Sterilization and deodorization system

Abstract

To provide a sterilization and deodorization system to overcome a problem of bacteria and viruses breeding inside the air conditioning systems installed in buildings such that some air conditioning units, such as package air conditioners, may have sterilization functions, but these functions are part of the operation of the air conditioning unit and assume that the unit is in use, in addition, inexpensive air conditioning units and whole-house air conditioning systems do not have sterilization functions, leading to issues such as the release of bacteria and viruses bred inside the air conditioning units into the indoor environment and difficulties in cleaning and washing the interior of the air conditioning units.SOLUTION: By installing a separate sterilization and deodorization device near the air conditioning unit's air intake, it is possible to achieve simultaneous indoor sterilization and deodorization as well as sterilization and deodorization within the air conditioning unit. It is advisable to use sterilization and deodorization devices that generate and utilize ozone or ions, considering their space sterilization capabilities, maintenance frequency, and operating costs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to sterilization and deodorization of the inside of an air conditioning system and an indoor space. [Background technology]

[0002] Various devices have been put to practical use for the purpose of sterilization and deodorization. There are a wide variety of methods, including those that directly irradiate ultraviolet rays and those that generate ozone or ions. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, sterilization and deodorization devices that use ozone, ions, hypochlorous acid, etc. are becoming more common in ordinary households. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Many buildings are equipped with air conditioning equipment for cooling, heating, dehumidification, and ventilation. Air conditioning equipment has an intake port, an exhaust port, and a blower to circulate air, and heat exchange and ventilation take place inside the air passage that connects the intake port and exhaust port. In some cases, a filter is installed inside the air passage to remove dust and dirt from the air, but this creates the problem of viruses and bacteria propagating in the air passage and the filter. In particular, during cooling operation in the summer, the humidity inside the air passage increases and condensation is likely to occur, accelerating the propagation of viruses and bacteria, and there is a problem of the resulting odor being released into the room.

[0004] Various methods of sterilization are used for room-based air conditioning equipment such as packaged air conditioners. Products with deodorizing functions are commercially available. However, these functions are linked to the operation of air conditioning equipment, and the scope of effect is limited to the inside of the air conditioning equipment. If the air conditioning equipment does not have a sterilizing and deodorizing function, it is possible to sterilize and deodorize the equipment by individually cleaning or washing it, but the air conditioning equipment does not have a sterilizing and deodorizing function inside the room. They are often installed at high altitudes and cannot be easily cleaned or washed.

[0005] Regardless of whether the air conditioning equipment has a sterilization and deodorization function or not, a sterilization and deodorization device must be installed separately to sterilize and deodorize the indoor space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] We propose a sterilization and deodorization system in which a sterilization and deodorization device such as an ozone generator or an ion generator is installed near the air intake of an air conditioning system, and some of the ozone and ions generated by the sterilization and deodorization device are taken into the air conditioning system through the air intake of the air conditioning system to sterilize and deodorize the inside of the air conditioner, and also sterilize and deodorize the indoor space using the ozone and ions that do not contribute to the sterilization and deodorization of the air conditioning system. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily realize sterilization and deodorization of both the inside of an air conditioning system and the indoor space by using a sterilization and deodorization device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sterilization and deodorization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] Evaluation results in one embodiment of the present invention [Diagram 3] Evaluation results in one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 4] Evaluation results in one embodiment of the present invention [Diagram 5] Evaluation results in one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ozone generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ozone generator according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] Ozone generation and UV path diagram in one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 9] Conditions for evaluating ozone performance in one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 10] Conditions for evaluating ozone performance in one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 11] Conditions for evaluating ozone performance in one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 12]Ozone performance evaluation results in one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 13] The relationship between the amount of UV exposure and the duration of exposure that is generally considered to have no effect on the human body DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an indoor sterilization and deodorization system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] In this embodiment, an ozone generator is used as the sterilization and deodorization device 1, and a wall-mounted package air conditioner is used as the air conditioner 2, and the package air conditioner has an air intake 3 on the top and sides and an exhaust vent 4 on the bottom. Ozone is widely used for sterilization and deodorization purposes, and although most ozone generators are usually placed on the floor or on a table, and used in relatively low places indoors, in order to efficiently sterilize the inside of the air conditioner 2, it is desirable to install the ozone generator on the ceiling or wall near the air intake 3 of the air conditioner 2, and in this embodiment, the ozone generator is installed on the ceiling.

