Air conditioning system with mold suppression function

Abstract

This system uses an electrostatic precipitator to purify the air and an air conditioner to adjust the temperature and humidity, thereby suppressing the growth and proliferation of mold within the air environment. [Solution] The system includes a first switch (6) located between the intake (1) and the air conditioning unit (2) and controlling the opening and closing of the air passage between them, and a second switch (8) located between the outlet (3) and the air conditioning unit (2) and controlling the opening and closing of the air passage between them. By closing the first and second switches, the entire air conditioning unit is made into an airtight closed space (C), and a corona discharge device (10) is used to perform corona discharge to generate and accumulate ozone in the air within the closed space, thereby increasing the ozone concentration in the air within the closed space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air environment control system for a house, particularly an air environment control system with dust collection and air conditioning by circulating air, and relates to preventing mold from occurring inside the system.

Background Art

[0002] In order to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling, the airtightness and heat insulation performance of houses have been improved. In such highly airtight and highly heat-insulated houses, "whole-house air conditioning" that circulates indoor air and covers the air conditioning load of the entire house with one or two small-scale air conditioners has been widely adopted (Patent Document 1).

[0003] In such "whole-house air conditioning", air-conditioned air is directly supplied from the air conditioner to each room through a ventilation path such as a duct, and the supplied air-conditioned air is circulated from each room, returned to the air conditioner, and distributed to each room again.

[0004] In recent years, with the spread of this "whole-house air conditioning", the problem of suppressing the generation and growth of mold in ventilation paths such as ducts has newly become apparent. Components inside the air conditioner such as heat exchange fins (heat exchangers), blower fans (blowers), and air outlets are likely to condensate during cooling, and once they condensate, mold is likely to occur and grow using dust adhering to the surface of the equipment as a nutrient source. When mold occurs and grows inside the air conditioner, it easily adheres and grows in the connected duct, so cleaning and replacement are required. Therefore, there has been a demand to suppress mold occurring in the air conditioner with as simple equipment and methods as possible, and thus suppress mold in equipment on the house side such as ducts.

[0005] Generally, it is said that ultraviolet irradiation, surface coating, etc. are effective for suppressing mold. However, ultraviolet irradiation cannot obtain an effect on parts that cannot be directly irradiated with ultraviolet rays (shadow parts). Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a mold suppression effect on parts having a complex and intricate shape such as heat exchange fins and blower fans of an air conditioner. Furthermore, while surface coatings can be applied to the surfaces of heat exchange fins and blower fans, their effects are limited to those surfaces. If the coating lacks durability, even if growth is suppressed initially, it becomes difficult to sustainably inhibit its proliferation.

[0006] Another measure involves creating an atmosphere of ozone (chemical formula: O3) at a certain concentration. Since ozone is a gas at room temperature, it can reach every corner of the equipment in question, and it has been reported to be effective in suppressing mold growth (Non-Patent Literature 1). The mold-suppressing effect of ozone can be expressed by the CT value (product of ozone concentration (ppm) and exposure time (min)), and Non-Patent Literature 1 reports that the CT values ​​that suppress mold by 90% are as follows: Aspergillus oryzae: Approximately CT3000 (300 mins x 10 ppm) Black mold: Approximately CT2100 (210 minutes x 10 ppm) Blue mold: Approximately CT1200 (120 minutes x 10 ppm) According to reports, maintaining a concentration of 10 ppm for at least 120 minutes is necessary to suppress mold growth.

[0007] Against this backdrop, the inventor diligently conducted research and, in response to the demand for mold suppression in air conditioning systems, devised an air conditioning system equipped with a "mold suppression function." [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-89752 [Non-Patent Document 1] A Study on the Actual State and Countermeasures of Microbial Contamination in Air Conditioning Systems, Yanagi et al., Journal of Environmental Engineering, Architectural Institute of Japan, Vol. 73, No. 632, pp. 1197-1200 (October 2008) [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] This invention has been made in view of the above conventional circumstances, and its purpose is to propose an air environment control system that purifies the air using an electrostatic precipitator and adjusts the temperature and humidity using an air conditioner to improve the air environment, and which can suppress the growth and proliferation of mold within the system by creating a sealed space within the system and increasing the ozone concentration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This invention is based on the inventor's diligent research under the aforementioned problems, and the discovery that mold can be suppressed by utilizing ozone generated during the operation of the corona discharge device of an electrostatic precipitator.

[0011] (Operating principle) In an electrostatic precipitator, positively (or negatively) charged ions generated by corona discharge between the discharge electrode and the dust collection electrode combine with airborne particles (dust), and are then attracted to the dust collection electrode, which has a charge of the opposite polarity, by Coulomb force, thus collecting the dust. The essence of this dust collection technology is corona discharge.

[0012] When the corona discharge device of an electrostatic precipitator is operated for air purification purposes, a small amount of ozone is generated. However, under normal operating conditions, it has been difficult to utilize the generated ozone for mold suppression. This is because, during dust collection, the generated ozone not only decomposes and disappears over time, but is also carried by the airflow, remaining at low concentrations and thus unable to suppress mold growth. (Experiment 1: Open and sealed conditions) Therefore, it was necessary to confirm under what conditions the corona discharge device of an electrostatic precipitator, intended for dust collection, would have the ozone generation capacity to reach the ozone concentration necessary for mold suppression. Therefore, the corona discharge device is placed in an airtight container (with a housing volume of 0.5 m³). 3The device was placed in an enclosure with a current of 0.4 mA, and the time-dependent changes in the ozone concentration generated were compared under both open and sealed conditions.

