Air purifying device and air purifying method

Abstract

To reliably sterilize and / or inactivate particles containing viruses and bacteria in an electric charging part and dust collection part.SOLUTION: An air cleaner 30 comprises: an electric dust collection part 19 which applies a high voltage to particles and electrically charges the same, and collects the charged particles; sterilization parts 12 which sterilize and / or inactivate the particles by irradiating the same with UV ray; sealing means 6 brings an interior of a body 2 which accommodates the electric dust collection part 19 and the sterilization parts 12 into a sealed state; a suction fan 11 which sucks air into the body 2; and a control part which operates the electric dust collection part 19 and the sterilization part 12 after stopping the suction 11 during sterilization and / or inactivation operation and bringing the interior of the body 2 into the sealed state by the sealing means 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air purifying device and an air purifying method that electrically charges and collects particles containing viruses and bacteria in the air, and sterilizes and / or inactivates them. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a device that collects airborne particles, including viruses and bacteria, by charging them with a corona discharge generated by applying a high voltage.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a so-called two-stage electrostatic precipitator having a separate charging section (the "ionization electrode" in Patent Document 1) and a dust collection section (the "high-voltage dust collection unit" in Patent Document 1). This electrostatic precipitator is provided with an ultraviolet lamp corresponding to the dust collection section, and particles including viruses and bacteria collected by the dust collection section are inactivated (sterilized) by irradiating ultraviolet rays from this ultraviolet lamp. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-175377 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the electrostatic precipitator described in Patent Document 1, particles containing viruses and bacteria adhere to the charging unit in no small amount, but a germicidal lamp (ultraviolet lamp) corresponding to the charging unit is not provided. Therefore, when a worker removes the charging unit or dust collecting unit from the device during maintenance work such as inspection and cleaning, there is a risk that the worker will inhale particles containing non-inactivated viruses and bacteria. In addition, since there is a risk that viruses and bacteria adhere to places other than the dust collecting unit (for example, the charging unit or the wall surface of the flow path), if the viruses and bacteria are not captured by the dust collecting unit, they may be discharged to the outside. Furthermore, there is a problem that the viruses and bacteria are scattered and diffused around the outside of the device, and non-inactivated viruses and bacteria may enter the human body, causing health damage such as illness.

[0006] Furthermore, in the electric dust collector described in Patent Document 1, ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet lamp only from one side of the dust collection section, which means that there is a possibility that the ultraviolet light will not reach the other side of the dust collection section, making it difficult to reliably inactivate viruses and bacteria collected by the dust collection section.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an air purifying device and an air purifying method that can reliably sterilize and / or inactivate particles including viruses and bacteria in the charging section and dust collecting section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first air purifying device of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an electric dust collecting unit that charges particles by applying a high voltage and collects the charged particles, a sterilization unit that irradiates ultraviolet light to sterilize and / or inactivate particles, a sealing means that seals the inside of a main body that houses the electric dust collecting unit and the sterilization unit, a suction fan that draws air into the inside of the main body, and a control unit that stops the suction fan during sterilization and / or inactivation operation, seals the inside of the main body using the sealing means, and then operates the electric dust collecting unit and / or the sterilization unit.

[0009] According to the first air purifying device of the present invention, particles including viruses that are attached and collected inside the device are reliably sterilized and inactivated, so that the air to be discharged to the outside can be purified. In addition, since ozone is generated using the electric dust collector, there is no need to install a separate ozone generator (ozonizer), so it is economical.

[0010] In a second air purifier of the present invention, the control unit switches the polarity of the high voltage applied to the electric dust collecting unit from negative (-) to positive (+) during a sterilization and / or inactivation operation in which ozone is generated from the electric dust collecting unit.

[0011] According to the second air purifying device of the present invention, by switching the polarity of the high voltage applied to the electric dust collecting section from negative (-) to positive (+), more ozone can be generated, thereby enhancing the sterilization effect.

[0012] In a third air purifier of the present invention, the control unit controls current and / or voltage so that a streamer discharge is generated in the electric dust collecting unit during a sterilization and / or inactivation operation in which ozone is generated from the electric dust collecting unit.

[0013] According to the third air purifying device of the present invention, by controlling the current and / or voltage to increase and generate streamer discharge, a larger amount of ozone can be generated, thereby enhancing the sterilizing effect.

