Air purification device

Abstract

To provide an air purification device capable of inactivating harmful substances including viruses and bacteria existing in a space such as indoors and ensuring a safe environment.SOLUTION: An air purification device comprises a device main body 101, in which an air flow path is formed sequentially by an air introduction part 1, a microwave processing part 2, and an air discharge part 3; a water mist supply pipe 10 having one end opened immediately before the microwave processing part 2 between the air introduction part 1 and the microwave processing part (applicator) 2, and the other end opened to a water tank 9 provided with a heater 11; a microwave generator 8 disposed in the microwave processing part 2 through a waveguide 8a; and a control part 12 equipped with a monitor / operation part 13. Infectious structures or microorganisms adhering to the water mist supplied from the mist supply pipe 10 are inactivated in the microwave processing part 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to air conditioning technology, and more particularly to an air purifying device for inactivating infectious structures such as viruses and microorganisms such as bacteria present in the air to obtain a safe living environment. [Background technology]

[0002] As a means for removing harmful substances present in the environment, such as infectious structures like viruses, various pathogens like bacteria, and microorganisms, in addition to the use of disinfectants and germicides, methods using ions generated by streamer discharge (electrical streamer) and free radicals such as active oxygen are known (Patent Document 1). Also proposed is a method for destroying bacteria and viruses by the resonance absorption of high-energy electromagnetic waves (Patent Document 2).

[0003] Another method has been proposed in which electromagnetic waves (microwaves) are irradiated into the air in which pathogen-transmitting organisms (such as Anopheles mosquitoes and tsetse flies) are flying, thereby heating and destroying their proteins and rendering them harmless (Patent Document 3). Furthermore, there has been a report on the possibility of disrupting the structure of viruses using charged water particles (Non-Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-21319 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-245813 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-297008 [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] https:news.panasonic.com / jp / press / jn230222-1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The air purifier described in Patent Document 1 is configured to generate high-speed electrons through high-voltage discharge to destroy and remove the DNA and RNA of bacteria, viruses, etc. floating in the air. The electrode pair that generates the high-voltage discharge forms a discharge field that intersects with the air flow path, and when the airflow passes through this discharge area, bacteria, viruses, etc. contained in the air are destroyed.

[0007] Furthermore, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 involves irradiating bacteria or viruses with electromagnetic waves that are in tune with their natural vibrational frequency, causing them to resonantly absorb the waves, and destroying and inactivating the tissues of the bacteria or viruses by exceeding the resonant absorption capacity.

[0008] Patent Document 3 discloses a method and device for heating and killing Anopheles mosquitoes and Tetsetsebasis mosquitoes flying in the air by emitting electromagnetic waves (microwaves) of around 2 GHz to 10 GHz into the air at an output level that does not affect the human body.

[0009] The possibility of destroying the structure of viruses using electrocharged atomized water particles, as disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, is still in the research stage, and no specific air conditioning-related equipment has been developed at this point.

[0010] Furthermore, with regard to the novel coronavirus, which has recently become a social problem, frequent ventilation is considered one of the measures that can be taken to prevent infection indoors in buildings and on public transport vehicles (hereinafter referred to as indoors).However, at present, there are no clear established measures for frequent ventilation in cold seasons or in extremely hot environments from the perspectives of keeping out the cold, avoiding heatstroke, and saving energy.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide an air purifying device that destroys and reduces (hereinafter referred to as inactivates) harmful substances such as viruses and bacteria present in indoor spaces, thereby ensuring a safe environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following representative configurations. Note that, to clarify the present invention, each configuration is given the reference numeral used in the drawings of the embodiments described below, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations given these reference numerals.