[0013] (Experimental conditions) The conditions for the corona discharge device and current value are as follows: Corona discharge device discharge electrode and dust collection electrode: Ten tungsten wires with a diameter of φ0.18 mm and a length of 500 mm were prepared as discharge electrodes, and eleven aluminum plates with a thickness of 0.4 mm and dimensions of 30 mm x 500 mm were prepared as dust collection electrodes. The plates were arranged in parallel with a spacing of 30 mm between them. The tungsten wires were positioned so that they were sandwiched between each aluminum plate. Current Value: A voltage was applied from a power source to the tungsten wire (discharge electrode) and the aluminum plate (dust collection electrode) to generate corona discharge. The power source was set so that the discharge current was 0.4 mA (or 0.7 mA), and the ozone concentration of the generated ozone was measured. Ozone meter: Shibata Scientific Co., Ltd. OZM7000GN-3 model

[0014] As a result, as shown in Figure 13(a), the ozone concentration could not be raised above 1 ppm when the system was open, but when it was sealed, the ozone concentration could be raised above the previous 10 ppm after about 2 hours from the start, and if the operation was continued, it reached 12 ppm after 5 hours and then a value of 14 ppm or more could be obtained in the following 2 hours. This revealed that creating a sealed space is essential for electrostatic precipitators with conventional dust collection capabilities, and that within this sealed space, an ozone level of approximately 2000 CT (10 ppm for several hours) can be maintained with a current of 0.4 mA.

[0015] (Experiment 2: On ozone accumulation) Next, we conducted similar experiments to gain insights into finding an efficient ionization current for generating and storing ozone. As a result, as shown in Figure 13(b), the enclosure volume is 0.5 m³. 3The ozone concentration was measured by operating an electrostatic precipitator in a sealed state. When the current value was set to 0.4 mA, it was found that the ozone concentration reached 10 ppm in about 3 hours, and then reached 15 ppm in at least 1 hour. Furthermore, when the current value was set to 0.7 mA, it was found that the ozone concentration exceeded 10 ppm in about 1 hour, exceeded 20 ppm 1 hour later, maintained 20 ppm for 3 hours or more, and could be further increased. As a result, it was found that when the ionization current amount was 0.4 mA and when it was 0.7 mA, the latter had a larger ozone generation amount, and it took 2 hours for the former to reach an ozone concentration of 10 ppm, while the latter reached it in 1 hour.

[0016] Therefore, an air environment adjustment system having a configuration capable of exhibiting an ozone accumulation function on the premise of having a dust collection function was studied. As described below, for an electrostatic precipitator using a corona discharge device for dust collection, by switching between the two functions of air purification and ozone accumulation, the components were simplified by commonalization, and appropriate current value settings were made. It was found that it is effective to create a closed space and limit the entry and exit of air when performing ozone accumulation. Specifically, the following inventions were achieved.

[0017] (Solution means 1) The present invention was proposed to achieve the above problems and has the following configuration. That is, An air environment adjustment system that circulates air to adjust the air environment of a dwelling, An intake port for taking in air inside the dwelling, An air adjustment unit for adjusting the air taken in from the intake port, An outlet for sending out the air adjusted by the air adjustment unit into the dwelling, A first switch for opening and closing the intake port, A second switch for opening and closing the outlet, and is provided with The air adjustment unit includes a corona discharge device, a heat exchanger, and a blower, The corona discharge device is characterized in that it performs dust collection when the first switch and the second switch are open, and performs ozone accumulation when the first switch and the second switch are closed.

[0018] This allows both dust collection and ozone storage functions to be achieved using a common corona discharge device, and the ozone storage increases the ozone concentration in the system, thereby suppressing the growth and proliferation of mold.

[0019] (Solution 2) Also, the following operating modes (a) and (b): (a) An air purification mode in which the first and second switches are opened, the blower is made to take in and expel air, the corona discharge device is made to perform corona discharge to collect dust from the taken-in air, and the temperature and humidity of the air taken into the heat exchanger, or both, are adjusted, (b) Close the first and second switches to create an airtight, enclosed space for the entire air conditioning unit, and use a corona discharge device to generate and accumulate ozone in the air within the enclosed space, thereby increasing the ozone concentration in the air within the enclosed space in an ozone sterilization mode. It is preferable to have a switchable function.

[0020] This allows switching between dust collection and ozone storage functions. In ozone sterilization mode, the system utilizes the same corona discharge device as in dust collection to increase the ozone concentration in a sealed space created within the system, thereby suppressing the growth and proliferation of mold.

[0021] (Solution 3) Furthermore, it is preferable that the corona discharge device operating in air purification mode is operated with an applied voltage of 5,000V to 8,000V and an ionization current of 0.2 to 0.7mA, and that the corona discharge device operating in ozone sterilization mode is operated with an applied voltage of 5,000V to 9,000V and an ionization current of 0.4mA to 2mA.

[0022] This allows the corona discharge device to be operated efficiently as needed in both air purification mode and ozone sterilization mode.

[0023] (Solution 4) In the ozone sterilization mode, it is preferable that the setting range for the ionization current value β of the corona discharge device is higher than the setting range for the ionization current value α of the corona discharge device in the air purification mode.

[0024] This allows for increased ozone generation and more efficient ozone accumulation when operating in a mode specifically designed for ozone storage, while still maintaining a dust collection function.

[0025] (Solution 5) Furthermore, it is desirable to determine the output of the corona discharge device based on the value from the ozone concentration sensor.

[0026] This allows the corona discharge device to operate according to the ozone concentration. Furthermore, it makes it easier to maintain the set concentration.

