Sterilization and deodorization equipment

Abstract

To provide a device for disinfection and deodorization using ozone and hydroxy radicals, which enables an increased amount of air flowing through an air passage to be effectively disinfected and deodorized using hydroxy radicals.SOLUTION: A device for disinfection and deodorization has: a body case 1 provided with an air passage 4 having an air inlet 2 at one end and an air outlet 3 at the other end; a blowing fan 7 that is disposed in the air passage 4 and blows from the air inlet 2 to the air outlet 3; and an ozone generator 16 that generates ozone for supply to the air passage 4. The air passage 4 is provided with a humidifying structure 17 to increase the relative humidity of the air introduced from the air inlet 2. The air having passed through the humidifying structure 17 is then supplied with ozone generated by the ozone generator 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sterilization and deodorization device that performs sterilization and deodorization treatment by utilizing ozone and hydroxyl radicals. [Background technology]

[0002] This type of sterilization and deodorization device is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 (Name of invention: Air purifier and air quality conditioning device). In the air purifier of Patent Document 1, a fan for blowing air, a dust collection filter, a discharge element, a dust collection section, an ultraviolet lamp, and the like are provided in an air passage (air guide passage) formed in the main body in the order described from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air flow direction. When the air purifier is driven, the discharge element generates ozone in addition to negative ions, and the air in the air passage is sterilized and deodorized by the ozone. Furthermore, the ultraviolet lamp supports a photolysis catalyst made of a semiconductor, and when the ultraviolet lamp irradiates the photolysis catalyst with light of a band gap or more, hydroxyl radicals are generated on the surface of the catalyst, and the air in the air passage is sterilized and deodorized by the oxidation-reduction action of the hydroxyl radicals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-140688 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As in the air purifier of Patent Document 1, by using hydroxyl radicals, which have a stronger redox effect than ozone, in addition to ozone, more advanced sterilization and deodorization treatment can be performed on the air in the air duct. However, hydroxyl radicals disappear in a short time after they are generated, and in the air purifier of Patent Document 1, hydroxyl radicals are generated only on the surface of the photodegradation catalyst, so the generation area of ​​the hydroxyl radicals is localized. Therefore, advanced sterilization and deodorization treatment by hydroxyl radicals is performed only on a part of the air flowing along the surface of the photodegradation catalyst in the air duct, while most of the air is only sterilized and deodorized by ozone.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing and deodorizing device that utilizes ozone and hydroxyl radicals and can perform advanced sterilizing and deodorizing treatment using hydroxyl radicals on a larger amount of air flowing through an air guide duct. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The sterilization and deodorization device of the present invention comprises a main body case 1 in which an air guide duct 4 is formed having an air inlet 2 at one end and an air outlet 3 at the other end, a blower fan 7 arranged in the air guide duct 4 and feeding air from the air inlet 2 to the air outlet 3, and an ozone generator 16 that generates ozone and supplies it to the air guide duct 4. The air guide duct 4 is provided with a humidification structure 17 that increases the relative humidity of the air introduced from the air inlet 2, and the ozone generated in the ozone generator 16 is supplied to the air that has passed through the humidification structure 17.

[0007] The humidity increasing structure 17 includes a cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68 having a heat absorbing portion 66 , and the heat absorbing portion 66 of the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68 is disposed in a state facing the air guide 4 .

[0008] The humidity-enhancing structure 17 includes a water tank 70 for receiving condensation water generated in the heat absorbing portion 66 of the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68, and an evaporation means 71 for evaporating or misting the condensation water received in the water tank 70.

[0009] The device includes a dehumidification air passage 53 that draws in air from the outside of the main body case 1 and reduces the relative humidity of the drawn-in air, and an ozone generating section 16 that generates ozone by a discharge phenomenon is provided at the downstream end of the dehumidification air passage 53. The dehumidification air passage 53 is provided with a dehumidification thermoelectric conversion element 56 that cools the air drawn into the dehumidification air passage 53 and condenses the water vapor contained in the air, and a dehumidification tank 58 that receives the condensation water generated by the dehumidification thermoelectric conversion element 56. The ozone generating section 16 is provided in the air guide 4, and a humidity increasing structure 17 is provided in the air guide 4 downstream of the ozone generating section 16. The humidity increasing structure 17 is configured to include the dehumidification tank 58 and an evaporation section 63 that evaporates the condensation water received in the dehumidification tank 58.

[0010] The high-humidity structure 17 includes a water tank 18 for storing water formed in the air guide 4, and a humidifying means 19 for humidifying the air by evaporating or misting the water stored in the water tank 18.

[0011] An ozone supply port 28 is provided to supply ozone generated in the ozone generating section 16 to the air guide 4. A filter section 36 capable of adsorbing ozone is provided downstream of the ozone supply port 28 in the air guide 4.

[0012] An ozone supply port 28 is provided to supply ozone generated in the ozone generating unit 16 to the air guide 4. A wind mixing passage 49 made of a bent air passage is formed in the air guide 4 downstream of the ozone supply port 28, which increases the chance of contact between the water vapor contained in the air flowing through the air guide 4 and the ozone.

[0013] The device is configured so that ozone is blown out from the air outlet 3 together with the air humidified by the humidity-enhancing structure 17 .

[0014] The air guide duct 4 is provided with an ozone outlet 32 ​​for emitting ozone toward the air outlet 3.

[0015] An ozone outlet 33 for blowing out air containing ozone toward the outside of the main body case 1 is provided adjacent to the air outlet 3.

[0016] The ozone outlet 33 is provided so that the direction in which ozone is blown out from the ozone outlet 33 intersects with the direction in which air is blown out from the air outlet 3.

[0017] An avoidance air passage 38 is provided in the air guide 4 to avoid the filter portion 36 and connect the air guide 4 on the upstream side and downstream side of the filter portion 36.

[0018] An ozone generating electrode 21 that electrolyzes water to generate ozone is provided so as to be immersed in the water stored in the water storage tank 18.

[0019] The humidifying means 19 is composed of an ultrasonic vibrator 20 that turns the water in which ozone is dissolved and stored in the water tank 18 into mist. Effect of the Invention

[0020] In the sterilization and deodorization device according to the present invention, focusing on the fact that hydroxyl radicals are generated by the reaction between water vapor (water molecules) and ozone, a humidity-increasing structure 17 for increasing the relative humidity of air introduced from the air inlet 2 is provided in the air guide 4, and ozone generated by the ozone generating unit 16 is supplied to the air that has passed through the humidity-increasing structure 17. In this way, when ozone is supplied to air with a high relative humidity, the water vapor and ozone are sufficiently reacted with each other, and hydroxyl radicals can be efficiently generated in the air flowing through the air guide 4. Therefore, according to the present invention, a large amount of hydroxyl radicals can be generated in the air guide 4 without the hydroxyl radical generation area being localized as in the conventional air purifier, and therefore it is possible to perform advanced sterilization and deodorization treatment by hydroxyl radicals on a larger amount of air flowing through the air guide 4.

[0021] When the humidity-enhancing structure 17 includes a cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68 having a heat absorption portion 66, and the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68 is provided with the heat absorption portion 66 facing the air guide 4, the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68 is driven to exchange heat between the air flowing through the air guide 4 and the heat absorption portion 66, thereby lowering the temperature of the air that has passed through the heat absorption portion 66. As a result, the relative humidity of the air that has passed through the heat absorption portion 66 is increased due to the temperature drop, and water vapor and ozone can be reacted to efficiently generate hydroxyl radicals.