[0014] In a fourth air purifying device of the present invention, the control unit reduces the rotation speed of the suction fan at the end of the sterilization and / or inactivation operation when ozone is generated from the electric dust collecting unit, below the rotation speed of the suction fan during normal operation.

[0015] According to the fourth air purifier of the present invention, when the sterilization operation is completed, the suction fan rotates at a slower speed than the rotational speed during normal operation, and the ozone remaining in the device is discharged to the outside of the device in small amounts, thereby suppressing a sudden increase in the ozone concentration outside the device.

[0016] A fifth air purifying device of the present invention includes an ozone concentration detection unit that detects the ozone concentration inside the main body, and the control unit controls the rotation speed of the suction fan at the end of the sterilization and / or inactivation operation at which ozone is generated from the electric dust collector, in accordance with the ozone concentration detected by the ozone concentration detection unit.

[0017] According to the fifth air purifying device of the present invention, the rotation speed of the suction fan is controlled in accordance with the ozone concentration detected by the ozone concentration detection unit, so that a sudden increase in the ozone concentration outside the device can be suppressed.

[0018] In a sixth air purifier of the present invention, when the electric dust collecting unit and / or the sterilizing unit is operating, the control unit selects, depending on the level of contamination inside the main body, an ultraviolet sterilization mode in which only the sterilizing unit is operated, an ozone sterilization mode in which only the electric dust collecting unit is operated, or an ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode in which both the electric dust collecting unit and the sterilizing unit are operated.

[0019] According to the sixth air purifying device of the present invention, it is possible to select an optimum sterilization mode depending on the degree of contamination inside the air purifying device.

[0020] A seventh air purifying device of the present invention includes an ozone decomposition section downstream of the electric dust collector in the air flow direction.

[0021] According to the seventh air purifier of the present invention, when sterilization is completed, the ozone generated in the electric dust collector is adsorbed by ozonolysis and then discharged to the outside of the device as purified air, thereby preventing the release of harmful concentrations of ozone to the outside of the device.

[0022] In an eighth air purifying device of the present invention, the sterilizing unit is disposed at a position that sandwiches the electric dust collecting unit and is spaced apart from the air flow passage.

[0023] According to the eighth air purifier of the present invention, particles that have adhered to and been collected by the electric dust collecting unit can be reliably inactivated and / or sterilized. Furthermore, since the sterilization unit is disposed in a position where air does not circulate, particles in the circulating air can be prevented from adhering to the sterilization unit, and the sterilization performance of the sterilization unit can be maintained.

[0024] In a ninth air purifying device of the present invention, the electric dust collecting unit comprises a charging unit which applies a high voltage to charge particles, and a dust collecting unit which collects the particles charged by the charging unit, the charging unit has a plurality of support substrates which support a discharge electrode to which a high voltage is applied, which are arranged in parallel along the air flow direction, the dust collecting unit has a high-voltage electrode plate to which a high voltage is applied, and a dust collecting electrode plate which collects particles repelled by the high voltage applied to the high-voltage electrode plate, which are arranged in parallel along the air flow direction, and the sterilizing unit comprises an ultraviolet lamp which is arranged in a direction which intersects with the support substrate, the high-voltage electrode plate, and the dust collecting electrode plate.

[0025] According to the ninth air purifying device of the present invention, ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp is reflected and refracted between the surfaces of each electrode plate, allowing the ultraviolet light to reach deep inside the electrode plates.

[0026] In the tenth air purifier of the present invention, the charging unit and the dust collecting unit have openings for ultraviolet light irradiation at locations facing the sterilization unit, and the sterilization unit has a reflector that reflects the irradiated ultraviolet light toward the charging unit side and the dust collecting unit side, the reflector being positioned opposite the openings for ultraviolet light irradiation, the reflector being positioned between the contaminated air area and the clean air area and having a communication section that can be opened and closed to communicate between the contaminated air area and the clean air area, and an ultraviolet power supply unit that supplies power to the ultraviolet lamp is provided in the clean air area.

[0027] According to the tenth air purifier of the present invention, ultraviolet light can be efficiently irradiated to the inside of the charging section and the dust collecting section through the opening. Also, since a reflector is provided facing the openings of the charging section and the dust collecting section through which the ultraviolet light passes, more ultraviolet light can be irradiated to the charging section and the dust collecting section. Furthermore, maintenance work on the ultraviolet power supply section can be performed from the contaminated air side through the communication section without removing the cover of the device covering the sterilization section.