[0027] (Solution 6) The present invention relates to a dwelling (R2) equipped with the air environment control system described in the above solution, The residences are further equipped with air outlets and air intakes in each residential area. The intake port is connected to the suction port via an air passage, The outlet is connected to the outlet via an air passage, It is characterized by being a dwelling that can adjust the air environment.

[0028] This allows for the regulation and circulation of air within the dwelling, creating a comfortable living environment, while also suppressing the growth and proliferation of mold in air passages such as ducts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] With the above configuration, the present invention can suppress the growth and proliferation of mold within an air conditioning system that utilizes corona discharge by creating a sealed space within the system and increasing the ozone concentration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0030] [Figure 1] This is a conceptual diagram of the air environment control system of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an example (Example 1) of the air environment control system of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing the basic operation of this example. [Figure 4] This is an example of the hardware configuration of the corona discharge device in this example. [Figure 5] This is a functional block diagram for this example. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing an example of the opening and closing mechanism in this example. [Figure 7] This is another example (Example 2) of the air environment conditioning system of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of a residence (Example 3) using the air environment control system described in this example. [Figure 9] This is the control flowchart for the corona discharge device in this example (without an ozone concentration sensor). [Figure 10] This is also a control flowchart (with an ozone concentration sensor). [Figure 11] This is the case for the ozone sterilization mode in the control flowchart of Figure 10. [Figure 12] This is the case for the air purification mode in the control flowchart of Figure 10. [Figure 13] (a) is an experimental example demonstrating the necessity of a closed space in a corona discharge device. (b) is an experimental example demonstrating the effectiveness of ozone storage in a corona discharge device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Air Environment Control System) Figure 1 shows a conceptual diagram of the system configuration of the air environment control system S1 and S2 in this example (hereinafter also referred to as "this system"). As shown in the figure, the air environment control systems S1 and S2 in this example include an air intake port 1 for taking in air, an air adjustment unit 2 for adjusting the air Ar taken in from the intake port 1, and an air outlet 3 for sending out the air Ac adjusted by the air adjustment unit 2. In addition, they are further equipped with a first switch 6 for opening and closing the intake port 1 and a second switch 8 for opening and closing the air outlet 2. The first switch 6 and the second switch 8 together are sometimes called an "opening degree adjustment mechanism". This air conditioning unit 2 is equipped with an electrostatic precipitator (corona discharge device) 10, a heat exchanger 25, and a blower 26. As described later, the air environment conditioning systems S1 and S2 in this example are equipped with a dust collection function (air purification mode) and an ozone accumulation function (ozone sterilization mode). [Examples]

[0032] Figure 2 shows an example (Example 1) of the air environment control system S1 of this example (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "this system S1"). The system S1 in Figure 2 is It comprises an air intake port 1 for taking in air, an air conditioning unit 2 for purifying and adjusting the air taken in from the intake port, as well as adjusting the temperature and humidity or either of them, and an air outlet 3 for sending out the air adjusted by the air conditioning unit, and further, It includes a first switch 6 located between the intake port 1 and the air adjustment unit 2, which opens and closes the air passage between them, and a second switch 8 located between the outlet port 3 and the air adjustment unit 2, which opens and closes the air passage between them, and these are hermetically housed in the housing 9. The air conditioning unit 2 consists of an electrostatic precipitator 10, which also functions as a corona discharge device, a heat exchange fin 25, which is a heat exchanger, and a blower fan 26, which is a blower that takes in and blows out air.

[0033] (Electrostatic precipitator) The electrostatic precipitator 10 collects airborne particles such as dust, pollen, yellow sand, and PM2.5. Generally, particles with a diameter of 0.3 μm or larger are included. If necessary, a pre-filter (not shown) or the like may be used to remove coarser airborne particles beforehand. As described in the operating principle above, the electrostatic precipitator 10 collects dust using corona discharge. Therefore, it is sometimes also called a corona discharge device 10. Figure 4 shows the circuit diagram of the electrostatic precipitator 10. This electrostatic precipitator 10 mainly consists of an ionization unit 53, a dust collection unit 54, and its power supply 55. The ionization unit 53 charges airborne particles in Ar, and the charged airborne particles are attracted to the electrodes of the dust collection unit 54 by Coulomb force to perform dust collection. In this type of electrostatic precipitator 10, air Ar passes through the space between the ionization wire 60 and the ionization electrode 51, and between the dust collection electrode plate 62 and the dust collection counter electrode plate 63. Therefore, compared to a paper filter, it has less pressure loss and can efficiently remove airborne particles.

[0034] (Ionization section) The ionization unit 53 consists of an ionization wire 60 and an ionization electrode 51 for generating corona discharge to charge airborne particles. The ionization wire 60 is electrically connected to the positive electrode 55a of the power supply 55 via a constant current control unit 56, and the ionization electrode 51 is electrically connected to the negative electrode 55b of the power supply 55.

[0035] (Dust collection unit) The dust collection unit 54 has dust collection electrode plates 62 and dust collection counter electrode plates 63 arranged alternately for collecting airborne particles charged in the ionization unit 53, and these are arranged alternately at equal intervals using spacers (not shown). The dust collection electrode plates 62 and dust collection counter electrode plates 63 are electrically connected to the power supply 55, and a predetermined voltage is applied between them to form an electric field. Furthermore, a high-resistivity element 64 is connected between the dust collection electrode plate 62 and the power supply 55. The dust collection electrode plate 62 is connected to the positive terminal 55a of the power supply 55, and the dust collection counter electrode plate 63 is connected to the negative terminal 55b of the power supply 55.