[0022] If the high-humidity structure 17 is equipped with a water tank 70 that receives condensation water generated in the heat absorption portion 66 of the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68, and an evaporation means 71 that evaporates or turns the condensation water received in the water tank 70 into mist, when the air flowing through the air guide 4 is cooled by the heat absorption portion 66 of the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68, even if the moisture in the air is liquefied as condensation water at the heat absorption portion 66, the condensation water can be evaporated or turned into mist again by the evaporation means 71 to promote evaporation, thereby preventing a decrease in the total amount of moisture contained in the air sucked in from the air inlet 2 and enabling efficient generation of hydroxyl radicals.

[0023] If a dehumidifying air duct 53 is provided which draws in air from outside the main body case 1 and reduces the relative humidity of the drawn-in air, and an ozone generating unit 16 which generates ozone by discharge is provided at the downstream end of the dehumidifying air duct 53, then in the ozone generating unit 16 which utilizes discharge, the lower the relative humidity of the air surrounding the ozone generating unit 16, the greater the amount of ozone generated per unit time, and therefore the ozone generating unit 16 can efficiently generate a large amount of ozone. In addition, the dehumidifying air passage 53 is provided with a dehumidifying thermoelectric conversion element 56 that cools the air sucked in from the air inlet 2 and condenses the water vapor contained in the air, and a dehumidifying tank 58 that receives the condensed water generated by the dehumidifying thermoelectric conversion element 56, and a configuration can be adopted in which the ozone generating unit 16 is provided in the air guide 4 and the humidity increasing structure 17 is provided downstream of the ozone generating unit 16. This makes it possible to increase the relative humidity of the air downstream of the ozone generating unit 16, which can efficiently generate ozone, and therefore makes it possible to react a large amount of water vapor with ozone and generate hydroxyl radicals more efficiently. In addition, according to the humidity-enhancing structure 17 including the dehumidifying tank 58 and the evaporation section 63 that evaporates the condensed water received in the dehumidifying tank 58, there is no need to supply water from the outside, which eliminates the need to refill the tank with water.

[0024] When the high-humidity structure 17 is configured to include a water storage tank 18 that stores water formed in the air guide 4, and a humidification means 19 that humidifies the air by evaporating or turning the water stored in the water storage tank 18 into mist, the humidification means 19 evaporates or turns the water in the water storage tank 18 into mist to promote evaporation and humidify the air flowing through the air guide 4, thereby increasing the total amount of water vapor contained in the air, raising the relative humidity, and making it possible to generate hydroxyl radicals more efficiently.

[0025] An ozone supply port 28 is provided to supply ozone generated in the ozone generating section 16 to the air guide 4. When a filter section 36 capable of adsorbing ozone is provided in the air guide 4 downstream of the ozone supply port 28, the ozone can be adsorbed by the filter section 36 and reacted with water vapor contained in the air flowing through the air guide 4. As a result, hydroxyl radicals can be generated in the filter section 36, and sterilization and deodorization treatment can be performed on the dust collected by the filter section 36.

[0026] An ozone supply port 28 is provided to supply ozone generated in the ozone generating section 16 to the air guide 4. When a mixed air duct 49 consisting of a curved air duct is formed in the air guide duct 4 downstream of the ozone supply port 28, which increases the opportunity for contact between the water vapor contained in the air flowing through the air guide duct 4 and the ozone, the water vapor can be made to react actively with the ozone in the mixed air duct 49, and a large amount of hydroxyl radicals can be generated.

[0027] When the sterilization and deodorization device is configured so that ozone is blown out from the air outlet 3 together with the air humidified by the high-humidification structure 17, it can be used as a humidifier or a steamer for clothes, etc., capable of sterilization and deodorization treatment in the supply area of ​​the air blown out from the air outlet 3. Furthermore, in the air outlet 3, the humidified air and ozone are mixed to generate hydroxyl radicals, and advanced sterilization and deodorization treatment can be performed in the air outlet 3.

[0028] If an ozone outlet 32 ​​that releases ozone toward the air outlet 3 is provided in the air guide duct 4, hydroxyl radicals can be generated again at the air outlet 3, allowing sterilization and deodorization to be performed. In addition, since ozone that has not reacted with water vapor can be blown out from the air outlet 3, sterilization and deodorization using ozone can be performed in the supply area of ​​the air blown out from the air outlet 3.

[0029] If an ozone outlet 33 for blowing out air containing ozone toward the outside of the main body case 1 is provided adjacent to the air outlet 3, the ozone can be diffused along the edge of the air blown out from the air outlet 3, so that sterilization and deodorization treatment using ozone can be performed over a wider area.

[0030] If the ozone outlet 33 is arranged so that the direction of the ozone blown out from the ozone outlet 33 intersects with the direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 3, the ozone can be diffused along with the flow of air blown out from the air outlet 3, so that sterilization and deodorization treatment using ozone can be performed over a wider area.

[0031] If an avoidance air duct 38 is provided in the air duct 4, which avoids the filter section 36 and connects the air ducts 4 upstream and downstream of the filter section 36, a portion of the ozone can be sent to the air duct 4 downstream of the filter section 36 via the avoidance air duct 38, so that ozone can be blown out from the air outlet 3 without the need to provide a structure for generating ozone downstream of the filter section 36.

[0032] If the ozone generating electrode 21 that generates ozone by electrolyzing water is provided so as to be immersed in the water stored in the water storage tank 18, ozone can be dissolved in the water stored in the water storage tank 18, so that the propagation of germs and the like in the water of the water storage tank 18 can be prevented and the sanitary condition of the water in the water storage tank 18 can be maintained. In addition, ozone can be added to the mist generated by the humidification means 19.

[0033] When the humidification means 19 is composed of an ultrasonic vibrator 20 that turns water containing dissolved ozone stored in a water tank 18 into mist, air containing the mist with dissolved ozone can be blown out from the air outlet 3, so that sterilization and deodorization treatment can be performed in the surrounding area of ​​the device using the mist containing ozone. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing a sterilization deodorization device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing a sterilization deodorization device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional side view showing a sterilization deodorization device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional side view showing a sterilization deodorization device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional side view showing a sterilization deodorization device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional side view showing a sterilization deodorization device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional side view showing a sterilization deodorization apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional side view showing a main part of a sterilizing deodorizing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the sterilization and deodorization device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the vertical direction is defined as up and down, the horizontal direction is defined as front and rear, and the depth direction is defined as left and right, respectively, when facing the drawing. In FIG. 1, the sterilization and deodorization device has a main body case 1 in the shape of a vertically long box having a pentagonal shape in a side view, and an air guide duct 4 is formed inside the main body case 1, one end of which is an air inlet 2 and the other end of which is an air outlet 3. The air inlet 2 is opened at the lower rear surface of the main body case 1, and the air outlet 3 is opened at a sloped portion on the front side of the upper surface of the main body case 1. The air guide duct 4 is formed in a substantially L-shape with a horizontal air path 5 extending from the air inlet 2 in the front and rear horizontal directions, and a vertical air path 6 extending vertically up and down toward the air outlet 3. A blower fan 7 that supplies air from the air inlet 2 to the air outlet 3 is installed near the air inlet 2 of the horizontal air path 5.

