the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution is taken in from the solution suction port, a second region where a discharge portion is disposed and the bubbles released from the discharge portion flow through, and a third region through which the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution flows from the second region toward the first region via the upper opening portion and the lower opening portion. In this way, the bubbles released from the discharge portion in the second region float upward toward the liquid surface due to buoyancy. Therefore, when the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution flows from the second region into the first region, the bubbles can be removed from the water flow from the liquid surface toward the bottom in the third region. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the hypochlorous acid generation efficiency caused by a reduction in the electrolysis area due to the attachment of bubbles to the electrolysis portion in the first region. In addition, by removing the bubbles from the water flow in the third region, it is possible to suppress the bubbles from being sucked into the solution suction port in the first region. As a result, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noises caused by the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution containing bubbles being taken in from the solution suction port.

[0017] In addition, in the space purification device of the present disclosure, preferably, at the bottom of the storage portion in the first region and the third region, sodium chloride or potassium chloride precipitates in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution, and the electrolysis portion performs electrolysis in a state where sodium chloride or potassium chloride precipitates in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution to generate a new hypochlorous acid aqueous solution. In this way, when the sodium chloride or potassium chloride contained in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution is consumed due to electrolysis, the precipitated sodium chloride or potassium chloride dissolves into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution along the water flow from the lower opening portion toward the solution suction port. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the concentration of sodium chloride or potassium chloride in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution during the electrolysis of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the hypochlorous acid generation efficiency accompanying the decrease in the concentration of sodium chloride or potassium chloride, and thus stably generate hypochlorous acid.

[0018] In addition, in the space purification device of the present disclosure, preferably, sediment filters are provided in the first region and the third region. The sediment filters suppress the case where precipitates of sodium chloride or potassium chloride float from the solute region where sodium chloride or potassium chloride precipitates to the solution region where the electrolysis unit is provided. In this way, it is possible to suppress the case where solid substances of precipitated sodium chloride or potassium chloride float in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution due to the water flow and reach the electrolysis unit. Thus, during the electrolysis of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution in the electrolysis unit, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the hypochlorous acid generation efficiency due to the accumulation of solid substances of sodium chloride or potassium chloride in the electrolysis unit. In addition, by providing sediment filters that suppress the floating of precipitates of sodium chloride or potassium chloride, it is possible to suppress the case where solid substances of sodium chloride or potassium chloride are sucked into the solution inlet. As a result, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noises caused by the intake of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution containing solid substances of sodium chloride or potassium chloride from the solution inlet.

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments are examples for embodying the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, the drawings described in the embodiments are schematic drawings, and the ratios of the sizes and thicknesses of the respective components in each drawing do not necessarily reflect the actual size ratios.

[0020] (Embodiment 1)

[0021] First, with reference to Figures 1 to 3 the outline of the space purification device 2 of the present Embodiment 1 will be described. Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing an installation example of installing the space purification device 2 of the present disclosure in the single-room space 1. Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing the structure of the space purification device 2. Figure 3 is a schematic perspective front view showing the structure of the space purification device 2. It should be noted that in Figure 3 it is illustrated through the lower partition 25 and the upper partition 26.

[0022] As Figure 1 shown, the space purification device 2 is installed at a position at a specified height on the wall surface of the single-room space 1. The space purification device 2 takes in the air 3 in the single-room space 1, adds hypochlorous acid (hypochlorous acid gas) to the taken-in air 3 ( Figure 2 the air 3a shown), and the same taken-in air 3 ( Figure 2The air 3b) is mixed and released as air 4 containing hypochlorous acid into the single-room space 1. As a result, the single-room space 1 is sterilized using the released air 4 (air 4 containing hypochlorous acid). That is to say, the space purification device 2 can be said to be a device that releases hypochlorous acid into the single-room space 1 for sterilization. It should be noted that as long as the space purification device 2 can be connected to an external power supply, the installation location in the single-room space 1 is not restricted.

[0023] The single-room space 1 is a space used by the user in daily life and is composed of structural bodies such as walls and doors. A table or chair can also be provided inside the single-room space 1. In addition, an air conditioner or the like for air conditioning (cooling, heating) inside the single-room space 1 can also be provided.

[0024] The air 3 is the air taken into the space purification device 2 from the single-room space 1. Figure 1 The arrow indicates the main flow of the air 3. As Figure 2 shown, after the air 3 is introduced into the space purification device 2, it is separated into air 3a and air 3b. The air 3a is the air inhaled by the air supply unit 7 and attached with hypochlorous acid (hypochlorous acid gas), and the air 3b is the air that is not inhaled by the air supply unit 7 but passes through the internal air passage 24 and is mixed with the air 3c attached with hypochlorous acid (hypochlorous acid gas) in the mixing unit 21. The detailed situation will be described later.

[0025] The air 4 is the air blown from the space purification device 2 into the single-room space 1. Figure 1 The arrow indicates the main flow of the air 4. The air 4 contains hypochlorous acid (hypochlorous acid gas) generated inside the space purification device 2. The detailed situation will be described later.

[0026] Next, the specific structure of the space purification device 2 will be described.

[0027] As Figure 2 shown, the space purification device 2 has an air passage part 17, a storage part 5, an air supply part 7, an air release part 9, an air supply part holding part 12, and an electrolysis part 27.

[0028] The air passage part 17 is a component that mixes the air 3c containing hypochlorous acid gas supplied from the air release part 9 with the air 3b that has passed through the internal air passage 24 in the air 3 taken in from the external gas intake part 18 and releases it as air 4. The air passage part 17 is provided on the upper surface of the air release part 9. An opening part communicating with the air release part 9 is provided on the lower surface of the air passage part 17. Thus, the air 3c from the air release part 9 is supplied into the air passage part 17. It should be noted that the air passage part 17 can also be said to be a part of the housing that constitutes the outer frame of the space purification device 2.

[0029] More specifically, the air passage section 17 includes an external air intake section 18, a blowing section 19, a mixing section 21, a blowing fan section 22, and a filtering section 23.