[0036] (power supply) The power supply 55 supplies the necessary voltage and current values ​​of power to the ionization unit 53 and dust collection unit 54 of the electrostatic precipitator 10. A switch 65 is provided to turn the connection between the power supply 55 and the ionization unit 53 and dust collection unit 54 on and off.

[0037] (Constant current control unit) The constant current control unit 56, which controls the current of the ionization unit 53, is for supplying a constant current from the power supply 55 to the ionization line 60 of the ionization unit 53. For example, in the case of dust collection, if the constant current value is set to αmA, and a constant current within the range of 0.2 to 0.7mA is set as the current for the purpose of stable dust collection, then the appropriate voltage in this case is expected to be within the range of 5,000V to 8,000V. In this case, the constant current control unit 56 is equipped with a limiter function to prevent the applied voltage from deviating significantly from the voltage range of 5,000V to 8,000V, for example, from a voltage of 10,000V or more. When ozone accumulation is performed, if the constant current value is set to βmA, the current setting signal from the control unit 4 allows the ionization current value to be set within the range of 0.4mA to 2mA in ozone sterilization mode. In this case, the applied voltage value is assumed to be approximately 5,000V to 9,000V. Furthermore, the specific current value can also be determined by receiving an external signal, as will be explained later.

[0038] (Voltage stage control unit) The voltage stage control unit 58, which controls the applied voltage to the dust collection unit, can issue a command to apply a predetermined voltage, for example, a predetermined voltage within the range of 1,500V to 4,800V, from the power supply 55 to the dust collection electrode plate 62 of the dust collection unit 54. The current at this time is generally expected to be in the range of 0.05mA to 0.1mA.

[0039] (Measurement part) The measuring unit 57 monitors the actual voltage and current values. When dust collection is performed, abnormal discharges that cause sudden fluctuations in the voltage and current values ​​applied to the dust collection unit 54 are measured and detected. For example, in the case of dust collection, if the voltage value of the dust collection unit 54 is 3,900V to 4,200V and the current value is 0.1mA, and a normal electric field is formed, the voltage value may suddenly drop or the current value may suddenly increase due to some cause, such as moisture, condensation, contamination of foreign matter, or accumulation of collected dust, and this is detected. For example, if the voltage value fluctuates to 1,000V to 1,500V or the current value fluctuates to 0.3mA, it is detected that an abnormal discharge has occurred. Similarly, when ozone storage is performed, the system monitors whether the voltage and current values ​​deviate from the pre-set values.

[0040] (Voltage step control) In response to abnormal discharge, it is possible to control the voltage by gradually reducing it. In order to stably continue corona discharge in the ionization unit 53, when the measurement unit 57 detects the occurrence of such an abnormal discharge, the voltage stage control unit 58 receives the abnormal discharge information. Upon receiving the abnormal discharge information, the voltage stage control unit 58 temporarily shuts off the dust collection unit 54 and the power supply 55 using the switch 65, and then sends a command to the voltage change unit 59 to lower the predetermined voltage applied to the dust collection unit 54 to a stage where abnormal discharge does not occur, thereby avoiding abnormal discharge.

[0041] Upon receiving this voltage change command, the voltage change unit 59 lowers the predetermined voltage range where abnormal discharge does not occur, for example, from 3,900V to 4,200V as described above, by 700V for the lower limit and 600V for the upper limit, changing it to 3,200V to 3,500V. If abnormal discharge occurs again in the dust collection unit 54, the predetermined voltage is further reduced sequentially using the above procedure, for example, to a range of 2,200V to 2,600V.

[0042] The dust collection operation is continued at the modified predetermined voltage of 3,200V to 3,500V. If the voltage and current values ​​are determined to be fluctuating within a certain range, for example, if the voltage fluctuates within the range of 1,000V to 1,500V, or if the current does not reach 0.3mA which is judged to be an abnormal discharge, or if it reaches that value but the number of times is less than 5, then if this continues for a set time (for example, 2 to 10 minutes), it is determined that the cause of the abnormal discharge has been resolved. In response to a command from the voltage stage control unit 58, the predetermined voltage is returned to 3,900V to 4,200V from the voltage change unit 59 and applied to the dust collection unit 54 to continue the dust collection operation.

[0043] When the electrostatic precipitator 10 is operated for the purpose of dust collection, its configuration allows for stable and continuous corona discharge in the ionization unit 53, thus enabling highly efficient dust collection and reducing the frequency of maintenance.

[0044] (heat exchanger) The heat exchanger (heat exchange fins) 25 adjusts the temperature and / or humidity of the air inside the enclosure 9. It can be an indoor unit connected to an outdoor unit (not shown) that performs heat exchange. The air conditioning capacity of the heat exchanger 25 can be appropriately determined by calculating the heating and cooling load. For example, 140m² in insulation zone 4. 2 For a typical house, one unit (equivalent to 5kW) is assumed to be sufficient. Note that the heat exchanger 25 and the blower 26, which will be described below, may sometimes be referred to together as the air conditioner 20.

[0045] (Blower) The blower (fan) 25 blows the regulated air Ac from inside the housing 9 toward the outlet 3. A sirocco fan can be used, but is not limited to this. When the blower 25 blows air, the inside of the housing 9 near the intake port 1 becomes negative pressure, allowing return air Ar to flow from the intake port 1 into the housing 9 through the electrostatic precipitator 10. As mentioned above, the heat exchanger 25 and the blower 26 can also be combined into an air conditioner 20.