[0036] The vertical air passage 6 includes a main air passage 10 on the rear side with a relatively large air passage diameter, a sub-air passage 11 on the front side with a relatively small air passage diameter, and a chamber section 12 that brings together both air passages 10 and 11. When the blower fan 7 is driven, air outside the main body case 1 is drawn into the horizontal air passage 5 (air guide passage 4) from the air inlet 2, and the air drawn into the horizontal air passage 5 is blown out of the main body case 1 from the air outlet 3 facing the chamber section 12 via the main air passage 10 and the sub-air passage 11. A group of louvers 13 extending in the left-right direction is provided on the air outlet 3 side of the chamber section 12, and each louver 13 is provided so that the forward inclination angle decreases from the front side to the rear side. The air blown out from the air outlet 3 is blown out in a fan shape that spreads up and down toward the front upper direction by the group of louvers 13.

[0037] Inside the main body case 1, an ozone generating section 16 is provided which generates ozone for sterilizing and deodorizing the air flowing through the air guide 4. The sterilizing and deodorizing process for the air is configured to be performed using hydroxyl radicals in addition to the ozone generated by the ozone generating section 16, and the sterilizing and deodorizing device of this embodiment uses hydroxyl radicals generated by the reaction of water vapor and ozone contained in the air. When hydroxyl radicals are generated by reacting water vapor and ozone, the two can be efficiently reacted to generate hydroxyl radicals in a state where the relative humidity of the air is 40% to 100%. The relative humidity of the air at which the two can be efficiently reacted is preferably 70% to 95%, and more preferably 75% to 85%.

[0038] In order to increase the relative humidity of the air sucked through the air inlet 2 to a relative humidity at which water vapor and ozone can react efficiently, a humidification structure 17 is provided in the air guide 4. The humidification structure 17 is provided with a water tank 18 provided in the rear half of the horizontal air guide 5 for storing water, and a humidification means 19 installed on the bottom wall of the water tank 18 for evaporating or misting the water in the water tank 18. The humidification means 19 is composed of an ultrasonic vibrator 20 immersed in the stored water, and when the ultrasonic vibrator 20 is driven, the water is misted on the water surface by ultrasonic vibrations applied to the water. The mist water has a very small particle size, which promotes evaporation, and the mist released into the air evaporates, supplying water vapor to the air, thereby increasing the relative humidity of the air flowing through the air guide 4.

[0039] An ozone generating electrode 21 consisting of a pair of electrode rods is installed on the bottom wall of the water storage tank 18 so as to be adjacent to the ultrasonic vibrator 20 in the front and rear. When a voltage higher than that at which water is electrolyzed is applied to the ozone generating electrode 21, ozone is generated at the electrode 21, and the generated ozone is dissolved in the water in the water storage tank 18. Ozone that is not dissolved in the water is released into the air flowing through the air guide 4. Water is supplied to the water storage tank 18 via a water supply port not shown in the figure.

[0040] The ozone generating unit 16 includes a first ozone generating unit 16A that supplies ozone to the air flowing through the main air passage 10, and a second ozone generating unit 16B that supplies ozone to the air near the air outlet 3. Each of the ozone generating units 16A and 16B includes a needle-shaped discharge electrode 22 and a crown-shaped counter electrode 23 that faces the discharge electrode 22. The first ozone generating unit 16A is provided in a first ozone air passage 26 that connects the main air passage 10 to the rear surface of the main body case 1, and the second ozone generating unit 16B is provided in a second ozone air passage 27 that connects the chamber unit 12 and the upper surface of the main body case 1 to the rear surface of the main body case 1. The first ozone generating unit 16A is configured to generate a larger amount of ozone than the second ozone generating unit 16B.

[0041] In the first ozone air passage 26, air is drawn from the outside of the main case 1 into the first ozone air passage 26 due to the Venturi effect of the air flowing through the main air passage 10. The air drawn into the first ozone air passage 26, containing the ozone generated in the first ozone generating unit 16A, is supplied from an ozone supply port 28 opening toward the main air passage 10 at the downstream end of the first ozone air passage 26 to the main air passage 10, through which the air whose relative humidity has been increased in the humidity-increasing structure 17 flows.

[0042] In the second ozone air passage 27, air is drawn from the outside of the main body case 1 into the second ozone air passage 27 by a blower fan 29 installed on the upstream side of the air passage 27. The second ozone air passage 27 downstream of the second ozone generating unit 16B is bifurcated into an internal air passage 30 communicating with the chamber unit 12 and an external air passage 31 communicating with the upper surface of the main body case 1. The air drawn into the second ozone air passage 27 by the blower fan 29 contains ozone generated in the second ozone generating unit 16B, and is discharged toward the air outlet 3 from an ozone outlet 32 ​​at the downstream end of the internal air passage 30, which opens toward the chamber unit 12, and the remaining air is blown out to the outside of the main body case 1 from an ozone outlet 33 at the downstream end of the external air passage 31, which opens toward the upper side of the main body case 1 adjacent to the rear side of the air outlet 3. The ozone outlet 33 is provided so that the direction of the ozone blown out from the outlet 33 intersects with the direction of the air blown out in a fan shape from the air outlet 3. Since the ozone release port 32 and the ozone outlet 33 only need to supply ozone toward the air flow in the air guide 4 and the air flow blown out from the air outlet 3, the blowing capacity of the blower fan 29 installed in the second ozone air passage 27 is set to be smaller than the blowing capacity of the blower fan 7 installed in the air guide 4. Either the ozone release port 32 or the ozone outlet 33 may be omitted.

[0043] A filter section 36 that captures dust in the air and adsorbs ozone is provided in the main air passage 10 between the ozone supply port 28 and the chamber section 12. The filter section 36 is made of a porous body obtained by sintering granular activated carbon into a block shape that matches the cross-sectional shape of the main air passage 10, and a through hole 37 is provided in the center of the filter section 36, penetrating vertically. In order to prevent all of the ozone supplied from the ozone supply port 28 from being adsorbed by the filter section 36, an avoidance air passage 38 is provided that avoids the filter section 36 and connects the main air passage 10 (air guide passage 4) on the upstream side and downstream side of the filter section 36. The avoidance air passage 38 in this embodiment is formed by the through hole 37 provided in the filter section 36.

[0044] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 41 denotes a drive unit that drives the blower fans 7 and 29, the ozone generating section 16 (16A and 16B), the ultrasonic vibrator 20, and the ozone generating electrode 21, reference numeral 42 denotes a control unit that controls the operation of the drive unit 41, and reference numeral 43 denotes a power switch for turning the sterilization and deodorization device on and off. The power switch 43 is a tactile switch that turns the sterilization and deodorization device on and off every time it is pressed. The sterilization and deodorization device is driven by commercial power supplied by a power supply cord 44. It is also possible to mount a secondary battery inside the main body case 1 and drive the sterilization and deodorization device by the power of the secondary battery.

[0045] When the sterilization and deodorization device is in an off state, if the power switch 43 is pressed and a signal is output to the control unit 42, the control unit 42 drives the blower fans 7 and 29, the ozone generator 16 (16A and 16B), the ultrasonic vibrator 20, and the ozone generating electrode 21 to start up the sterilization and deodorization device. The air sucked into the horizontal air duct 5 from the air intake 2 by the blower fan 7 is supplied with water vapor as the mist generated in the humidity-enhancing structure 17 evaporates, increasing the relative humidity, and ozone is supplied from the ozone supply port 28 in the main air duct 10. At this time, the water vapor reacts with the ozone to generate hydroxyl radicals, and the bacteria, viruses, and odors contained in the air flowing through the main air duct 10 (air guide duct 4) are sterilized and deodorized by the hydroxyl radicals and the remaining unreacted ozone.