[0013] The present invention provides an air purifying device 100 for inactivating microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria, which are infectious structures, to obtain safe air by preventing infection, and the device has the following configuration:

[0014] (1) The air purifying device 100 according to the present invention comprises a device body 101 having an air flow path (air path) formed by an air inlet section 1, a microwave processing section 2, and an air outlet section 3 in this order; a water mist supply pipe 10 having one end opening just before the microwave processing section 2 (also called an applicator) between the air inlet section 1 and the microwave processing section 2 and the other end opening toward a water tank 9 having a heater 11; a microwave generator 8 installed in the microwave processing section 2 via a waveguide 8a; and a control section 12 having a monitor / operation section 13, and is configured so that infectious structures / microorganisms attached to the water mist supplied from the mist supply pipe 10 are inactivated by the microwave processing section 2.

[0015] (2) Another air purifying device 100 according to the present invention is The device body 101 has an air introduction section 1, a mist chamber 14 that mixes impurities including infectious structures / microorganisms in the introduced air with water mist, a microwave processing section 2, and an air discharge section 3 in this order to form an air flow path, a water mist supply pipe 10 that has one end opening into the mist chamber 14 and the other end opening toward a water tank 9 having a heater 11, a microwave generator 8 installed in the microwave processing section 2 via a waveguide 8a, and a control section 12 equipped with a monitor / operation section 13, and is configured so that infectious structures / microorganisms attached to the water mist supplied from the mist supply pipe 10 are inactivated by the microwave processing section 2.

[0016] (3) As an example of the heater 11 provided in the water tank 9 in (1) and (2) above, a Joule heating heater (a heater using a resistance wire such as a nichrome wire) was used.

[0017] (4) As another example of the heater 11 provided in the water tank 9 in (1) and (2) above, an induction heater (such as an IH heater) is used. In this case, the induction heater is provided with a case or a top plate made of an iron-based metal that comes into contact with the water.

[0018] (5) Furthermore, as another means for supplying the water mist M to the mist supply pipe 10 in (1) and (2) above, an ultrasonic generator 21 supplied with water from a communication passage 9a communicating with the bottom of the water tank 9 is used.

[0019] (6) It is also possible to provide cooling fins 110a on the water mist supply pipe 10. These cooling fins 110a increase the probability that the average particle size of the water mist M passing through the water mist supply pipe 10 will grow to a size that corresponds to the ambient temperature, improving the efficiency with which non-treated materials are carried (adhered) to the water mist.

[0020] The microwave processing unit 2 is preferably barrel-shaped with a bulge in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the air flow, and at least at its air inlet a curved wall (convex wall surface) 2b is formed that is continuous with the bulge.

[0021] (8) The mist chamber 14 described in (2) above is also preferably barrel-shaped with a bulge in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the airflow, and has a curved wall 14a at least at its air inlet that is continuous with the bulge. This curved wall 14a also guides the incoming airflow along the inner wall of the mist chamber 14 by the Coanda effect, similar to the microwave processing unit 2 described above.

[0022] The microwave generator 8 may be an oscillation circuit using a magnetron tube, but since the microwaves used in the present invention are several watts to 10 watts, an oscillation circuit using a semiconductor element such as a Gunn diode, an IMPATT diode, or a GaAs MESFET is more suitable.

[0023] In addition, when the frequency used in the present invention is, for example, 2.4 GHz band, the microwave generator 8 has a wavelength of about 0.012 mm, so it is preferable to use a metal plate with many holes of about half the wavelength (diameter of 5 mm to 6 mm) as the shields 5 and 6. The shield 7 may be omitted, but in order to confine the water mist M within the mist chamber 14, a metal or non-metal plate having holes with a larger diameter than the shields 5 and 6 may be used. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the air purifying device of the present invention, the microwave processing unit (applicator) 2 irradiates microwaves onto the substances to be treated (viruses, bacteria, other microorganisms, etc.) that are introduced on (adhering to) the water mist M, and in cooperation with the explosively generated high heat of the water mist, the substances to be treated can be instantly destroyed and inactivated, thereby obtaining harmless air. In particular, viruses, due to their small size, are uncertain as targets for microwaves inside the microwave processing unit 2, but by clustering them on the water mist, they can be made into targets that reliably absorb the irradiation dose, and the inactivation effect can be improved significantly.