[0028] The air purification method of the present invention is an air purification method in which particles in the air sucked into the inside of the main body by a suction fan are charged and collected by an electric dust collecting unit, and then the particles are sterilized and / or inactivated by irradiating them with ultraviolet light by a sterilization unit, characterized in that during the sterilization and / or inactivation operation after operation has been stopped, the suction fan is stopped and the inside of the main body is sealed by a sealing means, and then the electric dust collecting unit and / or the sterilization unit are operated.

[0029] According to the air purification method of the present invention, particles containing viruses that have adhered to and been collected inside the device are reliably sterilized and inactivated, so that the air discharged to the outside can be purified. Effect of the Invention

[0030] According to the present invention, viruses and bacteria attached to or collected in the charging section, dust collecting section, or inside the device are reliably sterilized and / or inactivated, so that the charging section and dust collecting section can be safely removed from the device, and various excellent effects can be obtained, such as eliminating the risk of viruses and bacteria that have not been inactivated (sterilized) leaking, scattering, or spreading around the outside of the device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing an air purifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of an air purifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a charging unit and a dust collecting unit of the air purifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper sterilization section of the air purifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a lower sterilization section of the air purifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a side view showing an air purifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a plan view showing an air purifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between viruses / bacteria and sterilization dose in the air purifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a block diagram showing an air purifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 4 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the air purifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of an ultraviolet sterilization mode of the air purifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of an ozone sterilization mode of the air purifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of an ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode of an air purifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of an exhaust mode of the air purifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the air purifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 1, in an air purifying device 30 according to this embodiment, an air intake chamber 1, a main body 2, and an exhaust chamber 3 are arranged in this order along the air flow direction (the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1). The air intake chamber 1 is formed in a flat box shape, and an intake port 4 is opened on its outer surface. The exhaust chamber 3 is formed in a box shape with a chamfered inclined surface on the lower side, and an exhaust port 5 is opened on its upper surface.

[0034] Shutters 73 are provided as sealing means 6 at positions adjacent to the intake chamber 1 of the main body 2 and at positions adjacent to the exhaust port 5 of the exhaust chamber 3. The sealing means 6 (shutter 73) can close the intake port 4 and the exhaust port 5 to seal the inside of the main body 2. Note that, although the shutter 73 is provided as the sealing means 6 in this embodiment, an opening / closing valve such as a butterfly valve or a damper may also be used.

[0035] Inside the main body 2, a prefilter 7, a charger 8, a dust collector 9, an ozone decomposition unit 10, and a suction fan 11 are arranged in series in order along the air flow direction (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1), and the charger 8 and dust collector 9 form an electric dust collector 19. Inside the main body 2, sterilization units 12 that irradiate ultraviolet rays are arranged above and below the charger 8 and dust collector 9 of the electric dust collector 19 and at positions spaced apart from the air flow passage. Covers 49 are attached to the outsides of the upper and lower sterilization units 12 so as to cover the sterilization units 12, respectively. In this embodiment, the electric dust collector 19 is a two-stage type in which the charger 8 and dust collector 9 are arranged separately, but the electric dust collector 19 is not limited to a two-stage type, and may be a one-stage type in which the charger 8 and dust collector 9 are integrated.

[0036] The pre-filter 7 is a roughly rectangular coarse filter (not shown), and the ozone decomposition section 10 is formed by storing a porous substance such as activated carbon or zeolite that adsorbs ozone within a unit. In this embodiment, an activated carbon unit is provided as the ozone decomposition section 10, but a catalyst that decomposes ozone, such as a photocatalyst, may also be used.

[0037] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the charging unit 8 includes an upstream ground electrode plate 14 arranged upstream in the air flow direction, a downstream ground electrode plate 15 arranged parallel to the upstream ground electrode plate 14 downstream of the upstream ground electrode plate 14 in the air flow direction, and a discharge electrode member 16 arranged between the upstream ground electrode plate 14 and the downstream ground electrode plate 15. The upstream ground electrode plate 14 and the downstream ground electrode plate 15 are earthed. The discharge electrode member 16 includes a support substrate 17 and a discharge electrode 18 held by the support substrate 17. An opening 13 for ultraviolet irradiation is formed in the upper and lower parts of the charging unit 8 at locations facing the sterilization unit 12.