[0046] In the filter section 36, dust and remaining ozone are collected and adsorbed, and some of the adsorbed ozone reacts with water vapor in the filter section 36 to generate hydroxyl radicals, which sterilize and deodorize bacteria, viruses, and odors attached to the dust. In the filter section 36, some of the air passes through an avoidance flow path 38 consisting of through holes 37, and the ozone is sent to the air outlet 3 side without being removed. The air flowing through the secondary air passage 11 is sent to the air outlet 3 side while the bacteria, viruses, and odors contained in the air flowing through the secondary air passage 11 (air guide passage 4) are sterilized and deodorized by ozone, as the mist containing ozone generated in the high-humidity structure 17 flows together with the air.

[0047] The air that has been fed through the main air passage 10 and the sub-air passage 11 and has reached the chamber section 12 is further mixed with ozone discharged from the ozone discharge port 32 in the chamber section 12 for sterilization and deodorization treatment, and is blown out of the air outlet 3 together with the mist that remains without evaporating in a fan shape spreading up and down toward the front upper direction of the main body case 1. Ozone is also blown out from the ozone outlet 33 provided adjacent to the air outlet 3, and some of the ozone is mixed into the air blown out from the air outlet 3, while the remaining part is diffused to the surroundings by the force of the air blown out from the air outlet 3. This performs sterilization and deodorization treatment of the air in the blowing direction of the air outlet 3 and the air around the sterilization and deodorization device.

[0048] When the sterilization and deodorization device is in the on state, if the power switch 43 is pressed and a signal is output to the control unit 42, the control unit 42 stops driving the blower fans 7·29, the ozone generating unit 16 (16A·16B), the ultrasonic vibrator 20, and the ozone generating electrode 21. Even after the sterilization and deodorization device is stopped, ozone remains dissolved in the water in the water storage tank 18, so that the ozone prevents the stored water from puttingrefactive.

[0049] As described above, the sterilization and deodorization device of this embodiment focuses on the fact that hydroxyl radicals are generated by the reaction of water vapor (water molecules) with ozone, and is configured to provide a humidity-increasing structure 17 for increasing the relative humidity of the air introduced from the air inlet 2 in the air guide 4, and to supply ozone generated by the ozone generating unit 16 to the air that has passed through the humidity-increasing structure 17. In this way, by supplying ozone to air with a high relative humidity, water vapor and ozone are sufficiently reacted with each other to efficiently generate hydroxyl radicals in the air flowing through the air guide 4, so that a large amount of hydroxyl radicals can be generated in the air guide 4 without the hydroxyl radical generation area being localized as in conventional air purifiers. Therefore, it is possible to perform advanced sterilization and deodorization treatment by hydroxyl radicals on a larger amount of air flowing through the air guide 4.

[0050] The high-humidity structure 17 includes a water tank 18 that stores water formed in the air guide 4, and an ultrasonic vibrator 20 (humidification means 19) that converts the water stored in the water tank 18 into mist to humidify the air. This promotes evaporation of the mist water, increases the total amount of water vapor contained in the air flowing through the air guide 4, and increases the relative humidity, thereby enabling hydroxyl radicals to be generated more efficiently.

[0051] An ozone supply port 28 is provided to supply ozone generated in the ozone generating section 16 to the air guide 4, and a filter section 36 capable of adsorbing ozone is provided in the air guide 4 downstream of the ozone supply port 28, so that the ozone can be adsorbed by the filter section 36 and reacted with water vapor contained in the air flowing through the air guide 4. This allows hydroxyl radicals to be generated in the filter section 36, and the dust collected by the filter section 36 can be subjected to a sterilization and deodorization treatment.

[0052] Since ozone is blown out from the air outlet 3 together with the air humidified by the high-humidification structure 17, the sterilization and deodorization device can be used as a humidifier that can perform sterilization and deodorization treatment in the supply area of ​​the air blown out from the air outlet 3. Furthermore, in the air outlet 3, the humidified air and ozone are mixed to generate hydroxyl radicals, and an advanced sterilization and deodorization treatment can be performed in the air outlet 3.

[0053] Since the air guide 4 is provided with an ozone outlet 32 ​​that releases ozone toward the air outlet 3, sterilization and deodorization can be performed by generating hydroxyl radicals again at the air outlet 3. In addition, since the ozone that has not reacted with water vapor can be blown out from the air outlet 3, sterilization and deodorization can be performed in the supply area of ​​the air blown out from the air outlet 3.

[0054] An ozone outlet 33 for blowing out air containing ozone toward the outside of the main body case 1 is provided adjacent to the air outlet 3, so that the ozone can be diffused along the edge of the air blown out from the air outlet 3, and sterilization and deodorization treatment can be performed over a wider area.

[0055] The ozone outlet 33 is provided so that the direction of the ozone blown out from the ozone outlet 33 intersects with the direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 3, so that the ozone is diffused along with the flow of the air blown out from the air outlet 3, and sterilization and deodorization can be performed in a wider area.

[0056] Since an avoidance air duct 38 is provided in the air duct 4 to avoid the filter section 36 and connect the air ducts 4 on the upstream side and downstream side of the filter section 36, a part of the ozone is sent to the air duct 4 on the downstream side of the filter section 36 via the avoidance air duct 38, and the ozone can be blown out from the air outlet 3 without the need to provide a structure for generating ozone on the downstream side of the filter section 36.

[0057] The ozone generating electrode 21, which generates ozone by electrolyzing water, is provided so as to be immersed in the water stored in the water storage tank 18, so that ozone can be dissolved in the water stored in the water storage tank 18 and the proliferation of bacteria and the like in the water in the water storage tank 18 can be prevented. This makes it possible to maintain the sanitary condition of the water in the water storage tank 18, and since the humidifying means 19 is composed of an ultrasonic vibrator 20, ozone can be added to the generated mist, and sterilization and deodorization treatment can be performed using the mist containing ozone in the surrounding area of ​​the device.

[0058] In addition, the above-mentioned sterilization and deodorization device can perform advanced sterilization and deodorization treatment of the air using hydroxyl radicals, which can contribute to Goal 3 (good health and well-being for all) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocated by the United Nations.

[0059] In addition to the above, the humidifying means 19 may be a heater that evaporates water in the water tank 18 instead of the ultrasonic vibrator 20. A humidity sensor is provided in the air guide 4 downstream of the humidity-increasing structure 17, and the drive output of the humidity-increasing structure 17 can be adjusted based on the detection result of the humidity sensor. This makes it possible to control the relative humidity of the air to which ozone is supplied to be a target relative humidity, and allows the water vapor and ozone to react more effectively, thereby stably generating a large amount of hydroxyl radicals.

[0060] (Second embodiment) Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the sterilization and deodorization device according to the present invention, in which the internal structure of the main body case 1 is different from that of the first embodiment. The same configurations, structures, and members as those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations are omitted. The definitions of the up-down, left-right, front-rear directions of the sterilization and deodorization device are also the same. These are the same in each of the following embodiments.

[0061] 2, vertical air passage 6 includes main air passage 10 connected to horizontal air passage 5, and chamber section 12 provided at the downstream end of main air passage 10. Blower fan 7 is provided on the downstream end side of horizontal air passage 5, and when blower fan 7 is driven, air outside main body case 1 is drawn from air inlet 2 into horizontal air passage 5 (air guide passage 4), and the air drawn into horizontal air passage 5 is blown out of main body case 1 from air outlet 3 facing chamber section 12 via main air passage 10. High-humidity structure 17 includes water storage tank 18 provided at the connection between horizontal air passage 5 and vertical air passage 6 for storing water, and ultrasonic vibrator 20 (humidification means 19) provided at the bottom wall of water storage tank 18 for turning water in water storage tank 18 into mist.