[0025] For reference, examples of sizes of materials to be treated are as follows: Viruses are about 0.1 μm (or less) in size, bacteria are on the order of 1 μm or more, cedar and cypress pollen is about 30 to 40 μm, and yellow sand is about 4 μm (or less). In contrast, water mist M, which is visualized as tiny droplets of transparent water vapor, is generally about 10 to 20 μm (some are quite large; the end point of growing into droplets), and water mist M generated by ultrasound also grows from a few μm depending on the environmental conditions and turns into droplets.

[0026] In this way, while the substances to be treated are mixed with the water mist M, they adhere to the water mist M and form clusters that easily absorb microwave energy. In the present invention, these clustered substances are exposed to microwaves to effectively inactivate them. When exposed to microwaves, the cell membranes of bacteria are destroyed, and the capsids that form the shells surrounding viruses are destroyed.

[0027] The curved wall 2b of the barrel-shaped microwave processing unit 2 guides the air flow flowing into the microwave processing unit 2 along the inner wall of the microwave processing unit 2 by the Coanda effect, thereby effectively dispersing the substance to be processed carried on the water mist M present in the air within the internal volume of the microwave processing unit 2. As a result, the efficiency of the inactivation treatment of the substance to be treated by the instantaneous high heat caused by the microwave irradiation is improved.

[0028] The mist chamber 14 is also barrel-shaped like the microwave processing unit 2, and has a curved wall 14a at its air inlet that is connected to the internal bulge, so that the incoming airflow is introduced by the Coanda effect along the inner wall of the mist chamber 14. This allows the water mist M from the mist supply pipe 10 to efficiently carry the substances to be treated, further improving the efficiency of the inactivation treatment of non-treated substances by microwaves in the microwave processing unit 2.

[0029] The microwave processing unit 2 and the mist chamber 14 are not limited to the barrel shape described above, and shapes such as cylindrical or rectangular are also within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention as long as they can effectively cluster the water mist M and the material to be treated to enhance the microwave irradiation effect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an air purifying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a second embodiment of an air purifying device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] An enlarged schematic diagram illustrating an example of a mist supply pipe connecting the water tank and the device body in Figures 1 and 2. [Figure 4] 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating another example of the mist supply pipe connecting the water tank and the device main body. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram illustrating another example of a water mist supply device applied to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an air purifying device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Example]

[0032] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a first embodiment of an air purifying device according to the present invention. The air purifying device 100 is composed of a device main body 101 and attached devices / equipment. The device body 101 constitutes a communication path between the air inlet section 1, the microwave processing section 2, and the air outlet section 3. Hereinafter, air will also be referred to as air, and the microwave processing section will also be referred to as an applicator.

[0033] The main accessories are a microwave generator 8, a water tank 9, and a control device 12. The microwave generator 8 has an oscillation circuit and supplies the oscillated microwaves to the inside of the applicator 2 via a waveguide 8a. A reflector 2a may be installed inside the applicator 2 to distribute the microwaves evenly throughout the internal space of the applicator 2. The microwave generator 8 uses a microwave transmission circuit composed of a Gunn diode.

[0034] The water tank 9 is equipped with a heater 11, which heats the water (hereinafter also referred to as water) filled in the water tank to generate steam, and the generated steam is passed through the mist supply pipe 10. As it passes through the mist supply pipe 10, the water vapor is cooled and turns into mist, which is then supplied to the air inlet 1 of the device main body 101. In this example, a resistive heater (a Joule heating heater, specifically a nichrome wire sheathed heater) is used as the heater 11. Reference numerals 5 and 6 denote microwave shields, and 9a denotes a water supply port. The microwave shields 5 and 6 are made of metal plates with pores of a size corresponding to the frequency. Also, by providing a cooling fin 10a on the mist supply pipe 10, the conversion of water vapor to mist and the expansion of the mist particle size can be promoted. can.