[0038] A rectangular frame 20 is formed on the outer periphery of the charging unit 8. The frame 20 is configured to include left and right support columns 21, 22 that are erected to face each other, an upper connecting member 23 that is provided between the upper ends of the support columns 21, 22, and a lower connecting member 24 that is provided between the lower ends of the support columns 21, 22. An upper mounting member 25 is horizontally supported below the upper connecting member 23 on the upper ends of the left and right support columns 21, 22 via an insulator 26 (made of resin), and a lower mounting member 27 is horizontally supported on the lower ends of the left and right support columns 21, 22 via an insulator 28 (made of resin). As a result, the upper mounting member 25 and the lower mounting member 27 are supported by the frame 20 in an insulated state.

[0039] A plurality of cutouts (not shown) are formed in the shape of upper and lower slits at predetermined intervals in the lower mounting member 27. A power supply member 29 (see FIG. 1) is attached to the right end of the upper mounting member 25, and a high-voltage power supply unit 72 (see FIG. 9) is connected to the power supply member 29.

[0040] The upstream ground electrode plate 14 is formed in a flat plate shape from a single rectangular conductive metal (stainless steel in this embodiment) in which a large number of round hole-shaped upstream openings 31 are formed, and is attached to the frame 20 in a direction that blocks air flow (direction perpendicular to the air flow direction). The upstream openings 31 are arranged vertically in a plurality of rows (14 openings x 14 rows = 196 openings in this embodiment), and are arranged at regular intervals in a staggered pattern so that half the upstream openings 31 are shifted vertically between adjacent rows on the left and right.

[0041] The downstream ground electrode plate 15 is formed in a flat plate shape from a single rectangular conductive metal (stainless steel in this embodiment) in which a large number of circular hole-shaped downstream openings 32 are formed, and is attached to the frame 20 in a direction that blocks air flow (direction perpendicular to the air flow direction). The downstream openings 32 of the downstream ground electrode plate 15 are arranged vertically in a row (7 openings x 7 rows = 49 openings in this embodiment), and are aligned at regular intervals. The individual area and total area of ​​the downstream openings 32 of the downstream ground electrode plate 15 are both larger than the upstream openings 31 of the upstream ground electrode plate 14.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6, the support substrate 17 is made of aluminum and formed in a long plate shape. The support substrate 17 is provided between every other row of the upstream openings 31 adjacent to the left and right of the upstream ground electrode plate 14, and is arranged to match the center of the downstream opening 32 of the downstream ground electrode plate 15. In this embodiment, seven support substrates 17 are provided. As a result, the support substrates 17 are arranged so as not to interfere with the upstream openings 31 of the upstream ground electrode plate 14 when viewed from the air flow direction, and the distance between the support substrates 17 is maintained to a degree that does not cause abnormal discharge. In this embodiment, the support substrates 17 are arranged parallel to the air flow direction and perpendicular to the upstream ground electrode plate 14 and the downstream ground electrode plate 15.

[0043] The upper end of the support substrate 17 is supported by the upper mounting member 25 by a spring (not shown) interposed between a hook hole (not shown) formed in the upper end and the upper mounting member 25. The lower end of the support substrate 17 is formed in a hook shape, and is supported by the lower mounting member 27 by being hooked into the notch.

[0044] The support substrate 17 is integrally formed with the crimping portion 33, and the crimping portion 33 is configured to include an upstream crimping portion 33a extending toward the upstream opening 31 side and a downstream crimping portion 33b extending toward the downstream opening 32 side. The upstream crimping portions 33a are formed in a number corresponding to the number of adjacent two rows of upstream openings 31 (in this embodiment, 14 pieces x 2 rows = 28 pieces), and the downstream crimping portions 33b are formed in a number corresponding to the number of downstream openings 32 in one row (in this embodiment, 10 pieces). The support substrate 17 may be made of any material having electrical conductivity, but is preferably made of a copper plate or an aluminum plate in consideration of the workability of the crimping process, which requires extensibility.