[0046] (Opening adjustment mechanism) Figure 6 shows examples of opening degree adjustment mechanisms 6 and 8 used in this system S1. The first switch 6 is used to open and close the intake port 1, and the second switch 8 is used to open and close the outlet port 3. The opening adjustment mechanisms 6 and 8 can be configured as shutter mechanisms as shown in Figure 6. Openings 6f and 8f are provided in the center of rectangular frames 6d and 8d, and four opening / closing vanes 6b and 8b rotate to adjust the opening degree of these openings 6f and 6f. The rotation of the opening / closing vanes 6b and 8b is performed by the rotation of motors 6c and 8c. Each opening / closing vane 6b and 8b is connected to connecting rods 6a and 8a, and when the central part of these connecting rods 6a and 8a is wound up by the motors 6c and 8c, each opening / closing vane 6b and 8b opens in conjunction with the movement of the connecting rods 6a and 8a, and closes in conjunction with its own weight when loosened. When all the opening / closing vanes 6b and 8b are closed, the openings 6f and 8f are fully closed. Furthermore, motors 6c and 8c can be equipped with potentiometers. In this way, not only can the fully open and fully closed operations be controlled by the control unit 4 described later, allowing the openings 6f and 8f to be opened and closed to the desired degree. By fully closing the opening adjustment mechanisms 6 and 8, a closed space C is created inside the housing 9, sealing the air inside the housing 9. This sealing allows ozone generated by the electrostatic precipitator 10, which is a corona discharge device, to accumulate, thereby increasing the ozone concentration in the air inside the housing 9. The opening degree adjustment mechanisms 6 and 8 can also be configured with damper mechanisms such as air flow control valves.

[0047] (Ozone concentration sensor) This system S1 may be equipped with an ozone concentration sensor 5. The ozone concentration sensor 5 measures the ozone concentration inside the housing 9. For example, it can be installed around the intake port 1 inside the housing 9. The measured ozone concentration value is sent to the control unit 4, which will be described later. Based on this signal, the control unit 4 adjusts the opening of the opening adjustment mechanisms 6 and 8, including fully closing and fully opening, and adjusts the output of the corona discharge device 10 to maintain the ozone concentration. Control using the ozone concentration sensor 5 will be described later.

[0048] (Control unit and operation unit) Figure 5 shows a functional block diagram of the system S1. As shown in the figure, the system consists of a control unit 4 at the center, an operating unit 7, opening degree adjustment mechanisms 6 and 8, an air conditioner 20 (heat exchange fins 25, blower fan 26), an electrostatic precipitator 10, and an ozone concentration sensor 5. The ozone concentration sensor 5 can be optional. The heat exchange fins 25 and blower fan 26 may be combined into the air conditioner 20.

[0049] (Control Unit) The control unit 4 controls the input and output, and receives signals from the operation unit 7 and the ozone concentration sensor 5 for the system S1 to understand the system status. Based on this, the control unit 4 controls the opening adjustment mechanisms 6 and 8, the electrostatic precipitator (corona discharge device) 10, the heat exchange fins 25, and the blower fan 26. The control unit 4 is connected to an information processing device such as a microcomputer, an external storage device such as an HDD or SSD, and a display device as needed. The control unit 4 executes the control operations of the system 1 based on control software pre-installed on the microcomputer. This enables the dust collection function (air purification mode) and ozone accumulation function (ozone sterilization mode) described later to be performed. Furthermore, the control unit 4 can set the voltage step control value for the dust collection section 54 of the electrostatic precipitator 10 during dust collection, and if an abnormal discharge occurs, it can gradually lower and apply a predetermined voltage so that the dust collection operation can continue at a voltage that does not cause abnormal discharge.

[0050] (Operation unit) The control unit 7 can transmit various input settings and operation signals to the control unit 4, such as starting and stopping the electrostatic precipitator 10, setting the opening degrees of the opening adjustment mechanisms 6 and 8 and starting and stopping their opening and closing, and setting the mode of the electrostatic precipitator. In addition, the control unit 7 can receive information indicating the status of the system S1 from the control unit 4 as needed and display it on a display (not shown), etc. For example, mode, temperature, humidity, output status of the ozone concentration sensor 5, etc.

[0051] The operation (control) of this system S1 is described below. (Dust collection function) Figure 2(a) shows the airflow when the dust collection function of this system S1 is being performed. In this case, both the first switch 6 and the second switch 8 are open, and the housing 9 is open. The electrostatic precipitator 10, heat exchanger 25, and blower 26 are operating. The situation is similar to when operating in the dust collection mode described later, but these devices can also be started and stopped using switches (not shown) on the control unit 7.

[0052] The air Ar, which is drawn into the housing 9 through the intake port 1 of the system S1 due to the negative pressure of the blower 26 and passes through the first switch 6, has its cleanliness adjusted as it passes through the electrostatic precipitator 10 installed in the first chamber 9a. The air that has been purified by passing through the electrostatic precipitator 10 is then sent by a blower 26 located in the second chamber 9b to the heat exchanger 25 located in the third chamber 9c. The blower 26 and the heat exchanger 25 are sometimes collectively referred to as the air conditioner 20. The heat exchanger 25 applies air conditioning to the purified air to a predetermined set temperature and / or set humidity, and the air Ac, now with the desired adjustments, passes through the open second switch 8 and is discharged from the outlet 3.

[0053] (Ozone storage function) Figure 2(b) shows how the air is shut off when the ozone storage function of this system S1 is activated. In this case, both the first switch 6 and the second switch 8 are closed, and the housing 9 is sealed. The electrostatic precipitator 10 is operating, but the heat exchanger 25 and blower 26 are stopped. This is the situation when operating in the ozone sterilization mode described later, but the operation and stopping of these devices can also be done manually using the switches (not shown) on the control unit 7.