[0030] The external air intake section 18 is an opening through which the air passage section 17 communicates with the outside, and is an intake port for taking in the air 3 from the outside (single-room space 1) into the interior of the space purification device 2. The external air intake section 18 is formed by a plurality of circular holes or a plurality of slits formed on the upper surface of the air passage section 17.

[0031] The blowing section 19 is an opening through which the air passage section 17 communicates with the outside, and is a component for blowing the air 4 containing hypochlorous acid gas from the space purification device 2 into the single-room space 1. Specifically, the blowing section 19 includes a blowout port 19a and a blowing direction hood 19b.

[0032] The blowout port 19a is an opening through which the air 4 containing hypochlorous acid gas flows out from inside the air passage section 17, and is formed by a plurality of circular holes or a plurality of slits formed on the upper surface of the air passage section 17.

[0033] The blowing direction hood 19b is a metal air hood provided so as to cover the entire blowout port 19a. The blowing direction hood 19b is used to direct the blowing direction of the air 4 blown out from the blowout port 19a in one direction of the space purification device 2 (the side opposite to the external air intake section 18). Thus, the air 4 blown out from the blowing section 19 does not mix with the air 3 sucked in by the external air intake section 18.

[0034] The external air intake section 18 and the blowing section 19 are connected in communication through the internal air passage 24 of the air passage section 17. And, an air release section 9 is connected in communication with the internal air passage 24.

[0035] The mixing section 21 is a space for mixing the air 3c containing hypochlorous acid gas supplied from the air release section 9 with the air 3b passing through the internal air passage 24 among the air 3 taken in by the external air intake section 18. The mixing section 21 is a part of the internal air passage 24, and can also be said to be a space in the internal air passage 24 where the air 3c and the air 3b merge. The air containing hypochlorous acid gas mixed in the mixing section 21 is blown out from the blowing section 19 into the single-room space 1 as the air 4 through the air passage section 17.

[0036] The blowing fan section 22 is a blowing fan for circulating air in the air passage section 17, and is disposed in the internal air passage 24 of the air passage section 17. By operating the blowing fan section 22, it is possible to take in the air 3 from the external air intake section 18, mix the air 3b passing through the internal air passage 24 among the air 3 taken in by the external air intake section 18 with the air 3c supplied from the air release section 9 in the mixing section 21, and blow it out as the air 4 from the blowing section 19.

[0037] The filtering unit 23 is a filter for removing dirt or foreign matter from the air 3 taken in from the external gas intake unit 18, and is disposed near the external gas intake unit 18 in the internal air passage 24.

[0038] The storage unit 5 is a container that stores an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 containing sodium chloride or potassium chloride as an electrolyte inside. The storage unit 5 has a quadrangular prism shape, and the outer dimensions of the storage unit 5 are, for example, a width of 200 mm, a depth of 100 mm, and a height of 115 mm. It should be noted that the storage unit 5 can also be said to be a part of the housing that constitutes the outer frame of the space purification device 2.

[0039] The storage unit 5 has a lower partition plate 25 and an upper partition plate 26 inside. And the storage unit 5 is divided into a first region 5a, a second region 5b, and a third region 5c by the lower partition plate 25 and the upper partition plate 26.

[0040] The lower partition plate 25 is a partition wall that is provided so as to extend upward in the vertical direction from the bottom 5d of the storage unit 5 and has an upper opening 25a through which the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 can flow on the upper side of the storage unit 5. The lower partition plate 25 is provided to extend from Figure 3 one side surface (left side surface) of the storage unit 5 shown to the opposite side surface (right side surface). The lower partition plate 25 has a slope portion 25b on the second region 5b side, and the slope portion 25b becomes narrower in width from the bottom 5d side of the storage unit 5 to the height of the bottom surface of the discharge portion 7d in the vertical upward direction. It can also be said that the lower partition plate 25 has a conical shape in which the side surface on the second region 5b side is bent due to the slope portion 25b.

[0041] The upper partition plate 26 is located on the electrolysis unit 27 side compared to the lower partition plate 25, and is a partition wall that is provided so as to extend downward in the vertical direction from the upper part of the storage unit 5 and has a lower opening 26a through which the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 can flow on the bottom 5d side of the storage unit 5. The upper partition plate 26 is provided to extend from Figure 3 one side surface (left side surface) of the storage unit 5 shown to the opposite side surface (right side surface).

[0042] And the lower partition plate 25 and the upper partition plate 26 divide the storage unit 5 into a first region 5a for the air supply unit 7 to take in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6, a second region 5b for the bubbles 8 released from the air supply unit 7 to flow through, and a third region 5c for the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 to flow from the second region 5b to the first region 5a through the upper opening 25a and the lower opening 26a.

[0043] The upper opening 25a refers to the space (opening) formed between the upper part of the lower partition 25 and the storage part 5. The upper opening 25a enables the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 to flow from the second region 5b to the third region 5c on the upper side of the storage part 5 like the water flow 31d.

[0044] The slope part 25b bends in the direction of the bottom part 5d in the range from the bottom surface of the discharge part 7d to the bottom part 5d. In the slope part 25b, the bubbles 8 discharged from the discharge part 7d flow in the direction opposite to the third region 5c along the curved slope shape. The details will be described later.

[0045] The lower opening 26a refers to the space formed between the lower part of the upper partition 26 and the bottom part 5d. The lower opening 26a enables the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 to flow from the third region 5c to the first region 5a on the bottom part 5d side of the storage part 5 like the water flow 31f.

[0046] The first region 5a is the region divided by the inner wall of the storage part 5 and the upper partition 26. The first region 5a is the region in the storage part 5 where the air supply part 7 sucks the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. More specifically, the solution suction port 7a of the air supply part 7 described later is arranged in the first region 5a, and it is the region where the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 is taken in from the solution suction port 7a, and is also called the "suction region".

[0047] The second region 5b is the region divided by the inner wall of the storage part 5 and the lower partition 25. The second region 5b is the region in the storage part 5 where the bubbles 8 released from the air supply part 7 flow. More specifically, the discharge part 7d of the air supply part 7 described later is arranged in the second region 5b, and it is the region where the bubbles 8 released from the discharge part 7d float toward the liquid surface 6a of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6, and is also called the "discharge region".