[0062] The ozone generating section 16 includes a first ozone generating section 16A that supplies ozone to air flowing through the horizontal air passage 5, and a second ozone generating section 16B that supplies ozone to air flowing through the vertical air passage 6. The first ozone generating section 16A is provided in a first ozone air passage 26 that connects the upstream end of the horizontal air passage 5 with the rear surface of the main body case 1, and the second ozone generating section 16B is provided in a second ozone air passage 27 that connects the main air passage 10 with the rear surface of the main body case 1. The first ozone generating section 16A is configured to generate a larger amount of ozone than the second ozone generating section 16B.

[0063] In the first ozone air passage 26, air is drawn from the outside of the main body case 1 into the first ozone air passage 26 by the blower fan 7. The air drawn into the first ozone air passage 26, containing the ozone generated in the first ozone generating unit 16A, is supplied to the horizontal air passage 5 from an ozone supply port 28, which is the downstream end of the first ozone air passage 26 and opens toward the horizontal air passage 5.

[0064] The second ozone air passage 27 is composed of one air passage, and in the second ozone air passage 27, air is drawn from the outside of the main case 1 into the second ozone air passage 27 by the Venturi effect of the air flowing through the main air passage 10. The air drawn into the second ozone air passage 27, containing the ozone generated in the second ozone generating unit 16B, is discharged toward the main air passage 10 from an ozone discharge port 32, which is the downstream end of the second ozone air passage 27 and opens toward the main air passage 10.

[0065] A filter section 36 is provided in the horizontal air passage 5 on the upstream side of the blower fan 7. The through-hole 37 of the filter section 36 is omitted, and an avoidance air passage 38 is provided to avoid the filter section 36 and connect the horizontal air passage 5 (air guide passage 4) on the upstream side and downstream side of the filter section 36.

[0066] In order to increase the relative humidity of the air flowing in the horizontal air passage 5 upstream of the humidity-enhancing structure 17, a humidity-supply air passage 47 is provided which connects the horizontal air passage 5 between the ozone supply port 28 and the filter section 36 with the main air passage 10. When the blower fan 7 is driven, the horizontal air passage 5 side becomes negative pressure and the main air passage 10 side becomes positive pressure, so that part of the air which has passed through the humidity-enhancing structure 17 and has had its relative humidity increased is sent through the humidity-supply air passage 47 to the horizontal air passage 5 downstream of the ozone supply port 28.

[0067] When the power switch 43 is pressed to start the sterilization and deodorization device, air is sucked into the horizontal air duct 5 from the air inlet 2 by the blower fan 7, and the relative humidity of the air is increased by the humidity-enhancing structure 17. A part of the air is then sent to the horizontal air duct 5 via the humidified air duct 47, and ozone is supplied from the ozone supply port 28 in the horizontal air duct 5. At this time, water vapor reacts with ozone to generate hydroxyl radicals, and bacteria, viruses, and odors contained in the air flowing through the horizontal air duct 5 (air guide duct 4) are sterilized and deodorized by the hydroxyl radicals and the remaining unreacted ozone.

[0068] In the filter section 36, dust and remaining ozone are collected and adsorbed, and a part of the adsorbed ozone reacts with water vapor in the filter section 36 to generate hydroxyl radicals, which sterilize and deodorize bacteria, viruses, and odors attached to the dust. In addition, a part of the air flowing through the horizontal air passage 5 passes through the avoidance flow passage 38, and is sent to the vertical air passage 6 without removing the ozone. In the vertical air passage 6, ozone released from the ozone outlet 32 ​​is further mixed. At this time, air with increased humidity is sent to the vertical air passage 6 by the high humidity structure 17, so that hydroxyl radicals are generated when ozone is mixed, and advanced sterilization and deodorization is performed around the air outlet 3. The air after sterilization and deodorization is blown out from the air outlet 3 together with the remaining ozone and mist in a fan shape spreading up and down toward the front upper direction of the main body case 1.

[0069] (Third embodiment) Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of the sterilization and deodorization device according to the present invention, and the internal structure of the main body case 1 is different from that of the first embodiment. In Fig. 3, the vertical air passage 6 includes a main air passage 10 provided at the upstream end of the vertical air passage 6, a chamber section 12 provided at the downstream end of the vertical air passage 6, and a mixed air passage 49 consisting of a curved air passage provided between the main air passage 10 and the chamber section 12. The mixed air passage 49 is configured as an air passage that extends horizontally backward and further extends horizontally forward by turning around 180 degrees. The high-humidity structure 17 includes a water storage tank 18 provided at the connection part between the horizontal air passage 5 and the vertical air passage 6 and stores water, and an ultrasonic vibrator 20 (humidification means 19) installed on the bottom wall of the water storage tank 18 and turning the water in the water storage tank 18 into mist.

[0070] The ozone generating unit 16 supplies ozone to the air flowing through the main air passage 10. The ozone generating unit 16 is provided in an ozone air passage 50 that communicates the main air passage 10 with the rear surface of the main body case 1. In the ozone air passage 50, air is drawn from the outside of the main body case 1 into the ozone air passage 50 due to the Venturi effect of the air flowing through the main air passage 10. The air drawn into the ozone air passage 50, containing ozone generated by the ozone generating unit 16, is discharged toward the main air passage 10 from an ozone supply port 28 that opens toward the main air passage 10 and is the downstream end of the ozone air passage 50.

[0071] When the power switch 43 is pressed to start the sterilization and deodorization device, the air whose relative humidity has been increased by passing through the humidification structure 17 reaches the mixed air duct 49 together with the ozone supplied from the ozone supply port 28 to the main air duct 10. In this embodiment, the mixed air duct 49, which is an inverted, bent air duct provided in the vertical air duct 6, sets the air duct length of the vertical air duct 6 longer than in the first embodiment, thereby increasing the chance of contact between the water vapor contained in the air and the ozone, and making it possible to generate hydroxyl radicals more efficiently. The air that has been sterilized and deodorized in the vertical air duct 6 is blown out in a fan shape spreading up and down toward the front upper direction of the main body case 1 from the air outlet 3 together with the remaining ozone and mist.

[0072] In the sterilization and deodorization apparatus according to the above embodiment, a mixed air duct 49 is formed in the air duct 4 downstream of the ozone supply port 28, which increases the opportunity for contact between the water vapor contained in the air flowing through the air duct 4 and the ozone. This allows the water vapor to actively react with the ozone in the mixed air duct 49, thereby generating a large amount of hydroxyl radicals.

[0073] Although the above-mentioned mixed air duct 49 is configured as an air duct that turns 180 degrees, it may also be configured as a serpentine air duct or a spiral air duct, and the above-mentioned winding air duct includes a curved air duct.