[0054] The blower 26 is stopped, and the first switch 6 for intake port 1 and the second switch 8 for intake port 3 are closed. The air Ar taken into the airtight housing 9, that is, the air in the first chamber 9a, the second chamber 9b, and the third chamber 9c, is all taken into the housing 9 and fills the interior, and is isolated from the outside air outside the housing 9. In this state, only the electrostatic precipitator 10 is operating.

[0055] The air environment system S1 in this example has an air purification mode and an ozone sterilization mode. Both are controlled by control signals from the control unit 4, but the mode to be selected can be manually controlled by a switch (not shown) on the operation unit 7. In this case, when the power is turned on, it is in dust collection mode, and special manual operation may be required to switch to ozone sterilization mode.

[0056] (Air purification mode) In dust collection mode, both the first switch 6 and the second switch 8 are open. The constant current control unit 56 of the electrostatic precipitator 10 receives a current setting signal from the control unit 4 and, together with the measurement unit 57, voltage step control unit 58, and voltage change unit 59, performs control to continue the dust collection operation. The constant current control unit 56 can have multiple ports for receiving current setting signals. It can also receive continuous (analog) signals. If it has multiple ports, the signal from the control unit 4 should specify the port corresponding to the current value, and in the case of a continuous setting signal, the signal from the control unit 4 can be an analog signal.

[0057] The current setting signal from the control unit 4 allows the unit to operate with an ionization current value of 0.2 to 0.7 mA in air purification mode. In this case, the applied voltage value will be approximately 5,000V to 8,000V.

[0058] (Ozone sterilization mode) The above is an example of operation in dust collection mode, but this electrostatic precipitator 10 can also be operated in ozone sterilization mode, which is specialized for ozone generation. In this case, the first switch 6 and the second switch 8 are fully closed, and an airtight sealed space (indicated by dots) is created inside the housing 9, as shown in Figure 3(b). The constant current control unit 56 of the electrostatic precipitator 10, as in the dust collection mode, receives a current setting signal from the control unit 4 and, together with the measurement unit 57, voltage step control unit 58, and voltage change unit 59, performs continuous control specifically for ozone generation. The signal from the control unit 4, as in the dust collection mode, may specify each port and can be a continuously variable signal.

[0059] In ozone sterilization mode, the current setting signal from the control unit 4 allows the ionization current value to be set within the range of 0.4mA to 2mA. In this case, the applied voltage value is assumed to be approximately 5,000V to 9,000V.

[0060] As mentioned earlier, the setting range for ozone sterilization mode allows for a higher current value than the setting range for air purification mode. This is because, as shown in Figure 13(b), a higher current value generates more ozone. However, due to the upper limit of the power supply 55's capacity and safety considerations, the maximum current is limited to 2.0mA.

[0061] (Control flow for maintaining current when an ozone concentration sensor is not provided) Figure 9 shows a control flowchart of the control unit that maintains the current of the corona discharge device 10 when the system S1 in this example is equipped with an ozone concentration sensor. First, select either ozone sterilization mode or air purification mode (S10), then proceed to S12. The mode can be manually set using the switch on the control panel 7. Next, the mode is determined (S12). If the mode determination is ozone sterilization mode, the current value of the ionization line is set to βmA (S14), and the process proceeds to S18. The set value can be read from a table previously stored in an external storage device. On the other hand, if the mode determination is air purification mode, the current value of the ionization line is set to αmA (S16), and the process proceeds to S18. Similarly, the set value can be read from a table previously stored in an external storage device.

[0062] Next, the measuring unit 57 measures the current output current value (S18) and proceeds to S20. In S20, the output current value is compared with the set current value (S20). If the measured output current value and the set value are the same, the process proceeds to S22, the output is maintained (S22), and the process returns to S18 to repeat measuring the current output current value (S18). On the other hand, if the measured output current value and the set value are different, the process proceeds to S24, the output current value is corrected to be the same as the set value (S24), and the process returns to S18 to repeat measuring the current output current value (S18). By performing this process, the current value is maintained so that the output reaches the set value, whether in ozone sterilization mode or air purification mode.

[0063] (Control flow for maintaining current when an ozone concentration sensor is installed) Figures 10 to 12 show the control flowchart of the control unit 5 that maintains the current of the corona discharge device when the ozone concentration sensor 5 of the example system S1 is included. As shown in Figure 10, first, set whether to use ozone sterilization mode or air purification mode (S60), and then proceed to S80. The mode can be set manually using the switch on the control panel 7. Next, the mode is determined (S80). If the mode determination is ozone sterilization mode, proceed to S100. On the other hand, if the mode determination is air purification mode, proceed to S200.

[0064] Figure 11 shows the case of ozone sterilization mode (S100). If the mode determination is ozone sterilization mode, the current value of the ionization line is set to βmA (S110), and the process proceeds to S120. The set value can be read from a table stored in an external storage device in advance. Next, the ozone concentration is measured using the ozone concentration sensor 5 (S120), and the process proceeds to S130. If the ozone concentration is below the target value, the process proceeds to S140, where the current output current value is measured and compared with the set value (S140). If the measured value and the set value are the same, the output is maintained (S170), and the process returns to S120 to repeat the ozone concentration measurement. On the other hand, if the measured output current value and the set value are different, the process proceeds to S180, where the output current value is corrected to match the set value (S180), and the process returns to S120 to repeat the measurement of the current output current value (S120). Furthermore, if the ozone concentration in S130 exceeds the target value, the process proceeds to S150, where the output of the ionization beam is stopped (S150), and the process returns to S120 to repeat the ozone concentration measurement. By performing this process, the current value is maintained so that the output reaches the set value when in ozone sterilization mode. In this case, based on the findings obtained from the experiment, it is desirable to set the current value β for the ozone sterilization mode higher than the current value α for the air purification mode, as this allows for more efficient generation and accumulation of ozone. Therefore, it is desirable that the current value setting range also be set so that the current value β for the ozone sterilization mode can be set higher than the current value α for the air purification mode.