[0048] The third region 5c is the region divided by the lower partition 25, the inner wall of the storage part 5, and the upper partition 26. The third region 5c is the region in the storage part 5 where the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 flows from the second region 5b to the first region 5a via the upper opening 25a and the lower opening 26a, and is also called the "flow region".

[0049] The bottom part 5d refers to the bottom surface of the storage part 5, and the lower partition 25 is provided thereon.

[0050] Inside the storage unit 5, an air supply unit 7, a water level sensor 16 (a full water sensor 16a and a water shortage sensor 16b), and an electrolysis unit 27 are provided in a state of being immersed in the stored hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. An opening (not shown) for communicating with the air release unit 9 is provided on the upper surface of the storage unit 5, and the air release unit 9 is provided so as to cover the opening. An internal space 11 is formed between the liquid surface 6a of the stored hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 and the lower surface of the air release unit 9 in the upper part of the storage unit 5. It should be noted that although not particularly shown, an opening for supplying tap water is provided in the storage unit 5, so that tap water can be directly supplied when the storage unit 5 is short of water.

[0051] The internal space 11 is an air area generated above the liquid surface 6a of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 inside the storage unit 5 and is formed within the entire surface range of the storage unit 5. Even when the storage unit 5 is in a full water state due to the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6, an internal space 11 is formed above the liquid surface 6a of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. In the internal space 11, the bubbles 8 floating in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 burst to release hypochlorous acid gas, thus becoming air 3c containing hypochlorous acid gas.

[0052] The hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 is a solution stored in the storage unit 5. The hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 contains an aqueous solution component (electrolyte solution 28), which is composed of sodium chloride or potassium chloride and water. The hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 is an aqueous solution in which the electrolyte solution 28 is electrolyzed by the electrolysis unit 27 to generate hypochlorous acid. That is to say, the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 is a mixed aqueous solution of an electrolyte solution 28 containing sodium chloride or potassium chloride and an aqueous solution containing hypochlorous acid generated from the electrolyte solution 28.

[0053] The aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 has the function of causing the interior of the bubbles 8 supplied from the air supply section 7 described later to contain hypochlorous acid (hypochlorous acid gas) as the bubbles 8 flow through the solution due to buoyancy. Therefore, by increasing or decreasing the concentration of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6, the amount of hypochlorous acid contained in the bubbles 8 can be increased or decreased. Further, by setting the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 to around 5 to 7, hypochlorous acid can be easily vaporized from the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6, and the amount of hypochlorous acid contained in the bubbles 8 can be increased. In addition, by increasing the distance that the bubbles 8 rise due to buoyancy (the distance that the bubbles 8 flow through the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6), thereby increasing the contact time between the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 and the bubbles 8, the amount of hypochlorous acid contained in the bubbles 8 can be increased. Due to these factors, in the present embodiment, the concentration of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 is set to around 100 mg / L, the pH of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 is set to around 7, and based on the outer diameter size of the storage section 5 described above, the capacity (capacity when full) of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 stored therein is set to around 2 L. It should be noted that the concentration of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 is adjusted to be several times higher than the concentration of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution used in the existing vaporization type space purification device.

[0054] As described above, the electrolytic solution 28 is an aqueous solution containing sodium chloride or potassium chloride contained in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 and can generate hypochlorous acid by electrolysis. In the present embodiment, the electrolytic solution 28 is stored in the storage section 5 in a state where the electrolyte 29 containing sodium chloride or potassium chloride is not completely dissolved and the electrolyte 29 is precipitated. The reaction generated in the electrolysis section 27 using such an electrolytic solution 28 will be described later.

[0055] The precipitated electrolyte 29 is a precipitate of sodium chloride or potassium chloride and is used to supply chloride ions consumed from the electrolytic solution 28 due to electrolysis back to the electrolytic solution 28 again. Details thereof will also be described later.

[0056] It should be noted that in the present embodiment, sodium chloride or potassium chloride is used as the electrolyte 29, but it is not limited thereto. As will be described later, as long as there are chloride ions in order to generate the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6, chlorides such as calcium chloride or lithium chloride are also considered for use in addition thereto. Therefore, in the present disclosure, the so-called "sodium chloride or potassium chloride" refers to all substances including substances having chloride ions such as calcium chloride and lithium chloride in addition to these.

[0057] As described above, the storage section 5 stores the electrolytic solution 28 in a state where the electrolyte 29 is precipitated in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6, and has an internal space 11 above the liquid surface 6a of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6. The storage section 5 is also regionally divided into a solute region 6b where the electrolyte 29 is precipitated and a solution region 6c where the electrolysis section 27 described later is provided.

[0058] The liquid level 6a refers to the upper surface of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 stored in the storage unit 5.

[0059] The solute region 6b is located on the bottom 5d side of the first region 5a and the third region 5c of the storage unit 5, and is a region that holds the electrolyte solution 28 containing the precipitate of the electrolyte 29.

[0060] The solution region 6c is mainly located above the solute region 6b in the first region 5a, and is a region that holds the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 that does not contain the precipitate of the electrolyte 29. The electrolysis unit 27 and the solution suction port 7a of the air supply unit 7 are respectively arranged in the solution region 6c in an immersed state. In addition, a precipitate filter 30 is provided between the solute region 6b and the solution region 6c. Specifically, on the bottom side (solute region 6b side) of the solution region 6c, the precipitate filter 30 is provided in such a way as to block the opening that communicates with the solute region 6b and the solution region 6c that are divided from each other.

[0061] The precipitate filter 30 is a filter for suppressing the situation where the electrolyte 29 precipitated in the solute region 6b floats by the water flow generated in the air supply unit 7 and reaches the electrolysis unit 27 and the solution suction port 7a. The precipitate filter 30 is provided between the solute region 6b and the solution region 6c. Thus, the precipitate filter 30 suppresses the situation where the precipitate of the electrolyte 29 floats from the solute region 6b where the electrolyte 29 precipitates and flows into the solution region 6c where the electrolysis unit 27 and the solution suction port 7a are provided.