[0045] The discharge electrode 18 is a discharge brush 34 formed by bundling a number of wires, and is configured to include an upstream discharge electrode 18a held by an upstream crimped portion 33a so as to extend from the support substrate 17 toward the upstream ground electrode plate 14 and disposed corresponding to each upstream opening 31, and a downstream discharge electrode 18b held by a downstream crimped portion 33b so as to extend from the support substrate 17 toward the downstream ground electrode plate 15 and disposed corresponding to each downstream opening 32. Although the discharge electrode 18 in this embodiment is formed in a brush shape, it may be in a needle, wire or protrusion shape.

[0046] The upstream discharge electrode 18a is formed by extending from the upstream crimped portion 33a of each stage toward the upstream ground electrode plate 14 (i.e., upstream of the support substrate 17 in the air flow direction) and bending in a staggered manner. The central tip of the bundle of discharge brushes 34 of the upstream discharge electrode 18a is disposed on the center line of the upstream openings 31 adjacent to both the left and right sides of the support substrate 17, spaced apart from the upstream openings 31 without penetrating the openings 31. As a result, as shown in Fig. 3, a substantially constant discharge gap is maintained between the tip of the discharge brush 34 of the upstream discharge electrode 18a and the peripheral portion of the upstream opening 31 of the upstream ground electrode plate 14, and the charged area EA1 formed by the corona discharge between the upstream discharge electrode 18a and the upstream opening 31 has a substantially conical shape, so that a uniform and stable discharge state can be formed.

[0047] The downstream discharge electrode 18b extends horizontally and linearly from the downstream crimped portion 33b of each stage toward the downstream ground electrode plate 15 (i.e., downstream of the support substrate 17 in the air flow direction), and the tip of the discharge brush 34 of the downstream discharge electrode 18b is disposed on the center line of the downstream opening 32, spaced apart from the downstream opening 32 without penetrating the opening 32. As a result, as shown in Fig. 3, a constant discharge gap is maintained between the tip of the discharge brush 34 of the downstream discharge electrode 18b and the peripheral portion of the downstream opening 32, and the charged area EA2 formed by the corona discharge between the downstream discharge electrode 18b and the downstream opening 32 forms a substantially conical shape facing in the opposite direction to the upstream side, thereby forming a uniform and stable discharge state.

[0048] The discharge brush 34 of the discharge electrode 18 has a bundled portion formed into a brush shape by bundling a large number of fibrous wires. The wires are made of non-magnetic stainless steel fibers with a diameter of 12 μm, and the stainless steel used is SUS304, which contains 18% Cr and 8% Ni, and is highly marketable, economical, and corrosion-resistant. However, other materials may be used for the wires, as long as they are non-magnetic stainless steel, such as SUS316, which contains 18% Cr, 12% Ni, and molybdenum (Mo).

[0049] One discharge electrode 18 is formed by bundling, for example, about 100 wires. The discharge electrode 18 may be formed by bundling 10 to 200 wires with a diameter of 5 to 25 μm. The discharge electrodes 18 are provided in a state of extending from the support substrate 17 toward the upstream and downstream sides in the flow direction, and when a high voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 18, in addition to the repulsion between the wires, the flowing air directly hits the tips of the wires, so that the wires are separated from the bundled part, and a corona discharge can be generated in a strong electric field. The protruding length of the wires from the crimped part is preferably about 5 mm for the number of bundled wires and wire diameter described above. In FIG. 3, the tip side of the wire of the discharge electrode 18 is shown in an open state, which shows a state of use in which a high voltage is applied. This is because, when a high voltage is applied, charges corresponding to the polarity of the high voltage are accumulated in each wire, causing the wires to repel each other.

[0050] In addition, corona discharge actually occurs only in a portion of the many wires, and since corona discharge alternates between these and other wires from moment to moment, the approximately conical shape of the charged areas EA1 and EA2 changes slightly from moment to moment.