[0074] (Fourth embodiment) Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the sterilization and deodorization device according to the present invention, which differs from the first to third embodiments in the configuration of the high humidity structure 17. In Fig. 4, the main body case 1 of the sterilization and deodorization device is formed in a vertically long rectangular box shape, and an air guide duct 4 is formed inside the main body case 1, with one end serving as an air inlet 2 and the other end serving as an air outlet 3. The air inlet 2 opens at the lower rear surface of the main body case 1, and the air outlet 3 opens at the front side of the upper surface of the main body case 1. The air guide duct 4 is formed in a substantially L-shape with a horizontal air duct 5 extending from the air inlet 2 in the horizontal direction in the front-rear direction and a vertical air duct 6 extending vertically up and down toward the air outlet 3. A blower fan 7 is installed in the horizontal air duct 5 near the air inlet 2 to feed air from the air inlet 2 to the air outlet 3. Three louvers 13 made of vertical walls extending in the left-right direction are provided in the vertical air passage 6 facing the air outlet 3, and the air blown out from the air outlet 3 is blown out toward the top of the main body case 1.

[0075] The sterilization and deodorization device is provided with a dehumidification air duct 53 that draws in air from outside the main body case 1 and reduces the relative humidity of the drawn-in air, in addition to the air guide duct 4. The downstream end of the dehumidification air duct 53 opens upward in the vertical air duct 6 and the upstream end of the air duct opens at the rear surface of the main body case 1, and ozone generator 16 is provided at the downstream end of the air duct 53. In the dehumidification air duct 53, air is drawn from outside the main body case 1 into the dehumidification air duct 53 by the Venturi effect of the air flowing through the vertical air duct 6, and the opening at the downstream end of the dehumidification air duct 53 serves as an ozone supply port 28.

[0076] The air sucked into the dehumidification air passage 53 is dehumidified by a dehumidifying thermoelectric conversion element 56 having a heat absorption portion 54 and a heat dissipation portion 55. The heat absorption portion 54 of the dehumidifying thermoelectric conversion element 56 is arranged in the middle of the dehumidification air passage 53, and the air flowing through the dehumidification air passage 53 is cooled by the heat absorption portion 54, and the water vapor in the air is dehumidified by condensing, thereby lowering the relative humidity of the air. A plurality of cooling fins 57 for increasing the contact area with the air are integrally formed on the heat absorption portion 54. The dehumidification air passage 53 in which the heat absorption portion 54 is arranged is provided with a dehumidification tank 58 for receiving condensation water generated in the heat absorption portion 54, and the condensation water drips from the heat absorption portion 54 and is stored in the dehumidification tank 58.

[0077] Heat dissipation section 55 of dehumidifying thermoelectric conversion element 56 is disposed in heat dissipation air passage 59. Heat dissipation air passage 59 is a horizontal U-shaped air passage whose upstream and downstream ends both open at the rear surface of main body case 1, and heat dissipation fins 60 formed integrally with heat dissipation section 55 are disposed in heat dissipation air passage 59. A cooling fan 61 that supplies air toward heat dissipation fins 60 is provided near the upstream end of heat dissipation air passage 59.

[0078] A suction pipe 62 is provided that sucks up water stored in the dehumidification tank 58 by utilizing capillary action, with one end of the suction pipe 62 immersed in the water in the dehumidification tank 58 and the other end disposed in the vertical air duct 6 downstream of the ozone generation unit 16. An evaporation section 63 made of a cylindrical porous body that evaporates the water sucked up by the suction pipe 62 is provided at the downstream end of the suction pipe 62 disposed in the vertical air duct 6. The humidity-increasing structure 17 of this embodiment is composed of the dehumidification thermoelectric conversion element 56, the dehumidification tank 58, the suction pipe 62, and the evaporation section 63, and the relative humidity of the air flowing through the vertical air duct 6 is increased by evaporating the water in the dehumidification tank 58 in the evaporation section 63.

[0079] When the power switch 43 is pressed to start the sterilization and deodorization device, air is sucked into the air guide 4 from the air inlet 2 by the blower fan 7, and the flow of the sucked air also sucks air into the dehumidification air duct 53. The air sucked into the dehumidification air duct 53 is cooled by the heat absorption section 54, and some of the water vapor condenses on the surface of the heat absorption section 54, and the condensed water is stored in the dehumidification tank 58. As a result, the air flowing downstream of the heat absorption section 54 has a lower relative humidity than when it was sucked into the dehumidification air duct 53, and the air with the lowered relative humidity is sent to the ozone generation section 16. Since the ozone generation section 16 generates ozone by a discharge phenomenon, the amount of ozone generated per unit time increases in air with a low relative humidity, and ozone is generated efficiently.

[0080] Condensed water stored in the dehumidification tank 58 is sucked up by the capillary action of the suction tube 62 and sent to the evaporation section 63. In the evaporation section 63, the condensed water sucked up by the air flowing through the vertical air passage 6 is evaporated, and the relative humidity of the air downstream of the evaporation section 63 is increased. Ozone is supplied from the ozone supply port 28 to the air with the increased relative humidity, and the water vapor reacts with the ozone to generate hydroxyl radicals. The generated hydroxyl radicals and the remaining unreacted ozone perform sterilization and deodorization treatment in the vertical flow passage 6. The air after the sterilization and deodorization treatment is blown upward from the air outlet 3 together with the remaining ozone.

[0081] The sterilization deodorization device according to the above embodiment is provided with a dehumidification air duct 53 that draws in air from outside the main body case 1 and reduces the relative humidity of the drawn-in air, and an ozone generating section 16 that generates ozone by a discharge phenomenon is provided at the downstream end of the dehumidification air duct 53. According to this, in the ozone generating section 16 that utilizes a discharge phenomenon, the lower the relative humidity of the air surrounding the generating section 16, the greater the amount of ozone generated per unit time, so that the ozone generating section 16 can efficiently generate a large amount of ozone.

[0082] The dehumidifying air passage 53 is provided with a dehumidifying thermoelectric conversion element 56 that cools the air sucked in from the air inlet 2 and condenses the water vapor contained in the air, and a dehumidifying tank 58 that receives the condensed water generated by the dehumidifying thermoelectric conversion element 56. The ozone generating unit 16 is provided in the air guide 4, and the high humidity structure 17 is provided downstream of the ozone generating unit 16. This increases the relative humidity of the air downstream of the ozone generating unit 16, which can generate ozone efficiently, and allows a large amount of water vapor to react with ozone, thereby more efficiently generating hydroxyl radicals. In addition, the high humidity structure 17, which is composed of the dehumidifying tank 58, the suction pipe 62, the evaporating unit 63, and the like, does not require the supply of water from the outside, so the effort of refilling water can be omitted. If the sterilization and deodorization device is driven without water stored in the dehumidifying tank 58, there is a risk that the relative humidity of the air downstream of the ozone generating unit 16 cannot be increased at the beginning of the drive. In such a situation, in order to perform advanced sterilization and deodorization treatment from the beginning of operation, it is possible to supply water in advance to the dehumidification tank 58. If the sterilization and deodorization device is operated continuously, the dehumidification tank 58 will be replenished with condensed water, and thereafter, there is no need to supply water from outside.

[0083] (Fifth embodiment) Fig. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the sterilization and deodorization device according to the present invention, which differs from the first to third embodiments in the configuration of the high humidity structure 17. In Fig. 5, the main body case 1 of the sterilization and deodorization device is formed in a vertically long rectangular box shape, and an air guide duct 4 is formed inside the main body case 1, with one end serving as an air inlet 2 and the other end serving as an air outlet 3. The air inlet 2 opens at the lower rear surface of the main body case 1, and the air outlet 3 opens at the front side of the upper surface of the main body case 1. The air guide duct 4 is formed in a substantially L-shape with a horizontal air duct 5 extending from the air inlet 2 in the horizontal direction in the front-rear direction and a vertical air duct 6 extending vertically up and down toward the air outlet 3. A blower fan 7 is installed in the horizontal air duct 5 near the air inlet 2 to feed air from the air inlet 2 to the air outlet 3. Three louvers 13 made of vertical walls extending in the left-right direction are provided in the vertical air passage 6 facing the air outlet 3, and the air blown out from the air outlet 3 is blown out toward the top of the main body case 1.