[0062] The air supply unit 7 is a component that sucks air 3a from the single room space 1 into the interior and releases the sucked air 3a as bubbles 8 into the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6. In the present embodiment, the air supply unit 7 is a pump that mixes the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 taken into the interior from the storage unit 5 with the air 3a taken in from the outside (single room space 1) and releases bubbles 8 into the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 stored in the storage unit 5. The air supply unit 7 is fixedly arranged in the storage unit 5 by the air supply unit holding part 12. The air supply unit 7 is suspended from the upper part of the storage unit 5 by the air supply unit holding part 12, and most of the component is immersed in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6.

[0063] More specifically, the air supply unit 7 is configured to include a solution suction port 7a, an air suction port 7b, a bubble generation part 7c, a discharge part 7d, and a motor part 7e. The air supply unit 7 is arranged in a suspended state from the upper part of the storage unit 5 such that the solution suction port 7a is located in the first region 5a of the storage unit 5, the bubble generation part 7c, the discharge part 7d, and the motor part 7e are located in the second region 5b of the storage unit 5, and the air suction port 7b is located in the third region 5c of the storage unit 5.

[0064] The solution suction port 7a is a cylindrical suction port for sucking the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 in the storage unit 5. The solution suction port 7a is located in the first region 5a of the storage unit 5, and is provided in a substantially horizontal state with respect to the bottom 5d of the storage unit 5 and facing the side surface of the storage unit 5 in the direction opposite to the second region 5b side. The solution suction port 7a is connected to the bubble generation unit 7c. By the operation of the motor unit 7e, the solution suction port 7a sucks the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 from the storage unit 5 and sends the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 sucked from the storage unit 5 to the bubble generation unit 7c.

[0065] The air suction port 7b is a cylindrical suction port for sucking the air 3a in the internal air passage 24. The air suction port 7b is provided in the third region 5c of the storage unit 5. One end of the air suction port 7b is connected to the side surface of the solution suction port 7a, and the other end of the air suction port 7b extends upward in the vertical direction to the internal air passage 24. The air suction port 7b is, for example, a resin tube. By the operation of the motor unit 7e, the air suction port 7b sucks the air 3a from the internal air passage 24 and sends the sucked air 3a into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 sucked from the solution suction port 7a.

[0066] Here, the other end of the air suction port 7b is disposed at a position downstream of the filter unit 23 and upstream of the mixing unit 21 in the internal air passage 24. Thus, the air suction port 7b can take in the air 3a with less dirt after passing through the filter unit 23 and send it into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6, so that it is possible to prevent the blockage of the air suction port 7b and the contamination of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 caused by the accumulation of dirt.

[0067] The bubble generation unit 7c is a member that stirs and mixes the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 containing the air 3a flowing in from the solution suction port 7a. The bubble generation unit 7c is provided in the second region 5b of the storage unit 5. The bubble generation unit 7c connects the solution suction port 7a and the discharge unit 7d, and by the operation of the motor unit 7e, sends the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 (hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 containing air 3a) flowing in from the solution suction port 7a to the discharge unit 7d. At this time, the bubble generation unit 7c stirs and mixes the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 and the air 3a inside, and makes the air 3a finer to form bubbles 8, and thus sends the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 containing bubbles 8 to the discharge unit 7d. It can also be said that the bubble generation unit 7c mixes the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 and the air 3a inside while making the air 3a finer to generate bubbles 8. It should be noted that during the stirring and mixing process inside the bubble generation unit 7c, the hypochlorous acid gas is contained in the air 3a (bubbles 8).

[0068] The discharge section 7d is a section that discharges the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 containing the bubbles 8 generated in the bubble generation section 7c into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 in the storage section 5. The discharge section 7d is located in the second region 5b of the storage section 5 and is arranged to face the bottom 5d of the storage section 5 in the vertically downward direction. Moreover, the discharge section 7d discharges the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 containing the bubbles 8 toward the bottom 5d of the storage section 5. Specifically, the discharge section 7d discharges the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 containing the bubbles 8 toward the slope section 25b of the lower partition plate 25 provided at the bottom 5d of the storage section 5. It should be noted that although it is described that the discharge section 7d "discharges the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 containing the bubbles 8", it can also be rephrased as "discharges the bubbles 8".

[0069] The motor section 7e is a component that performs a series of operations of the air supply section 7. The motor section 7e is arranged to be located in the second region 5b of the storage section 5. The motor section 7e generates a flow of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 inside the air supply section 7 by performing a rotational operation. Specifically, by the rotational operation of the motor section 7e, the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 is sucked in from the solution suction port 7a, and a negative pressure is generated inside the solution suction port 7a, whereby the air 3a is sucked into the solution suction port 7a from the air suction port 7b. Moreover, during the agitation and mixing in the bubble generation section 7c, the bubbles 8 are generated, and the generated bubbles 8 are discharged from the discharge section 7d into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6.

[0070] The air supply section 7 is configured as described above.

[0071] Moreover, in the air supply section 7, by controlling the supply amount of the air 3a to the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6, the agitation and mixing time in the bubble generation section 7c, and the size (diameter) of the generated bubbles 8, the amount of hypochlorous acid (hypochlorous acid gas) contained in the air 4 discharged from the air discharge section 9 described later into the single room space 1 can be adjusted.

[0072] Specifically, in the air supply unit 7, if the supply amount of air 3a to the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 increases, correspondingly, the generation amount (generation quantity) of bubbles 8 becomes larger, and the hypochlorous acid gas contained in the air 4 released from the air release unit 9 can be increased. In addition, in the air supply unit 7, by extending the stirring and mixing time in the bubble generation unit 7c, the contact time between the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 and the air 3a becomes longer, so that the hypochlorous acid gas contained in the finally generated bubbles 8 can be increased. In addition, in the air supply unit 7, by reducing the size (diameter) of the bubbles 8 released into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6, the rising speed of the bubbles 8 during floating can be reduced, and the contact time between the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 and the bubbles 8 can be increased. And, compared with the case where the size (diameter) of the bubbles 8 is larger, the contact area between the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 and the bubbles 8 flowing in the solution can be increased. As a result of the above, for the bubbles 8 flowing in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6, the amount of hypochlorous acid taken into the bubbles 8 during the floating process can be increased, so that the hypochlorous acid contained in the air 4 released from the air release unit 9 can be increased.