[0035] The control device 12 has a calculation / process execution circuit that stores a program for executing the operation of the device, and a drive power supply circuit, and controls the microwave generator 8, the fan 4 provided in the air introduction section 1, the heater 11, etc. The control device 12 is provided with an operation / monitor 13 that inputs various conditions related to the operation of the device and allows confirmation of input data and visual observation of the operating status of the device. The fan 4 may be installed on the air discharge part 3 side, or may be installed on both the air introduction part 1 and the air discharge part 3 side.

[0036] Temperature sensors ST (ST1...STn) and humidity sensors SH (SH1...SHn) are installed in locations required for monitoring the operating status of this device, such as the air inlet 1, applicator 2, air outlet 3, the space outside the device, and water tank 9. The data detected by these sensors is transferred to a control device 12, which controls the operation of the device under the specified conditions. Note that sensors such as the tank water level sensor are not shown in the illustration.

[0037] Furthermore, the curved wall 2b provided at the air inlet of the barrel-shaped microwave processing unit 2 guides the air flow entering the microwave processing unit 2 along the inner wall of the microwave processing unit 2 by the Coanda effect. This effectively disperses the substances to be processed carried on the water mist M present in the air within the internal volume of the microwave processing unit 2. As a result, the efficiency of the inactivation process of the substances to be processed is improved by instantaneous high-temperature heating due to microwave irradiation.

[0038] Air mixed with the substance to be treated, introduced from air inlet 1 as shown by the right arrow, is mixed with water mist supplied from mist supply pipe 10. During this mixing, the substance to be treated adheres to the mist and is introduced into the applicator 2 in the form of clusters. At this time, the curved wall 2b provided at the entrance of applicator 2 causes the air to be introduced along the barrel-shaped inner wall, and as a result, the substance to be treated contained in the air is evenly filled within the internal volume of applicator 2.

[0039] This air is irradiated with microwaves output from waveguide 10a. The microwaves are diffused by metal reflector 2a and irradiate the air filled in barrel-shaped applicator 2 (exposing the air to microwaves). As a result, the substances to be treated present in the air are inactivated, and the air is discharged to the outside from air discharge part 3 as clean air.

[0040] In this embodiment, the substances to be treated become clusters of substances to be treated as they adhere to the water mist M while they are mixed with the water mist M. In particular, bacteria and viruses are effectively inactivated by being exposed to microwaves, with the cell membranes of bacteria being destroyed and the capsids, which are the shells surrounding the viruses, being destroyed. Microscopic particles such as pollen (as well as virus-carrying organisms such as mosquitoes and flies) are destroyed by the high heat, and clean air is released. [Example]

[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a second embodiment of the air purifying device according to the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that a mist chamber 14 is provided between the air introduction section 1 and the applicator 2. In Figure 2, a mist chamber 14 is provided between the air introduction part 1 and the applicator 2, and the other end of a mist supply pipe 10 extending from a water tank 9 is opened to supply mist M into the inside. At the entrance on the air introduction side of the mist chamber 14, a curved wall 14a similar to the curved wall 2a of the applicator 2 is formed, and the introduced air and mist are mixed in the barrel-shaped internal space due to the same Coanda effect and introduced into the applicator 2.

[0042] The devices attached to the device main body 101 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and except for the function of the mist chamber 14, they are the same as those in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the substances to be treated also adhere to the water mist M and form clusters of substances to be treated as they move together with the water mist M. In particular, bacteria and viruses are effectively inactivated by being exposed to microwaves, with the cell membranes of bacteria being destroyed and the capsids, which are the shells surrounding viruses, being destroyed. Microscopic particles such as pollen (as well as virus-carrying organisms such as mosquitoes and flies) are destroyed by the high heat, and clean air is released.