[0084] The humidity-enhancing structure 17 includes a cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68 having a heat absorption portion 66 and a heat dissipation portion 67, and the heat absorption portion 66 of the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68 is disposed in the vertical air passage 6. When the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68 is driven, heat is exchanged between the air flowing through the air guide passage 4 and the heat absorption portion 66, the temperature of the air is reduced, and the relative humidity of the air can be increased. The heat absorption portion 66 is integrally formed with a plurality of cooling fins 69 for increasing the contact area with the air. The horizontal air passage 5 is branched upward in the middle, and the branched air passage is configured as the heat dissipation air passage 59. The heat dissipation air passage 59 is provided with a heat dissipation fin 72 formed integrally with the heat dissipation portion 67.

[0085] The humidity-enhancing structure 17 also includes a water tank 70 that is provided below the heat absorption section 66 and receives condensation water that drips from the cooling fins 69 when the air is excessively cooled and condensation occurs. An ultrasonic vibrator that constitutes evaporation means 71 that turns the condensation water received in the water tank 70 into mist is provided on the bottom wall of the water tank 70.

[0086] The ozone generating unit 16 supplies ozone to the air flowing through the vertical air passage 6. The ozone generating unit 16 is provided in an ozone air passage 73 that communicates the vertical air passage 6 at a substantially midpoint between the heat absorbing unit 66 and the air outlet 3 with the rear surface of the main body case 1. In the ozone air passage 73, air is sucked from the outside of the main body case 1 into the ozone air passage 73 due to the Venturi effect of the air flowing through the vertical air passage 6. The air sucked into the ozone air passage 73, containing the ozone generated by the ozone generating unit 16, is supplied to the vertical air passage 6 from an ozone supply port 28 that opens toward the vertical air passage 6 and is the downstream end of the ozone air passage 73.

[0087] When the power switch 43 is pressed to start the sterilization and deodorization device, air is sucked into the air guide 4 from the air inlet 2 by the blower fan 7. The air flowing through the vertical air duct 6 is cooled by the heat absorbing portion 66, and some of the water vapor condenses on the surface of the heat absorbing portion 66, and the condensed water is stored in the water receiving tank 70. The condensed water stored in the water receiving tank 70 is turned into mist by the evaporation means 71 and supplied to the vertical air duct 6.

[0088] Condensed water stored in the water receiving tank 70 is turned into mist by the evaporation means 71 and supplied to the vertical air duct 6. The air cooled by the heat absorbing section 66 has a lower relative humidity than when it was sucked into the air guide duct 4. As a result, the air that has passed through the heat absorbing section 66 has an increased relative humidity and contains mist. Ozone is supplied to the air from the ozone supply port 28, and the water vapor reacts with the ozone to generate hydroxyl radicals. The generated hydroxyl radicals and the remaining unreacted ozone perform sterilization and deodorization treatment in the vertical air duct 6. The air that has been sterilized and deodorized is blown upward from the air outlet 3.

[0089] In the sterilization and deodorization device according to the above embodiment, the heat absorption portion 66 of the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68 provided in the humidity-enhancing structure 17 is disposed facing the air guide 4, so that the temperature of the air passing through the heat absorption portion 66 is reduced, thereby increasing the relative humidity of the air, and hydroxyl radicals can be efficiently generated.

[0090] The high-humidity structure 17 includes a water tank 70 that receives condensation water generated in the heat absorption section 66 of the cooling thermoelectric conversion element 68, and an evaporation means 71 that evaporates or turns the condensation water received in the water tank 70 into mist. Therefore, even if the moisture in the air is liquefied as condensation water in the heat absorption section 66, the condensation water can be turned into mist again by the evaporation means 71. This prevents a decrease in the total amount of moisture contained in the air sucked in from the air inlet 2, and enables efficient generation of hydroxyl radicals.

[0091] The evaporation means 71 is configured with an ultrasonic vibrator, but the evaporation means 71 may be a heater that heats the water in the water receiving tank 70 and evaporates it.

[0092] (Sixth embodiment) Fig. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the sterilization and deodorization device according to the present invention, which differs from the fifth embodiment in that the water tank 70 is omitted and the arrangement of the ozone air passage 73 is changed. In Fig. 6, the ozone air passage 73 is a U-shaped air passage, and communicates the vertical air passage 6 on the upstream side of the heat absorption section 66 with the rear surface of the main body case 1. The air sucked into the ozone air passage 73, containing the ozone generated in the ozone generation section 16, is supplied to the vertical air passage 6 from the ozone supply port 28, which is the downstream end of the ozone air passage 73 and opens toward the vertical air passage 6 on the upstream side of the heat absorption section 66, to the vertical air passage 6.

[0093] The cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical air passage 6 in which the heat absorption section 66 and the ozone supply port 28 are arranged is set smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical air passage 6 on the upstream and downstream sides thereof. This increases the flow speed of the vertical air passage 6 in the area of ​​the heat absorption section 66 and the ozone supply port 28, and enhances the Venturi effect in the ozone supply port 28. In addition, the heat absorption section 66 prevents the air from being excessively cooled, preventing condensation from occurring on the cooling fins 69.

[0094] When the power switch 43 is pressed to start the sterilization and deodorization device, air is sucked into the air guide 4 from the air inlet 2 by the blower fan 7. Ozone is supplied to the air flowing through the vertical air guide 6 from the ozone supply port 28, and the air containing ozone is cooled by the heat absorption section 66. The air cooled by the heat absorption section 66 has a lower relative humidity than when it was sucked into the air guide 4, and the water vapor reacts with the ozone to efficiently generate hydroxyl radicals. The generated hydroxyl radicals and the remaining unreacted ozone perform sterilization and deodorization treatment in the vertical flow path 6. The air after the sterilization and deodorization treatment is blown upward from the air outlet 3 together with the remaining ozone.

[0095] (Seventh embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a seventh embodiment in which the sterilization and deodorization device according to the present invention is applied to a steam iron. As shown in FIG. 7, the main body case 1 of the steam iron is pistol-shaped having a head portion 76 and a grip portion 77, and an air guide passage 4 extending in the front-rear direction is formed inside the head portion 76. An iron plate 78 made of a metal plate is attached to the front end of the head portion 76, and the iron plate 78 is disposed in a state facing the chamber portion 12 formed at the downstream end (front end) of the air guide passage 4. The air intake port 2 is opened on the rear surface of the head portion 76 (main body case 1), and a large number of air outlets 3 are opened so as to penetrate the plate surface of the iron plate 78 in the front-rear direction. Near the air intake port 2, a blower fan 7 and an ozone generator 16 are installed in the order described from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air guide passage 4.

[0096] The grip portion 77 is provided with a humidity-enhancing structure 17, which is composed of a water storage tank 18, a humidifying means 19 consisting of a heater 79 that heats and evaporates the water stored in the water storage tank 18, and a steam flow path 80 that sends the water vapor generated in the water storage tank 18 to the air guide 4. When the water stored in the water storage tank 18 is heated by the heater 79 and evaporated, mist is generated together with the water vapor. This is because when high-temperature air containing water vapor is cooled in the steam flow path 80, part of the water vapor is condensed and liquefied.

