Method of cleaning air conditioner

Abstract

To provide a method of cleaning an air conditioner capable of sufficiently recovering a cooling / heating function while securing high cleaning effect of an air conditioner fin.SOLUTION: A method of cleaning an air conditioner includes a decomposition step (step S1), a chemical application step (step S3), and a cleaning step (step S4). The decomposition step (step S1) is a step of exposing an air conditioner fin. The chemical application step (step S3) is a step of applying cleaning chemical to the exposed air conditioner fin and leaving the air conditioner fin to stand for predetermined time. The cleaning step (step S4) is a step of washing away the cleaning chemical applied to the fin in the chemical application step (step S3). In the method of cleaning the air conditioner, the chemical applying step (step S3) and the cleaning step (step S4) are executed a predetermined number of times (three times).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for cleaning an air conditioner, and more particularly to a method for cleaning air conditioner fins provided inside the air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a method for cleaning an air conditioner has been proposed for cleaning aluminum fins of a ceiling-mounted commercial air conditioner by spraying a chemical solution with a high-pressure washer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1, Figure 18, shows a cleaning process in which cleaning solution is sprayed from a tip nozzle (20) and impinged on an area to be cleaned, thereby cleaning the area. Patent Document 1, Figure 19, shows a draining process in which used cleaning solution (27) produced in the cleaning process is discharged through drainage hole (6) into a waste liquid bag (28) connected to the outside of bag portion (4).

[0003] The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 employs a method of cleaning the area to be cleaned (aluminum fins, etc.) by spraying a cleaning liquid (27). On the other hand, a cleaning method is also known in which a chemical agent is applied to the entire fin and then washed away with fresh water (hereinafter also referred to as "two-stage cleaning"). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7062844 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The inventors of the present application have verified the cleaning effect of the fins and the recovery effect of the heating and cooling functions of the above-mentioned two-stage cleaning. As a result, although the cleaning effect of the fins was confirmed to a certain extent, no significant difference was found in the heating and cooling functions before and after cleaning.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for cleaning an air conditioner that can sufficiently restore the cooling and heating functions while ensuring a high cleaning effect on the air conditioner fins. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for cleaning an air conditioner, comprising a disassembly step for exposing the air conditioner fins, a chemical application step for applying a cleaning chemical to the exposed air conditioner fins and leaving them for a predetermined period of time, and a cleaning step for rinsing off the cleaning chemical that has been applied to the air conditioner fins, wherein the chemical application step and the cleaning step are performed in this order a predetermined number of times.

[0008] Here, it is preferable to further provide a steam injection process between the chemical application process and the cleaning process, in which steam is injected onto the air conditioning fins to which the cleaning chemical has been applied, and to perform the chemical application process, the steam injection process, and the cleaning process in this order the predetermined number of times.

[0009] It is also preferable that the method further comprises a drying step of drying the air conditioning fins after the cleaning step, which is executed last among the predetermined number of times, is completed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the system includes a disassembly process for exposing the air conditioning fins, a chemical application process for applying a cleaning agent to the exposed air conditioning fins and leaving them for a predetermined period of time, and a cleaning process for rinsing off the cleaning agent applied to the air conditioning fins. The chemical application process and the cleaning process are then performed in this order a predetermined number of times. This allows the cooling / heating function to be fully restored while ensuring a high cleaning effect on the air conditioning fins.

[0011] Incidentally, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not disclose at all any specific configuration for fully restoring the cooling and heating functions while ensuring a high cleaning effect on the air conditioner fins, as in the air conditioner cleaning method of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 3 is a flowchart showing the steps of a method for cleaning an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state in which covers are attached to the central motor and cable. [Figure 3] A diagram showing the entire air conditioner in a disassembled state with the cover attached. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the application of cleaning chemicals to air conditioner fins. [Figure 5] A diagram showing how cleaning chemicals applied to air conditioner fins are washed away with clean water. [Figure 6] A diagram showing how air conditioner fins are dried with a blower. [Figure 7] A table summarizing the results of recovering the cooling and heating functions of a wall-mounted residential air conditioner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] <1. Embodiment> An air conditioner cleaning method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. As an example of the air conditioner cleaning method according to the present invention, a cleaning method for cleaning a ceiling-mounted commercial air conditioner will be described below.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the air conditioner cleaning method mainly consists of five steps, including a disassembly step (S1), a cover installation step (S2), a chemical application step (S3), a cleaning step (S4), and a drying step (S5).

[0015] The disassembly step (S1) is a step for exposing the air conditioner fins (heat exchanger) to be cleaned. Specifically, each part, such as the filter panel, four corner panels, panel plate, base, drain pan, and fan (not shown), is sequentially removed to expose the air conditioner fins AF to be cleaned.

[0016] Prior to the disassembly step (S1), protective sheets are placed over the floor, walls, and immovable objects installed around the air conditioner to prevent the cleaning chemicals from scattering and adhering to them.

[0017] The cover attachment step (S2) is a step in which covers are attached to each part to prevent the cleaning chemicals from adhering. When each part is removed in the disassembly step (S1) described above, the motor and various wiring located approximately in the center are also exposed. Therefore, as shown in Figure 2, covers CV are attached to the motor and various wiring. In addition, as shown in Figure 3, a cover CV is attached to the entire air conditioner, including the air conditioner fins AF.