[0012] The operating modes of the air conditioner 2 include stop, fan, cooling, heating, and dehumidification. The basic principle is the same during dehumidification and cooling operations, in which the temperature of the air taken into the air conditioner 2 is lowered and the moisture in the air is removed before it is released to the outside. For this reason, the installation distance between the air conditioner 2 and the sterilization and deodorization device 1 was changed during fan operation, cooling operation, and heating operation, and the ozone concentration was measured in the indoor space 5, the air intake vent 3 and exhaust vent 4 of the air conditioner 2, and near the sterilization and deodorization device 1, and only the indoor ozone concentration was measured when the air conditioner 2 was stopped. The measurement results are shown in Figures 2 to 5.

[0013] From these results, when the air conditioner 2 was stopped, the average ozone concentration in the indoor space 5 was about 0.05 ppm, regardless of the installation distance between the air conditioner 2 and the sterilization and deodorization device 1. Since it is said that the lower ozone concentrations do not have a harmful effect on the human body, it is believed that the ozone concentration in this embodiment is capable of sterilizing air.

[0014] The average ozone concentration in the indoor space 5 when the air conditioner 1 is blowing air and heating is higher as the distance between the air conditioner 2 and the sterilization and deodorization device 1 is shorter. As the distance increased, the concentration approached the concentration when the unit was stopped. This is because, compared to the ozone concentration near the intake vent 3 and exhaust vent 4 of the air conditioner 2 and the ozone concentration near the sterilization and deodorization device 1, the shorter the distance between the air conditioner 2 and the sterilization and deodorization device 1, the greater the influence of convection caused by the air conditioner 2, and more ozone is taken into the air conditioner 2, and the ozone concentration near the sterilization and deodorization device 1 decreases, causing a relative increase in oxygen, resulting in an increase in the amount of ozone generated by the sterilization and deodorization device 1, and the amount of ozone consumed inside the air conditioner 2 is small.

[0015] When the air conditioner 2 is in cooling operation, the average ozone concentration in the indoor space 5 drops significantly. This is because there is a large difference in ozone concentration near the air intake vent 3 and exhaust vent 4 of the air conditioner 2 compared to when it is in fan or heating operation, and because the shorter the distance between the air conditioner 2 and the sterilization and deodorization device 1, the lower the indoor average concentration becomes, so ozone is consumed inside the air conditioner 2.

[0016] From the results of this example, it is expected that the average ozone concentration in the indoor space 5 will be below 0.025 ppm if the distance between the air conditioner 2 and the sterilization and deodorization device 1 during cooling operation is less than 0.5 m, and the ozone concentration near the exhaust port 4 of the air conditioner 1 will be below 0.025 ppm if the distance is 2.0 m. Therefore, by installing the air conditioner 2 and the sterilization and deodorization device 1 at a distance of 0.5 m to 1.5 m, the sterilization and deodorization device 1 will be able to sterilize the inside of the air conditioner 2 and the indoor space. It becomes possible to achieve both sterilization and deodorization of space 5.

[0017] FIG. 6 shows an example of an ozone generator used in this embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ozone generator 101 shown in FIG.

[0018] The ultraviolet light 107 generated by the ultraviolet light source 103 has a wavelength that generates ozone, and the ultraviolet light source 103 is composed of an ultraviolet light lamp 131 and a lamp case 132, and the lamp case 132 has an ultraviolet light irradiation port 133. It is preferable that the ultraviolet light lamp 131 for generating ozone has both wavelengths of 185 nm and 253.7 nm or only a wavelength of 185 nm.