[0073] Here, the supply amount of the air 3a from the air supply unit 7 to the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 can be controlled by the intake amount of the air at the air intake port 7b. In addition, the size (diameter) of the bubbles 8 can be controlled by the size of the diameter of the air intake port 7b (and the intake amount of the air at the air intake port 7b). In addition, the arrival depth of the bubbles 8 released from the discharge unit 7d can be controlled by the amount of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 taken into the air supply unit 7. Based on these, in the present embodiment, the supply amount of the air 3a from the air supply unit 7 to the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 is set to about 0.1 m 3 / h, the size (diameter) of the bubbles 8 generated at the solution intake port 7a is set to about 1 mm to 2 mm, and the amount of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 taken into the air supply unit 7 is set to 5 L / min.

[0074] The bubbles 8 are the air 3a inhaled from the single room space 1 by the air supply unit 7 (air intake port 7b) and refined into a bubble state, and become a state in which the air is sealed by the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. The bubbles 8 released from the air supply unit 7 float while taking in the hypochlorous acid (and moisture) contained in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 into the internal air. After that, the bubbles 8 break and disappear when they float to the liquid surface 6a of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. And, the air in the bubbles 8 is mixed with the air in the internal space 11 together with the hypochlorous acid (and moisture) contained in the air. After that, the air (air containing hypochlorous acid) in the internal space 11 is supplied from the air release unit 9 to the mixing unit 21 as the air 3c.

[0075] The air release section 9 is a member that allows the storage section 5 to communicate with the air passage section 17, and is provided between the upper surface of the storage section 5 and the lower surface of the air passage section 17. The air release section 9 includes a separator 10. The air release section 9 guides the air containing hypochlorous acid (the air in the internal space 11) introduced from the opening (not shown) of the storage section 5 from the supply port (not shown) of the air release section 9 through the separator 10 to the mixing section 21 of the air passage section 17 as air 3c.

[0076] The separator 10 is a porous member for removing water droplets and the like generated by the bursting of bubbles 8 at the liquid surface 6a in the storage section 5. The separator 10 is provided inside the air release section 9 in a manner covering the entire surface of the liquid surface 6a of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 in the storage section 5. The separator 10 circulates the air 3c containing the hypochlorous acid gas, but removes water droplets and the like. Thus, it is possible to prevent water droplets from scattering toward the air passage section 17, and as a result, it is possible to prevent water droplets from being sprayed from the space purification device 2 to the single room 1.

[0077] The air supply unit holder 12 is a flat plate-shaped member that fixes the air supply unit 7 in the storage unit 5. The air supply unit holder 12 fixes the air supply unit 7 below the separator 10 in a suspended manner.

[0078] The electrolysis unit 27 is a member for electrolyzing the electrolyte 28 contained in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6, and is configured to have a pair of plate-shaped electrodes facing each other. The pair of plate-shaped electrodes is composed of an anode and a cathode as a pair. The electrolysis unit 27 is arranged in the first area 5a of the storage unit 5 in a state immersed in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. In the present embodiment, the electrolysis unit 27 is arranged adjacent to the solution intake port 7a in the front area of ​​the solution intake port 7a of the air supply unit 7. In more detail, the electrolysis unit 27 is arranged such that: in a state where the mutually opposed surfaces of the pair of plate-shaped electrodes are arranged vertically up and down, the mutually opposed surfaces of the pair of plate-shaped electrodes are along the solution intake direction, and the solution intake direction is along the central axis 13 of the solution intake port 7a. In other words, the electrolysis unit 27 is arranged such that: in a state where the mutually opposed surfaces of the pair of plate-shaped electrodes are arranged vertically up and down, the mutually opposed surfaces of the pair of plate-shaped electrodes are approximately parallel to the plane containing the central axis 13 of the solution intake port 7a. Here, the central axis 13 is an axis indicating the center of the cylindrical inlet of the solution inlet 7a.

[0079] It should be noted that when the electrolysis unit 27 is arranged adjacent to the solution intake port 7a in the front area of ​​the solution intake port 7a, it is preferable to set a predetermined interval (distance) between the electrolysis unit 27 and the solution intake port 7a so that the gas (hydrogen, oxygen) generated by electrolyzing the electrolyte 28 will not be sucked into the solution intake port 7a due to the water flow.

[0080] In the electrolysis unit 27, the electrolytic solution 28 is electrolyzed by passing an electric current between a pair of electrodes, thereby generating hypochlorous acid. As a result, the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 stored in the storage unit 5 is adjusted to a specified concentration. Here, the energization time of the electrolysis unit 27 is set, for example, to a time experimentally determined in advance based on the amount of chloride supplied to the storage unit 5.

[0081] The hypochlorous acid generated in the electrolysis unit 27 exists as high-concentration hypochlorous acid near the electrolysis unit 27. Thereafter, the high-concentration hypochlorous acid moves within the storage unit 5 to become uniform through diffusion based on the water flow 31 generated by the air supply unit 7 and diffusion based on the concentration difference. In the present embodiment, by arranging the electrolysis unit 27 along the solution suction direction of the solution suction port 7a, the high-concentration hypochlorous acid near the electrolysis unit 27 is taken in from the solution suction port 7a and brought into contact with the air 3a taken in from the outside, thereby increasing the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the bubbles 8.

[0082] In the present embodiment, the electrolysis unit 27 continuously electrolyzes the electrolytic solution 28 also when the air supply unit 7 mixes the air 3a with the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 to generate hypochlorous acid gas. As a result, the high-concentration hypochlorous acid generated by the electrolysis unit 27 can be efficiently taken in from the solution suction port 7a before diffusing due to the concentration difference, and thus the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the bubbles 8 can be increased.