[0065] Figure 12 shows the case in air purification mode (S200). If the mode is determined to be air purification mode, the current value of the ionization line is set to αmA (S210), and the process proceeds to S220. The set values ​​can be read from a table stored in an external memory device in advance. Next, the ozone concentration is measured using the ozone concentration sensor 5 (S220), and the process proceeds to S230. The current output current value is measured and compared with the set value (S230). If the measured value and the set value are the same, the output is maintained (S240), and the process returns to S220 to repeat the ozone concentration measurement. On the other hand, if the measured output current value and the set value are different, the process proceeds to S250, the output current value is corrected to be the same as the set value (S250), and the process returns to S220 to repeat the measurement of the current output current value (S220). By performing this process, the current value is maintained so that the output reaches the set value when in air purification mode.

[0066] Note that ozone concentration measurement (S220) can be an optional feature. Furthermore, if the ozone concentration measurement results in a value outside the specified range, the system can stop operation and display an alarm (or emit a warning sound). The output of the ozone concentration sensor 5 can also be used for other purposes. For example, ozone handling can be used to meet standards such as the permissible concentration of indoor gases set by the Japan Air Purification Association or the permissible concentration as a work environment standard set by the Japan Society for Occupational Health. [Examples]

[0067] Next, Figure 7 shows another example of the air conditioning system S2 of the present invention. In this example, a control room 31 is provided in the attic or inter-floor space for application to a residence, and the equipment of the air conditioning unit 2 is housed there. The intake port 1 is connected to the intake port on the residence side, and the outlet port 3 is connected to the outlet port 42 on the residence side via a duct 30 to adjust the air environment inside the residence. In order to prevent mold in such a duct 30, the entire control room 31 that houses the air conditioner 20, which may experience condensation, is designated as the air conditioning unit 2. In this example, a first switch 6 is placed at the intake 1 of the control room 31. Air Ar taken in from the first switch 6 is brought into the inlet room 31a of the control room 31, where the temperature and humidity of the air are adjusted by the air conditioner 20, dust is collected by the electrostatic precipitator (corona discharge device) 10, and the air is sent to the outlet room 31b, which serves as an air reservoir. The adjusted air Ac is then sent from the second switch 8, located at the outlet 3 of the control room 31, through the duct 30 to the outlet 42 on the residential side. Similar to Example 1, the electrostatic precipitator 10, as a corona discharge device, not only collects dust but also accumulates ozone. Note that explanations common to Example 1 will be omitted. The electrostatic precipitator 10, which is a corona discharge device, and its circuit configuration are the same as in Example 1.

[0068] (Adjustment room) The control room 31 is an airtight chamber that forms a closed space C as a whole, and is divided into an inlet room 31a and an outlet room 31b. The advantages of the control room 31 are that it can create an air pocket and allows for easy access to equipment during maintenance. As will be described later, the control room 31 can be installed in the attic or between floors.

[0069] (air conditioner) The air conditioner 20 is installed in the inlet room 31a within the control room 31. An indoor unit connected to an outdoor unit (not shown) can be used, and a blower 26 installed inside the air conditioner 20 creates negative pressure in the inlet room 31a, drawing air Ar into the control room 31. A heat exchanger 25 installed inside the air conditioner 20 adjusts the temperature and / or humidity of the air Ar taken into the inlet room 31a. The air conditioning capacity of the air conditioner 20 can be appropriately determined by calculating the heating and cooling load. For example, 140m² in insulation zone 4. 2 For a typical house, it is assumed that one air conditioner unit (equivalent to 5kW) with a capacity of 20 is sufficient.

[0070] (Corona discharge device: electrostatic precipitator) An electrostatic precipitator 10, which is a corona discharge device, is installed between the inlet room 31a and the outlet room. The electrostatic precipitator 10 takes in temperature and / or humidity-controlled air from the inlet room 31a, collects dust, and sends the collected and controlled air Ac to the second chamber 31b, which is an air reservoir.

[0071] (Blower) A blower 26 installed inside the air conditioner 20 blows adjusted air Ac towards multiple air supply mechanisms (ducts) 30 connected to each room via the inlet room 31a and the outlet room 31b. In addition, a second switch 8 and a blower 50 are installed at the outlet of each outlet room 31b, which is an air reservoir, to assist in the delivery of the air. The blower 50 can be installed as needed.

[0072] The opening degree adjustment mechanism, ozone concentration sensor, functional block (Figure 5), control unit, operating unit, operation (control), dust collection mode and ozone sterilization mode, and control flow (Figures 9-12) in this example are basically the same as in Example 1. [Examples]

[0073] (A residence equipped with this system) Figure 8 shows the residence R2 equipped with the air environment control systems S1 and S2 of this example. The systems S1 and S2 are installed in two locations: the ceiling space 73 on the second floor and the space between floors 96. The intake port 41 is installed in the ceiling of the central rooms 212 and 222 on the first floor, and the outlet port 3 is installed in the outlet ports 42 of each room 211, 213, 221, and 223 via the air supply mechanism 30 described later.

[0074] (Air delivery mechanism) The air supply mechanism 30 supplies the air Ac adjusted by the systems S1 and S2 to each room, and is connected to the outlet 3 and includes ducts 30 extending to each room.