[0043] Figure 3 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating an example of a mist supply pipe connecting the water tank and the device main body in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 3 shows how transparent water vapor V generated in a water tank 9 filled with water W turns into visible mist on its way to the device main body 101. The mist supply pipe 10 is provided with cooling fins (heat dissipation fins) 10a, which remove heat from the water vapor rising inside the pipe, atomize it, and supply it to the device main body as water mist M.

[0044] Figure 4 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating another example of the mist supply pipe connecting the water tank and the device main body in Figures 1 and 2. Like Figure 3, Figure 4 also shows the state in which transparent water vapor V generated in water tank 9 filled with water W becomes visible mist M on its way to device main body 101. An axially protruding baffle plate 10b is provided inside the mist supply pipe 10, which lengthens the rising time (path) of the water vapor, thereby removing heat from the water vapor rising inside the pipe, turning it into particles, and supplying it to the device body as water mist M.

[0045] 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a water mist supply device that can be used in the present invention. This water mist supply device uses ultrasonic waves to directly turn water into mist. Water W from a water tank 20 installed in a water tank 9 is guided through a water channel 9b to an ultrasonic vibrator 21, which then generates ultrasonic waves that turn the water into water mist M. The generated water mist M is supplied to the device body through a mist supply pipe 10. [Industrial Applicability]

[0046] The air purifying device according to the present invention described above can be incorporated into so-called air conditioners, and can be used as an air purifying means in living spaces in ordinary homes or for purifying the indoor air of vehicles, regardless of whether it is small or large, including offices, school classrooms, living rooms in homes, medical institutions, closed spaces such as event venues, karaoke rooms, restaurants, and other entertainment facilities, the interiors of public transportation such as trains and buses, and schools. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1. Air intake section 2. Microwave processing section (applicator) 3. Air exhaust section 4. Fan 5, 6... Microwave shield 8. Microwave generator 9. Aquarium 10. Water mist supply pipe 11. Heater 12. Control device 13 Control Panel / Monitor 14. Mist chamber

Claims

1. 1. An air purification device for inactivating infectious structures / microorganisms present in the air, comprising: an apparatus body having an air flow path formed therein, in this order, an air inlet section, a microwave processing section, and an air outlet section; a water mist supply pipe having one end opened just before the microwave treatment section between the air introduction section and the microwave treatment section and the other end opened toward a water tank having a heater; a microwave generator installed in the microwave processing unit via a waveguide; A control unit having a monitor / operation unit, An air purifying device characterized in that infectious structures / microorganisms attached to the water mist supplied from the mist supply pipe are inactivated by the microwave processing section.

2. 1. An air purification device for inactivating infectious structures / microorganisms present in indoor air, comprising: an apparatus body having an air inlet section, a mist chamber for mixing impurities including infectious structures / microorganisms in the introduced air with water mist, a microwave processing section, and an air outlet section in this order, forming an air flow path; a water mist supply pipe having one end opening into the mist chamber and the other end opening into a water tank having a heater; a microwave generator installed in the microwave processing unit via a waveguide; A control unit having a monitor / operation unit, An air purifying device characterized in that infectious structures / microorganisms attached to the water mist supplied from the mist supply pipe are inactivated by the microwave processing section.

3. 3. The air purifying device according to claim 1, wherein the heater for the water tank is a Joule heating heater.

4. 3. The air purifying device according to claim 1, wherein the heater for the water tank is an induction heater.

5. 3. The air purifying device according to claim 1, wherein the means for supplying water mist to the mist supply pipe is an ultrasonic generator supplied with water from a communication passage communicating with the bottom of the water tank.

6. 3. The air purifying device according to claim 1, wherein the mist supply pipe is provided with a cooling fin.

7. 2. The air purifying device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator is barrel-shaped and has a bulge in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the air flow, and at least an air inlet has a curved wall that is connected to the bulge.

8. 3. The air purifying device according to claim 2, wherein the mist chamber is barrel-shaped with a bulge in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the air flow, and has a curved wall at least at its air inlet that is connected to the bulge.

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