[0018] The chemical application step (S3) is a step of applying a cleaning agent to the air conditioning fins AF exposed in the disassembly step (S1) and leaving it for a predetermined time. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a nozzle NZ is inserted through a gap in the cover CV (see FIG. 3) that covers the entire air conditioner, and the cleaning agent is sprayed from the tip of the nozzle NZ toward the air conditioning fins AF to apply it. Note that by spraying the cleaning agent while gradually moving the nozzle NZ, the cleaning agent is applied to the entire air conditioning fins AF. Once the cleaning agent has been applied to the air conditioning fins AF, it is left for a predetermined time (10 minutes in this embodiment).

[0019] The cleaning step (S4) is a step of washing away the cleaning agent applied to the air conditioning fins AF in the agent application step (S3). Specifically, 10 minutes after the cleaning agent is applied to the air conditioning fins AF, fresh water is sprayed onto the air conditioning fins AF to wash away the cleaning agent, as shown in Figure 5.

[0020] Thereafter, the agent application step (S3) and the cleaning step (S4) are performed two more times. That is, in this embodiment, the agent application step (S3) and the cleaning step (S4) are performed a total of three times.

[0021] The drying step (S5) is a step for drying the air conditioner fins AF after the final (third) cleaning step (S4) is completed. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, a blower is inserted through the gap in the cover CV that covers the entire air conditioner, and air from the blower is blown onto the air conditioner fins AF to dry them.

[0022] After this, the cover CV attached in the cover attachment process (S2) is removed, and the moisture on the air conditioner fins AF is wiped off with a cleaning towel (not shown). Then, the parts disassembled in the disassembly process (S1) are reassembled. Finally, a test run of the air conditioner is performed, and if there are no problems, the protective sheets that were previously placed on the floor, walls, etc. are removed.

[0023] The method for cleaning an air conditioner according to the embodiment described above includes a disassembly step (S1), a cover attachment step (S2), a chemical application step (S3), a cleaning step (S4), and a drying step (S5), as shown in Fig. 1. The chemical application step (S3) and the cleaning step (S4) are performed in this order about three times.

[0024] In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning of a ceiling-mounted commercial air conditioner is illustrated, but a similar cleaning method can also be used to clean a wall-mounted residential air conditioner installed in an ordinary home. Specifically, the chemical application process (S3 in FIG. 1) and the cleaning process (S4 in FIG. 1) are performed a predetermined number of times (approximately three times) on the air conditioner fins (heat exchanger) installed in the indoor unit of the residential air conditioner.

[0025] FIG. 7 shows a table showing the results of air conditioning capacity recovery when a wall-mounted home air conditioner is cleaned using the cleaning method described above.

[0026] As shown in Figure 7, the temperature difference (difference between intake temperature and outlet temperature) before cleaning was 11.1°C (degrees), while the temperature difference after cleaning was 13.1°C (degrees), resulting in an improvement of approximately 1.2 times.

[0027] Furthermore, the wind speed before cleaning was 2.3 m / s (meters per second), while after cleaning it was 5.6 m / s (meters per second), an improvement of approximately 2.4 times.

[0028] Furthermore, the heat exchange capacity before cleaning was 25.5 W (watts), while after cleaning it was 73.4 W (watts), an improvement of approximately 2.9 times.

[0029] As described above, it is clear that the air conditioner cleaning method according to the embodiment described above significantly improves the cooling and heating functions of the air conditioner. Furthermore, since the air conditioner fins are repeatedly subjected to chemical application and cleaning, dirt is more easily removed than when the chemical is applied and cleaned only once. Therefore, it is possible to fully restore the cooling and heating functions while ensuring a high cleaning effect on the air conditioner fins.

[0030] <2. Modifications> The air conditioner cleaning method according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0031] For example, in the above-described embodiment, a cleaning agent is applied to the air conditioner fins, and after leaving it for a predetermined time (S3 in FIG. 1), the cleaning agent is washed away with fresh water (S4 in FIG. 1), but this is not limiting. A steam injection step may be inserted between steps S3 and S4.

[0032] Specifically, a cleaning agent may be applied to the air conditioning fins, left for a predetermined time, and then steam may be sprayed onto the air conditioning fins as a steam spraying process, after which the cleaning agent may be washed away. According to this modification, the steam spraying process makes it easier to lift dirt from the air conditioning fins, making it easier to remove the dirt from the air conditioning fins. As in the above-described embodiment, the agent application process (S3), steam spraying process, and cleaning process (S4) are performed in this order about three times.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the cleaning agent is applied to the air conditioner fins AF and then left for 10 minutes, but this is not limiting. For example, depending on the type of agent, the cleaning agent may be left for a shorter period (e.g., 8 minutes) or a longer period (e.g., 15 minutes).

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, the chemical application step (S3) and the cleaning step (S4) are performed a total of about three times, but this is not limiting. For example, depending on the degree of dirt on the air conditioner fins AF, the number of times the chemical application step (S3) and the cleaning step (S4) are performed may be reduced to two, or increased to four or more. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] AF Air Conditioning Fin CV cover NZ Nozzle

Claims

1. A method for cleaning an air conditioner, comprising: A disassembly process to expose the air conditioning fins; A chemical application process of applying a cleaning agent to the exposed air conditioner fins and leaving it for a predetermined period of time; a cleaning step of washing away the cleaning agent applied to the air conditioning fins; Equipped with A method for cleaning an air conditioner, characterized in that the chemical application step and the cleaning step are performed in this order a predetermined number of times.

2. The method further includes a steam injection step of injecting steam onto the air conditioning fins to which the cleaning agent has been applied between the agent application step and the cleaning step, 2. The method for cleaning an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the chemical application step, the steam injection step, and the cleaning step are performed in this order the predetermined number of times.

3. 3. The method for cleaning an air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a drying step of drying the air conditioner fins after the cleaning step that is executed last among the predetermined number of times is completed.

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