[0083] Next, the water level sensors 16 (the full water sensor 16a and the water shortage sensor 16b) will be described.

[0084] The water level sensor 16 is a component that detects the water level of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 stored inside the storage unit 5. The water level sensor 16 has a full water sensor 16a and a water shortage sensor 16b. The water level sensors 16 are respectively provided at positions at a specified height inside the storage unit 5.

[0085] The full water sensor 16a detects the situation where the water level of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 stored in the storage unit 5 is in a full water state (full water level). On the other hand, the water shortage sensor 16b detects the situation where the water level of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 stored in the storage unit 5 is in a water shortage state (water shortage level). The water shortage sensor 16b is provided at a position higher than the solution suction port 7a of the air supply unit 7 to prevent air from flowing into the solution suction port 7a due to the lowering of the water level of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6, thereby generating abnormal noises or abnormalities in the air supply unit 7. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the water shortage level is set to a water level at which the capacity of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 at the full water level (the capacity at full water) of 2 L is reduced by 25% to 1.5 L.

[0086] As described above, the space purification device 2 is composed of various components.

[0087] Next, the reaction of electrolyzing the electrolytic solution 28 contained in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 in the electrolysis unit 27 to generate new hypochlorous acid will be described. In the electrolysis unit 27, when the electrolytic solution 28 is electrolyzed, the following three reactions mainly occur.

[0088] Anode: Cl - + H2O → H + + HClO + 2e - …… Equation (1)

[0089] 2H2O → O2 + 4H + + 4e - …… Equation (2)

[0090] Cathode: 2H + + 2e - → H 2 …… Equation (3)

[0091] The electrolysis unit 27 generates hypochlorous acid from the chloride ions contained in the electrolytic solution 28 by the reaction of Equation (1) at the anode, and then generates the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. In addition, by the reaction of Equation (2), oxygen and hydrogen ions are generated from water. On the other hand, the electrolysis unit 27 generates hydrogen from the hydrogen ions contained in the electrolytic solution 28 by the reaction of Equation (3) at the cathode. Here, in the reactions of Equation (1) and Equation (2) generated by the electrolysis of the electrolytic solution 28, the proportion of the reaction of Equation (1) (hereinafter, referred to as the hypochlorous acid production efficiency) depends on the concentration of the chloride ions contained in the left side of Equation (1). Specifically, the higher the concentration of the chloride ions, the higher the hypochlorous acid production efficiency. Therefore, in order to generate hypochlorous acid while maintaining the hypochlorous acid production efficiency, it is important to keep the concentration of the chloride ions constant. In the present embodiment, the precipitated electrolyte 29 supplies the chloride ions consumed from the electrolytic solution 28 due to the reaction of Equation (1) to the electrolytic solution 28. Specifically, it has the function of always keeping the chloride ions of the electrolytic solution 28 in a saturated state (about 4.4 mol / L in the case of sodium chloride and about 3.4 mol / L in the case of potassium chloride). Thereby, even when the amount of the electrolytic solution 28 that can be stored in the storage unit 5 due to miniaturization is small, the concentration of the chloride ions contained in the electrolytic solution 28 can be maintained constant, and thus the hypochlorous acid production efficiency can be maintained.

[0092] Next, with reference to Figure 2 the flow of each air (air 3, air 3a, air 3b, air 3c, bubble 8, and air 4) in the space purification device 2 will be described.

[0093] In the space purification device 2, when the air supply unit 22 operates, as the basic air flow, the air 3 in the single room space 1 is sucked into the interior (air duct unit 17) from the external gas suction unit 18, and the sucked air 3 circulates in the internal air duct 24 and is released as air 4 from the blowing unit 19 into the single room space 1.

[0094] On the other hand, when the motor unit 7e of the air supply unit 7 starts to operate, a part of the air 3 in the internal air duct 24 is separated into air 3a. That is, the air 3 is separated into a part of air 3a and the remaining air 3b. The separated air 3a is sucked from the air suction port 7b (the other end of the air suction port 7b) and is sent into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 sucked from the solution suction port 7a. The air 3a sent into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 is introduced into the bubble generation unit 7c together with the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 and is stirred and mixed in the bubble generation unit 7c. The air 3a in the bubble generation unit 7c is refined during the stirring and mixing with the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. And, the refined air 3a is sent out as bubbles 8 together with the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 from the discharge unit 7d into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 in the storage unit 5.

[0095] The bubbles 8 released from the discharge unit 7d are released toward the bottom 5d of the storage unit 5 located vertically below, and thus directly descend in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 in the direction of arrow F1. The descended bubbles 8 change the flow direction along the slope portion 25b of the lower partition plate 25 by virtue of the momentum of colliding with the slope portion 25b and flow in a substantially horizontal direction (arrow F2) along the bottom 5d of the storage unit 5. At this time, the descended bubbles 8 flow in the direction opposite to the third region 5c by means of the lower partition plate 25, and thus do not diffuse in the direction of the first region 5a where the solution suction port 7a is located.

[0096] And, the bubbles 8 flowing in a substantially horizontal direction float upward toward the liquid surface 6a under the influence of buoyancy as shown by arrow F3. The floated bubbles 8 burst when reaching the liquid surface 6a and are mixed with the air in the internal space 11 and move as air 3c toward the air release unit 9. As described above, the hypochlorous acid gas is contained in the air 3c.

[0097] The air 3c introduced into the air release unit 9 is led out to the mixing unit 21 of the air duct unit 17 through the separator 10.

[0098] The air 3c (the air 3c containing the hypochlorous acid gas) led out to the mixing unit 21 is mixed with the air 3b flowing in the internal air duct 24 and is released as the air 4 containing the hypochlorous acid gas from the blowing unit 19 into the single room space 1.

[0099] Further, the released air 4 (air 4 containing hypochlorous acid gas) diffuses into the single-room space 1. As a result, the single-room space 1 is sterilized using the air 4 containing hypochlorous acid gas.

[0100] Refer to Figure 2 The respective water flows (water flows 31, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, water flow h) of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 in the storage unit 5 will be described.