[0051] As described above, the discharge brushes 34 of the upstream discharge electrode 18a and the downstream discharge electrode 18b form a substantially linear bundle when no high voltage is applied, and the center of the discharge brush 34 is the center of the bundle of brushes. Strictly speaking, when a high voltage is applied, the center of the bundle of discharge brushes 34 changes from moment to moment, but for the sake of simplicity, this point is not taken into consideration here.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the dust collecting section 9 is formed by alternately arranging a plurality of aluminum dust collecting electrode plates 35 connected to earth and aluminum high voltage electrode plates 36 connected to a high voltage power supply unit 72 (see Fig. 9) at equal intervals. The dust collecting electrode plates 35 are arranged in a vertical position in a direction perpendicular to the downstream ground electrode plate 15 downstream of the downstream ground electrode plate 15 in the air flow direction, and the high voltage electrode plate 36 is arranged in a vertical position so as to face the dust collecting electrode plate 35. At the top and bottom of the dust collecting section 9, openings 39 for ultraviolet irradiation are formed at positions facing the sterilization section 12. When the high voltage applied to the dust collecting section 9 is 4 to 8 kV, the interval S (see Fig. 7) between the high voltage electrode plate 36 and the dust collecting electrode plate 35 is preferably 5 to 10 mm, and most preferably 6.8 mm. If the gap S between the high voltage electrode plate 36 and the dust collecting electrode plate 35 is too narrow, insulation breakdown (sparks) becomes more likely to occur, whereas if the gap S is too large, the dust collecting capacity may decrease.

[0053] 1, 2, 6, and 7, a rectangular frame 37 is formed on the outer periphery of the dust collecting unit 9, and left and right side plates 38 are attached to the frame 37 so as to stand opposite each other. Four connecting shafts 40 are horizontally installed between the left and right side plates 38, and these connecting shafts 40 penetrate the dust collecting electrode plate 35 and the high-voltage electrode plate 36.

[0054] A first power supply member 41, a second power supply member 42, an upper mounting member 43 and a lower mounting member 44 are attached to the outer surfaces of the left and right side plates 38, respectively. A first insulator 45 (made of resin) is interposed between the first power supply member 41 and the upper mounting member 43, and a second insulator 46 (made of resin) is interposed between the second power supply member 42 and the lower mounting member 44, and each insulator 45, 46 is disposed at a position where it is not irradiated with ultraviolet light from the sterilization section 12. In this way, the first power supply member 41 and the second power supply member 42 are supported by the left and right side plates 38 in an insulated state, and a high-voltage power supply unit 72 (see FIG. 9) is connected to the first power supply member 41 and the second power supply member 42.

[0055] As clearly shown in Figures 4 to 6, the upper and lower sterilization sections 12 are each configured to include a single reflecting plate 47 formed to cover both the charging section 8 and the dust collecting section 9 from above and below, an ultraviolet unit 48a for the charging section provided in a direction perpendicular to the air flow direction at a position on the reflecting plate 47 corresponding to the charging section 8, and an ultraviolet unit 48b for the dust collecting section 9 provided in a direction perpendicular to the air flow direction at a position on the reflecting plate 47 corresponding to the dust collecting section 9.

[0056] The reflector 47 is made of aluminum (or may be made of stainless steel or may have a mirror-finished surface), and is formed in a flat plate shape, and is disposed opposite the openings 13, 39 for ultraviolet irradiation in the charger 8 and dust collector 9. The reflector 47 is disposed between the polluted air region and the clean air region, and is provided with a communication section 50 that can communicate between the polluted air region and the clean air region. The communication section 50 is formed of a plate-like member made of aluminum (or may be made of stainless steel or may have a mirror-finished surface, but should be made of the same material as the reflector 47), and is provided detachably with respect to the reflector 47 via screws 51 or the like so that a maintenance opening (not shown) formed in the reflector 47 can be opened and closed.

[0057] Each of the ultraviolet units 48a, 48b is composed of an ultraviolet lamp 52a, 52b that is provided on the inner surface side of the reflector 47 and irradiates ultraviolet light, and an ultraviolet power supply unit 53a, 53b that is provided on the outer surface side of the reflector 47 and supplies power to the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b. The ultraviolet units 48a, 48b of this embodiment employ a method of lighting using a glow lamp (ignition tube), which is generally widespread because it is simple and inexpensive.

[0058] The ultraviolet lamps 52a and 52b may be of the LED type, but the lamp type is more suitable because it can set a larger output. The LED type has a smaller amount of irradiation than the lamp type, but has the advantage of a longer lifespan, so in order to compensate for the amount of irradiation, multiple ultraviolet LEDs may be arranged opposite the charging unit 8 and the dust collecting unit 9. In particular, two or more rows of ultraviolet LEDs may be arranged opposite each other on the upper and lower sides of the dust collecting unit 9. In the case of ultraviolet LEDs, it is also possible to increase the linearity of ultraviolet rays by using a lens shape or the like. In addition, an electromagnetic lock function (not shown) may be installed to prevent the front door (not shown) of the main body 2 from opening when the ultraviolet lamps 52a and 52b are irradiated, thereby increasing safety.