[0097] When the trigger-type power switch 43 is pressed, the heater 79 is energized to heat the water stored in the water tank 18, and a heater (not shown) for heating the iron plate 78 is also energized to raise the temperature of the iron plate 78. When the heater 79 is energized to generate water vapor, the blower fan 7 and the ozone generating unit 16 are driven, and the air containing ozone sucked in from the air intake port 2 and sent through the air guide 4, and the water vapor and mist generated in the water tank 18 and sent through the steam flow path 80 are mixed at the junction of the air guide 4 and the steam flow path 80. At the junction, the water vapor and the ozone react with each other to efficiently generate hydroxyl radicals, and the sterilization and deodorization process is performed in the air guide 4 with the generated hydroxyl radicals and the unreacted remaining ozone. Hydroxyl radicals are also generated in the chamber 12 after the junction. The air after the sterilization and deodorization process is blown forward from the air outlet 3 together with the remaining ozone and mist. Furthermore, the air blown forward from the air outlet 3 contains a small amount of hydroxyl radicals generated near the air outlet 3. With the power switch 43 pressed, the iron plate 78 is pressed against the clothes, etc., and the mist, ozone, and air containing hydroxyl radicals blown out from the air outlet 3 are blown onto the clothes, etc., thereby making it possible to achieve a high level of sterilization and deodorization of viruses and odors adhering to the clothes, etc., while smoothing out wrinkles in the clothes, etc.

[0098] (Eighth embodiment) FIG. 8 shows an eighth embodiment in which the sterilization and deodorization device according to the present invention is applied to a steam iron. In this embodiment, ozone is supplied to air whose relative humidity has been increased by the humidity-increasing structure 17 at the air outlet 3. In detail, the air guide duct 4 is branched into a plurality of ducts downstream of the ozone generating section 16, and the steam flow path 80 is also branched into a plurality of ducts at its downstream end. These branched air guide ducts 4 and steam flow paths 80 are joined at a mortar-shaped mixing section 81 formed at the inlet of the air outlet 3, and hydroxyl radicals are generated at the mixing section 81. When ozone is supplied to air whose relative humidity has been increased in the vicinity of the air outlet 3 in this way, a large amount of ozone can be supplied to the humidified air just before the air is blown out from the air outlet 3, so that even after the air is blown out from the air outlet 3, water vapor and ozone react with each other to generate hydroxyl radicals. Therefore, by spraying ozone and hydroxyl radicals together with mist-containing air onto clothes, etc., it is possible to accurately perform advanced sterilization and deodorization treatment against viruses and odors adhering to the clothes, etc. while smoothing out wrinkles in the clothes, etc.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the iron plate 78 may be omitted, and a number of air outlets 3 may be formed on the front surface of the head portion 76, which communicate with the chamber portion 12, or where the air guide duct 4 and the steam flow path 80 join together, to form a handheld steamer. In the handheld steamer, the mist, ozone, and hydroxyl radical-containing air blown out from the air outlet 3 may be blown onto clothes, etc., to perform a highly effective sterilization and deodorization process of viruses and odors adhering to the clothes, etc. It is also possible to remove wrinkles from clothes, etc., using the mist. In this way, according to the sterilization and deodorization device having a configuration in which ozone is blown out from the air outlet 3 together with the air humidified by the high humidity structure 17, the sterilization and deodorization device may be used as a steam iron or a steamer for clothes, etc. In addition, the steamer may be used not only for clothes, but also for carpets, sofas, etc. In addition to the above, the ozone outlet 33 described in the first embodiment may also be provided in the seventh and eighth embodiments configured as a steam iron.

[0100] In each of the above embodiments, the ozone generating unit 16 is configured with the discharge electrode 22 formed in a needle shape and the counter electrode 23 formed in a crown shape, but the configuration of the ozone generating unit 16 is not limited to this. For example, the ozone generating unit 16 may have an electrode structure in which a pair of needle-shaped electrodes are arranged so that their needle tips face each other, or an electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are rod-shaped and each electrode is covered with a glass tube and arranged in parallel, or other electrode structures may be adopted. In addition to these corona discharge type ozone generating units 16, ozone generating devices such as ultraviolet type, low-temperature plasma type, and electrolysis type may also be used. The avoidance air duct 38 that connects the upstream side and downstream side of the air guide duct 4 to avoid the filter unit 36 ​​can be omitted. The present invention can be applied to various electrical devices as long as humidified air is mixed with ozone to generate hydroxyl radicals. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 1 Main unit case 2 Air Inlet 3 Air outlet 4 Air guide path 7 Blower fan 16 Ozone generator 17 High humidity structure 18 Water Tank 19 Humidification means 20 Ultrasonic transducer 21 Ozone generating electrode 28 Ozone supply port 32 Ozone outlet 33 Ozone outlet 36 Filter section 38 Avoidance wind route 49 Mixed air path 53 Dehumidifying air path 56 Thermoelectric conversion element for dehumidification 58 Dehumidification Tank 63 Transpiration area 66 Heat sink 68 Thermoelectric conversion element for cooling 70 Water tank 71 Evaporation means

Claims

1. A main body case (1) is formed with an air guide passage (4) having an air intake port (2) at one end and an air outlet port (3) at the other end; a blower fan (7) arranged in the air guide duct (4) and supplying air from the air inlet (2) to the air outlet (3); an ozone generating section (16) that generates ozone and supplies it to the air guide duct (4); Equipped with The air guide passage (4) is provided with a humidification structure (17) for increasing the relative humidity of air introduced from the air inlet (2), and ozone generated in an ozone generating section (16) is supplied to the air that has passed through the humidification structure (17), a dehumidification air duct (53) for sucking in air from outside the main body case (1) and reducing the relative humidity of the sucked air, and an ozone generating section (16) for generating ozone by a discharge phenomenon is provided at a downstream end of the dehumidification air duct (53); The dehumidification air duct (53) is provided with a dehumidification thermoelectric conversion element (56) for cooling the air sucked into the dehumidification air duct (53) and condensing water vapor contained in the air, and a dehumidification tank (58) for receiving condensation water generated by the dehumidification thermoelectric conversion element (56), An ozone generating section (16) is provided in the air guide duct (4), and a humidity increasing structure (17) is provided in the air guide duct (4) downstream of the ozone generating section (16), This sterilization and deodorization device is characterized in that the high humidity structure (17) includes a dehumidification tank (58) and an evaporation section (63) that evaporates condensation water received in the dehumidification tank (58).

2. A main body case (1) having an air intake (2) at one end and an air outlet (3) at the other end formed with an air guide passage (4); a blower fan (7) arranged in the air guide duct (4) and supplying air from the air inlet (2) to the air outlet (3); an ozone generating section (16) that generates ozone and supplies it to the air guide duct (4); Equipped with The air guide passage (4) is provided with a humidification structure (17) for increasing the relative humidity of air introduced from the air inlet (2), and ozone generated in an ozone generating section (16) is supplied to the air that has passed through the humidification structure (17), An ozone supply port (28) is provided for supplying the ozone generated in the ozone generating section (16) to the air guide duct (4), A filter section (36) capable of absorbing ozone is provided downstream of the air guide duct (4) from the ozone supply port (28), This sterilization and deodorization device is characterized in that an avoidance air duct (38) is provided in the air duct (4) to avoid the filter part (36) and connect the air duct (4) on the upstream side and downstream side of the filter part (36).

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