[0101] In the space purification device 2, when the motor unit 7e of the air supply unit 7 starts operating, the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 is sucked in from the solution suction port 7a as a flow of the basic aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6. The aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 sucked into the interior circulates within the air supply unit 7 and is released together with the bubbles 8 from the discharge unit 7d into the second region 5b, and forms a water flow 31 again toward the solution suction port 7a.

[0102] The water flow 31 is the flow of the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 that is sucked in from the solution suction port 7a, released from the discharge unit 7d, and then again toward the solution suction port 7a in the order of the water flows 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, water flow h.

[0103] After the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 inhaled from the solution suction port 7a is released from the discharge part 7d, it is released toward the bottom 5d of the storage part 5 located vertically below, and thus a water flow 31a is formed so as to descend directly along the direction of arrow F1. The water flow 31a changes the flow direction along the slope part 25b of the lower partition plate 25 by virtue of the momentum of colliding with the slope part 25b of the lower partition plate 25, and forms a water flow 31b in a substantially horizontal direction along the bottom 5d of the storage part 5 and circulates. After the water flow 31b circulates in the direction of arrow F2, it reaches the wall surface of the storage part 5 and forms a water flow 31c along the wall surface toward the liquid level direction and circulates. The water flow 31c forms a water flow 31d toward the upper opening part 25a by virtue of the force of the solution suction port 7a sucking the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 near the liquid level 6a and circulates. After that, the water flow 31d that has passed through the upper opening part 25a flows into the third area 5c by virtue of the force of the solution suction port 7a sucking the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6, and forms a water flow 31e from the liquid level 6a toward the bottom 5d. After the water flow 31e reaches the bottom of the third area 5c, it forms a water flow 31f toward the lower opening part 26a by virtue of the force of the solution suction port 7a sucking the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. The water flow 31f that has passed through the lower opening part 26a reaches the wall surface of the storage part 5 and forms a water flow 31g along the wall surface toward the liquid level direction. After that, the water flow 31g is sucked by the solution suction port 7a to form a water flow 31h. At this time, the water flow 31g passes through the electrolysis part 27 and its vicinity and is sucked into the solution suction port 7a as the water flow 31h. In the present embodiment, the water flow 31h contains highly concentrated hypochlorous acid continuously generated in the electrolysis part 27.

[0104] As described above, according to the space purification device 2 of Embodiment 1, the following effects can be obtained.

[0105] (1) The space purification device 2 includes: a storage part 5 that stores a hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6; an electrolysis part 27 that is immersed in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 and generates the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 by electrolysis; and an air supply part 7 that is immersed in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 and releases the air 3a taken in from the outside into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 as bubbles 8. The air supply part 7 has a solution suction port 7a, an air suction port 7b, and a discharge part 7d, and while mixing the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 taken into the inside from the storage part 5 via the solution suction port 7a with the air 3a taken in via the air suction port 7b, releases the bubbles 8 into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 stored in the storage part 5 via the discharge part 7d. And, the electrolysis part 27 is disposed adjacent to the solution suction port 7a in the front area of the solution suction port 7a.

[0106] According to such a structure, hypochlorous acid generated in the electrolysis unit 27 can be taken into the interior of the air supply unit 7 via the solution inlet 7a before diffusing into the aqueous solution in the storage unit 5. Thereby, during the process of mixing the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 and the air 3a inside the air supply unit 7, the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 with a higher concentration than the average hypochlorous acid concentration in the storage unit 5 can be brought into contact with the air. As a result, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in the air 3a taken into the interior of the air supply unit 7 can be increased, so that when the bubbles 8 reach the liquid surface 6a, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas released from the bubbles 8 can be increased. That is to say, the space purification device 2 can increase the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in the bubbles 8, and thus can supply a higher concentration of hypochlorous acid gas to the outside. All in all, for the space purification device 2 based on the foaming method, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in the bubbles can be increased.

[0107] (2) In the space purification device 2, the electrolysis unit 27 is configured to have a pair of plate-shaped electrodes facing each other, and the surfaces of the pair of plate-shaped electrodes facing each other are arranged along the solution suction direction, and this solution suction direction is along the central axis 13 of the solution inlet 7a. According to such a structure, it is possible to suppress the situation where the facing surfaces of the plate-shaped electrodes obstruct the flow of the aqueous solution in the suction direction of the solution inlet 7a, so that hypochlorous acid generated on the facing surfaces of the plate-shaped electrodes can be efficiently sucked from the solution inlet 7a. Thereby, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas contained in the air taken into the interior of the air supply unit 7 increases, so that the hypochlorous acid gas taken into the bubbles 8 further increases. As a result, when the bubbles 8 reach the liquid surface 6a, the concentration of hypochlorous acid gas released from the bubbles 8 can be further increased.

[0108] (3) In the space purification device 2, there are provided: a lower partition plate 25 provided so as to extend vertically upward from the bottom 5d of the storage unit 5 and having an upper opening 25a through which the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 can flow on the upper side of the storage unit 5; and an upper partition plate 26 located on the side of the electrolysis unit 27 relative to the lower partition plate 25 and provided so as to extend vertically downward from the upper part of the storage unit 5 and having a lower opening 26a through which the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 can flow on the bottom 5d side of the storage unit 5. The lower partition plate 25 and the upper partition plate 26 divide the storage unit 5 into: a first region 5a where the solution inlet 7a is arranged and the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 is taken in from the solution inlet 7a, a second region 5b where the discharge part 7d is arranged and the bubbles 8 released from the discharge part 7d flow through, and a third region 5c through which the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution 6 flows from the second region 5b toward the first region 5a via the upper opening 25a and the lower opening 26a.

[0109] According to such a structure, the bubbles 8 released from the discharge part 7d in the second region 5b float toward the liquid surface 6a due to buoyancy. Therefore, when the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 flows from the second region 5b into the first region 5a, the bubbles 8 can be removed from the water flow from the liquid surface 6a toward the bottom 5d in the third region 5c. Thus, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the hypochlorous acid generation efficiency caused by a reduction in the electrolysis area due to the attachment of the bubbles 8 to the electrolysis part 27 in the first region 5a. In addition, by removing the bubbles 8 from the water flow 31 in the third region 5c, it is possible to suppress the bubbles 8 from being sucked into the solution inlet 7a in the first region 5a. As a result, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 containing the bubbles 8 being taken in from the solution inlet 7a.