[0059] The ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b are arranged vertically so as to face the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates (dust collecting electrode plate 35, high voltage electrode plate 36) according to the arrangement of the ultraviolet units 48a, 48b, and are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement of the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36. If the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b are arranged in a direction along the arrangement of the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36, specifically, parallel to the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36, they need to be arranged at a distance from the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36 so as not to be shaded by the adjacent support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36. However, since the ultraviolet lamp has spatial attenuation, if it is arranged at a distance from the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36, even if the ultraviolet lamps are arranged vertically, there is a risk that the required dose will not be obtained. In contrast, when the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b are arranged vertically in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement of the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36 as in this embodiment, even if the ultraviolet lamps are arranged near the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the upper and lower ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b are reflected and refracted between the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36, respectively, and reach the back of the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36, so that the ultraviolet rays can be reliably irradiated within a range of half the length (1 / 2Y) of the vertical length Y of the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36 as shown in Fig. 6. In addition, since the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36 are made of aluminum and have excellent light reflection efficiency, the ultraviolet rays can reach every corner of the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36, and the collected viruses and bacteria can be inactivated. Furthermore, the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b are disposed outside the area where air circulates, and the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b are unlikely to become dirty, so that the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b can radiate ultraviolet rays stably.

[0060] 6, the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b for the dust collection unit 9 facing the electrode plates 35, 36 are preferably disposed at the middle position (1 / 2X) of the length X in the lateral direction (air flow direction) of the electrode plates 35, 36. This ensures that the entire electrode plates 35, 36 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

[0061] Furthermore, the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b are preferably arranged 20 to 50 mm apart in the vertical direction from the high voltage electrode plate 36 and the dust collecting electrode plate 35. If the distance is closer than 20 mm, there is a risk that ultraviolet rays cannot be irradiated to the entire high voltage electrode plate 36 and the dust collecting electrode plate 35, and if the distance is greater than 50 mm, there is a risk that the amount of ultraviolet irradiation will decrease. In addition, the output of the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b is preferably 4 to 10 W, and most preferably 8 W, taking into consideration the length of ultraviolet lamps generally available on the market.

[0062] The ultraviolet light irradiated (radiated) from the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b is preferably UV-C ultraviolet light with a wavelength (200 to 280 nm) that is highly effective in suppressing viruses and bacteria. This is because UV-C ultraviolet light is highly effective in suppressing the proliferation function of viruses and bacteria by acting on the DNA and RNA in the cells of viruses and bacteria. The wavelength of the ultraviolet light irradiated (radiated) from the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b is more preferably 240 to 260 nm, and most preferably around 253.7 nm. Compared with ultraviolet light of other wavelengths, ultraviolet light with a wavelength in the range of 240 to 260 nm is more effective in suppressing the proliferation function of viruses and bacteria by acting on the DNA and RNA in the cells of viruses and bacteria. Furthermore, the wavelength of 253.7 nm is more preferably 253.7 nm. This is because nearby ultraviolet light has the most effective sterilization effect.

[0063] In general, the sterilization dose required to sterilize viruses and bacteria is calculated using the following formula. Sterilization dose (mJ / cm 2 ) = Germicidal irradiance (mW / cm2) x Irradiation time (sec)

[0064] As shown in Figure 8, the sterilizing dose required for inactivation is high for rotavirus (including coronavirus).

[0065] The sterilizing radiation irradiance is the irradiance of ultraviolet light on the surface of the electrode plate measured by a measuring device (UV intensity meter), and the irradiation time is set based on the measurement results of the irradiance. Alternatively, an ultraviolet irradiation means may be selected that can set the irradiation time in advance and ensure the necessary sterilizing radiation irradiance. For example, the sterilizing dose for certain viruses and bacteria is 24 (mJ / cm 2 ) and the irradiation time is 10 minutes (600 seconds), the required sterilization irradiance is calculated by the above formula as follows: Germicidal irradiance (mW / cm 2 ) = 24 / 600 = 0.04 (mW / cm 2 ) It is calculated as follows.