[0075] (duct) The duct 30 is connected to the outlet 3 and the outlets 42 in each room, and conditioned air Ac is blown out from these outlets 42 into the interior of each room.

[0076] (Residence) As shown in Figure 8, the residence R2 in which the air environment control systems S1 and S2 of this example are used is a highly airtight and highly insulated two-story residence. It has multiple residential areas partitioned on each floor, and the air environment control systems S1 and S2 of this example control the air environment in the first-floor residential areas 211-213 and the second-floor residential areas 221-223, respectively.

[0077] (Residential area) Residence R2 has residential areas 211, 212, and 213 on the first floor and residential areas 221, 222, and 223 on the second floor. There is an interfloor space 96 between the first and second floors. On each floor of Residence R2, the central rooms 212 and 222 return the return air Ar to systems S1 and S2, and the rooms on either side of them return air to the central rooms 212 and 222 through recovery ports 43 provided in the walls. Below the residential areas 211 to 213 on the first floor, separated by a floor, is an underfloor space 74. Furthermore, these residential areas 211-213 and 221-223 are demarcated by the interior and exterior walls of the residences and the ceilings of each residential area, and residential areas 211-213 and 221-223 may include bathrooms, washrooms, etc.

[0078] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from its spirit. Even in such cases, they are still within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0079] Systems S1 and S2 in this example can be applied not only to residences but also to business-use residences such as offices and workplaces. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] AC (According to air conditioning) Ar: Unadjusted air (return air) C Closed space R2... Residence S1, S2 Air Environment Control System 1 Intake 2. Air adjustment section 3 outlet 4. Control Unit 5. Ozone concentration sensor 6. Opening degree adjustment mechanism (first switch), 6a. Connecting rod, 6b. Opening / closing vane, 6c. Opening / closing motor, 6d. Frame, 6e. String member, 6f. Opening 7 Control section 8. Opening degree adjustment mechanism (second switch), 8a. Connecting rod, 8b. Opening / closing vane, 8c. Opening / closing motor, 8d. Frame, 8e. String member, 8f. Opening 9 enclosure, 9a first chamber, 9b second chamber, 9c third chamber 10. Electrostatic precipitator (corona discharge device) 20. Air conditioners (indoor units) 25 Heat exchanger (heat exchange fins) 26. Blower (Air Blower Fan) 30. Air supply mechanism (duct) 31 Control room, 31a Inlet room, 31b Outlet room 41 Inlet 42 Air outlet 43 Collection port 50 Blower 52 Electrostatic precipitator (corona discharge unit) 53 Ionization section 54 Dust collection unit 55 Power supply, 55a Positive terminal, 55b Negative terminal 56 Constant Current Control Unit 57 Measuring part 58 Voltage Stage Control Unit 59 Voltage change section 60 Ionization rays 61 Ionization electrode 62 Dust collection electrode plate 63 Dust collection electrode plate 64 High resistance element 65 switches 71 Ceiling 72 Roof 73 Attic 74 Underfloor space 81, 82, 83, 84 Residential area, room 95 Atrium Between 96 floors 211, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223 Residential area, room

Claims

1. An air intake port (1) and An air conditioning unit (2) that purifies and adjusts the air taken in from the intake port, and also adjusts the temperature and humidity or either of them, The air outlet (3) that sends out the air adjusted in the air adjustment unit, A first switch (6) is located between the intake port (1) and the air adjustment unit (2) and opens and closes the air passage between them, The system includes a second switch (8) located between the outlet (3) and the air conditioning unit (2), which opens and closes the air passage between them. The air conditioning unit (2) comprises a corona discharge device (10), a heat exchanger (25), and a blower (26) for taking in and discharging air. The corona discharge device is an air environment adjustment system (S1) that collects dust when the first and second switches are open and sterilizes with ozone when the first and second switches are closed.

2. Furthermore, it includes a control unit (4), The control unit, The air environment control system (S1) according to claim 1, comprising the following (a) and (b) operating modes switchable: (a) An air purification mode in which the first and second switches are opened, the blower is made to take in and expel air, the corona discharge device (10) is made to perform corona discharge to collect dust from the taken-in air, and the heat exchanger (20) adjusts both or either the temperature and humidity of the air taken in, (b) An ozone sterilization mode in which the first switch and the second switch are closed to make the entire air adjustment unit (2) an airtight closed space (C), and the corona discharge device (10) is used to perform corona discharge to generate and accumulate ozone in the air inside the closed space, thereby increasing the ozone concentration in the air inside the closed space.

3. The air environment adjustment system (S1) according to claim 1, wherein the corona discharge device can be operated in the air purification mode with an applied voltage of 5,000V to 8,000V and an ionization current of 0.2 to 0.7mA, and in the ozone sterilization mode, the applied voltage can be set in the range of 5,000V to 9,000V and an ionization current of 0.4mA to 2mA.

4. The air environment adjustment system (S1) according to claim 1, wherein the setting range of the ionization current value of the corona discharge device in the ozone sterilization mode is higher than the setting range of the ionization current value of the corona discharge device in the air purification mode.

5. Furthermore, it is equipped with an ozone concentration sensor (5), The air environment adjustment system (S1) according to claim 4, wherein the set value (β) of the ionization current value of the corona discharge device is determined based on the output value of the ozone concentration sensor.

6. A dwelling (R2) equipped with an air environment control system (S1, S2) according to claims 1 to 5, The aforementioned residence is further equipped with an air outlet (42) and an air intake (41) in each residential area. The intake port (1) is connected to the suction port via an air passage (30), The aforementioned outlet (3) is connected to the aforementioned outlet via an air passage, A residence (R2) that can adjust the air quality inside the dwelling.

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