[0110] (4) In the space purification device 2, sodium chloride or potassium chloride (hereinafter referred to as electrolyte 29) precipitates in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 at the bottom 5d of the storage part 5 in the first region 5a and the third region 5c. The electrolysis part 27 electrolyzes in a state where the electrolyte 29 precipitates in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 to generate a new hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. According to such a structure, when the electrolyte 29 contained in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 is consumed due to the electrolysis of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6, the precipitated electrolyte 29 dissolves into the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 along the water flow from the lower opening part 26a toward the solution inlet 7a. Thus, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the concentration of the electrolyte 29 in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 during the electrolysis of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the hypochlorous acid generation efficiency accompanying the decrease in the concentration of the electrolyte 29.

[0111] (5) In the space purification device 2, a precipitate filter 30 is provided in the first region 5a and the third region 5c. The precipitate filter 30 suppresses the situation where the precipitate of sodium chloride or potassium chloride (hereinafter referred to as electrolyte 29) floats from the solute region 6b where the electrolyte 29 precipitates to the solution region 6c where the electrolysis part 27 is provided. According to such a structure, it is possible to suppress the situation where the solid matter of the precipitated electrolyte 29 floats in the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 due to the water flow and reaches the electrolysis part 27. Thus, during the electrolysis of the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 by the electrolysis part 27, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the hypochlorous acid generation efficiency due to the accumulation of the solid matter of the electrolyte 29 on the electrolysis part 27. In addition, by providing the precipitate filter 30 that suppresses the floating of the precipitate of the electrolyte 29, it is possible to suppress the situation where the solid matter of the electrolyte 29 is sucked into the solution inlet 7a. As a result, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution 6 containing the solid matter of the electrolyte 29 being taken in from the solution inlet 7a.

[0112] As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, but the present invention is in no way limited to the above embodiments, and it can be easily inferred that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0113] Industrial applicability

[0114] In the space purification device of the present disclosure, a higher concentration of hypochlorous acid gas can be supplied to the target space, and thus it is useful as a device for sterilizing a single room space or the like.

[0115] Explanation of reference numerals

[0116] 1: Single room space; 2: Space purification device; 3: Air; 3a: Air; 3b: Air; 3c: Air; 4: Air; 5: Storage unit; 5a: First region; 5b: Second region; 5c: Third region; 5d: Bottom; 6: Aqueous hypochlorous acid solution; 6a: Liquid level; 6b: Solute region; 6c: Solution region; 7: Air supply unit; 7a: Solution suction port; 7b: Air suction port; 7c: Bubble generation unit; 7d: Discharge unit; 7e: Motor unit; 8: Bubbles; 9: Air release unit; 10: Separator; 11: Internal space; 12: Air supply unit holding unit; 13: Central axis; 16: Water level sensor; 16a: Full water sensor; 16b: Water shortage sensor; 17: Air passage unit; 18: External gas suction unit; 19: Blowing unit; 19a: Air outlet; 19b: Air outlet direction cover; 21: Mixing unit; 22: Air supply unit; 23: Filter unit; 24: Internal air passage; 25: Lower partition plate; 25a: Upper opening; 25b: Slope portion; 26: Upper partition plate; 26a: Lower opening; 27: Electrolysis unit; 28: Electrolyte solution; 29: Electrolyte; 30: Precipitate filter; 31: Water flow; 31a: Water flow; 31b: Water flow; 31c: Water flow; 31d: Water flow; 31e: Water flow; 31f: Water flow; 31g: Water flow; 31h: Water flow.

Claims

1. A space purification device, comprising: A storage unit that stores an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution; An electrolysis unit that is immersed in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution and generates the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution by electrolysis; and An air supply unit that is immersed in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution and releases the air taken in from the outside as bubbles into the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution, The air supply unit has a solution suction port, an air suction port, and a discharge unit. The air supply unit mixes the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution taken into the inside from the storage unit via the solution suction port with the air taken in from the outside via the air suction port, and releases the bubbles into the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution stored in the storage unit via the discharge unit. The electrolysis unit is disposed adjacent to the solution suction port in the front region of the solution suction port.

2. The space purification device according to claim 1, wherein The electrolysis unit is configured to have a pair of plate-shaped electrodes facing each other. The surfaces of the pair of plate-shaped electrodes facing each other are arranged along the solution suction direction, and the solution suction direction is along the central axis of the solution suction port.

3. The space purification device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The space purification device comprises: A lower partition plate that is provided so as to extend upward in the vertical direction from the bottom of the storage unit, and has an upper opening portion through which the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution can flow on the upper side of the storage unit; And An upper partition plate that is located on the side of the electrolysis unit relative to the lower partition plate, and is provided so as to extend downward in the vertical direction from the upper part of the storage unit, and has a lower opening portion through which the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution can flow on the bottom side of the storage unit. The lower partition plate and the upper partition plate divide the storage unit into: a first region where the solution suction port is disposed and the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution is taken in from the solution suction port, a second region where the discharge unit is disposed and the bubbles released from the discharge unit flow, and a third region where the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution flows from the second region toward the first region via the upper opening portion and the lower opening portion.

4. The space purification device according to claim 3, wherein At the bottom of the storage unit in the first region and the third region, sodium chloride or potassium chloride is precipitated in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution. The electrolysis unit electrolyzes in a state where the sodium chloride or the potassium chloride is precipitated in the aqueous hypochlorous acid solution to generate a new aqueous hypochlorous acid solution.

5. The space purification device according to claim 4, wherein Precipitate filters are provided in the first region and the third region, and the precipitate filters suppress the case where the precipitates of sodium chloride or potassium chloride float from the solute region where the sodium chloride or the potassium chloride precipitates to the solution region where the electrolysis unit is provided.

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