[0019] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing ozone generation and ultraviolet ray paths in the ozone generator 101 shown in Fig. 6. The ozone passage 104 is a space connecting two circulation ports 106, and has an ultraviolet ray attenuation plate 105 installed therein. It is separated from the ultraviolet ray generation source 103 by an ultraviolet ray lamp case 132. Ultraviolet rays 107 generated by the ultraviolet ray lamp 131 are irradiated into the ozone passage 104 through an ultraviolet ray irradiation port 133 installed in the ultraviolet ray lamp case 132, and ozone 109 is generated from oxygen 108 present in the ozone passage 104. The generated ozone is discharged from the circulation port 106 to the outside of the ozone generator 101, and oxygen 108 is newly supplied from the circulation port 106 to the inside of the ozone passage 104 of the ozone generator 101. The ozone 109 and oxygen 108 are circulated to continuously sterilize and deodorize the indoor space.

[0020] In this configuration, when used in a closed room, the ozone generator 101 does not have a stirrer, so the diffusion speed of the discharged ozone is slow. Therefore, the ozone concentration becomes high near the ozone generator 101, and the oxygen concentration decreases, so the amount of oxygen supplied to the ozone generator 101 decreases, and the ozone generated This has the effect of reducing the amount of ozone generated. As a result, the amount of ozone generated is limited according to the diffusion speed of ozone. By eliminating the stirring device, the amount of ozone generated can be expected to be automatically adjusted. Also, since there is no stirring device, the diffusion of ozone is controlled by the room temperature. The sterilization and deodorization device 1 of the indoor sterilization and deodorization system of the present invention depends on the convection current in the room. When used as such, it becomes possible to efficiently introduce ozone into the intake port 3 of the air conditioner 2 by the convection generated by the air conditioner 2.

[0021] Ozone Generator 101 at 45m 3 1 unit in the room, 90m 3 2 units on the ceiling of the room, 120m 3 Three units were installed in a room, and after 12 hours of continuous operation, the ozone concentration was measured at each measurement point shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11. The results shown in Figure 12 show that the ozone generator 1 in this embodiment can diffuse ozone 109 throughout the room. It can also be seen that rooms of various volumes can be accommodated by determining the number of ozone generators 101 according to the room volume. In this measurement, a gas sampler GV-100 manufactured by Gastec Corporation and an ozone detector tube of 18L were used.

[0022] The ultraviolet rays 107 irradiated from the ozone generator 101 into the room must be kept at a level that is not harmful to the human body. The impact on the human body is considered based on the safety standard values ​​established by the American Conference of Officials in Occupational Hygiene, and the relationship between the amount of ultraviolet exposure and the exposure time is shown in Figure 13. When the ultraviolet irradiation slit 134 and the ultraviolet attenuation plate 105 in Figures 6, 7, and 8 are not present, the ultraviolet intensity at the circulation port 106 is 1.6 μW / cm. 2 It is judged that 30 minutes of use will have an effect on the human body. In order to efficiently suppress the intensity of ultraviolet light to a level that is harmless to the human body, an ultraviolet light irradiation slit 134 and an ultraviolet light attenuation plate 105 are required. It is preferable to use a black material to obtain a sufficient ultraviolet light attenuation rate, but since the material is continuously exposed to ozone 109 and ultraviolet light 107, care must be taken when selecting a material suitable for use. In this embodiment, aluminum material that has been subjected to black alumite treatment was used. As a result, the ultraviolet light attenuation plate 10 made of an aluminum plate that has been subjected to black alumite treatment When using 5, the UV intensity at the circulation port is 0.004μW / cm 2 This means that there is no effect on the human body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 1. Sterilization and deodorization equipment 2...Air conditioner 3. Air intake 4. Exhaust port 5...Indoor space 101 Ozone generator 102...Control device 103...UV Source 131...Ultraviolet lamp 132....Ultraviolet lamp case 133...Ultraviolet light outlet 134...UV irradiation slit 104 Ozone passage 105....UV attenuation plate 106...Circulation port 107...Ultraviolet rays 108 Oxygen 109 Ozone

Claims

1. This sterilization and deodorization system is characterized in that it has an air conditioning system and a sterilization and deodorization system that is independent of the air conditioning system, the air conditioning system having an air intake port and an exhaust port, and the sterilization and deodorization system is fixed to a ceiling or wall surface a predetermined distance away from the air intake port of the air conditioning system.

2. 2. The sterilization and deodorization system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is in the range of 0.5 m to 1.5 m.

3. 2. The sterilization and deodorization system according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization and deodorization device is an ozone generator having no power source for agitation.

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