[0066] The output of the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b is fixed at about several watts, but the output may be changed depending on the virus or bacteria to be inactivated. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, when comparing the sterilization dose required for inactivating rotavirus with other viruses and bacteria, the dose required for other viruses and bacteria is less than half that of rotavirus, so the output of the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b may be made variable in two stages depending on the type of virus or bacteria to be sterilized, or the output of the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b may be made variable in two stages depending on the period to be sterilized, such as setting the output to a high dose only in winter (around February to March), when rotavirus is generated, and setting the output to a low dose during other periods.

[0067] The ultraviolet power supply units 53a and 53b are provided in the clean air area and are equipped with a glow lamp replacement port 55 and a frequency changeover switch 54. The ultraviolet lamps 52a and 52b are detachably attached to the mounting parts of the ultraviolet power supply units 53a and 53b. The settings for replacing the glow lamp and switching the frequency (50 Hz, 60 Hz) using the frequency changeover switch 54 can be changed from the polluted air area side through the communication part 50. For example, the glow lamp replacement work is performed by removing the charge unit 8 and the dust collection unit 9 from the main body 2, and then removing the communication part 50 and performing the work through the maintenance opening of the reflector 47. That is, the glow lamp replacement work and the frequency switching work can be performed without removing the cover 49 covering the sterilization unit 12, so there is no risk of the worker coming into contact with parts unnecessary for the glow lamp replacement work and the frequency switching work when the cover 49 is removed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inadvertent malfunctions during the above work.

[0068] As described in the above embodiment, the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b of the sterilization section 12 are preferably arranged in a direction perpendicular to the support substrate 17 and the electrode plates 35, 36, respectively, but they do not necessarily have to be arranged in a perpendicular direction and may be arranged in an intersecting direction.

[0069] In addition, the reflector 47 is formed in a flat plate shape behind the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b, but instead of this reflector 47, as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 6, a reflector 56 formed in an expanding shape (horn shape) so as to gradually expand from the ultraviolet lamps 52a, 52b toward the openings 13, 39 for ultraviolet irradiation in the charging section 8 and the dust collecting section 9 may be provided in correspondence with the size of each opening 13, 39.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 9, the air purifying device 30 of this embodiment is connected to a control unit 60 having a memory 61 and a CPU 62 via an interface 63, and includes a display unit 64, an operation unit 65, a UV irradiation unit 66, a fan rotation detection unit 67, an ozone concentration detection unit 68, a front door open / close detection unit 69, a solenoid driving unit 70, a motor driving unit 71, a high voltage power supply unit 72, and the like. The display unit 64 displays the operation state of the air purifying device 30, the operation unit 65 has input keys and the like, and the UV irradiation unit 66 irradiates the ultraviolet lamps 52a and 52b. The fan rotation detection unit 67 is, for example, an encoder, and detects whether the suction fan 11 is rotating or stopped. The front door open / close detection unit 69 is, for example, a limit switch, and detects the open / close state of the front door, and functions as a safety device for cutting off the operation of the high voltage and the fan motor 74 when the front door is open. The solenoid driving unit 70 drives a shutter 73 that blocks the intake and exhaust paths when the device is not in operation. The motor drive unit 71 controls the fan motor 74. The high voltage power supply unit 72 includes a high voltage generation unit 75, a polarity switching unit 76, and a current detection unit 77, and is configured to boost the AC source power supply with a high voltage transformer, and then convert the AC current to DC in a voltage doubling unit and further boost the voltage to generate a high voltage of several kV. The high voltage power supply unit 72 also functions as an output control unit for controlling the output of the high voltage applied to the charging unit 8 and the dust collecting unit 9.

[0071] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, 6, and 7, in an air purifying device 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, air that flows into the main body 2 from the suction port 4 by driving the suction fan 11 is filtered by the prefilter 7 and then flows into the charging section 8.

[0072] The air that has flowed into the charging unit 8 passes through the upstream opening 31 of the upstream grounding electrode plate 14, and then passes through the downstream opening 32 of the downstream grounding electrode plate 15. At this time, a high voltage (e.g., -6 kV) supplied from the high-voltage power supply unit 72 under constant voltage control is applied to the support substrate 17 and the discharge electrode 18 via the power supply member 29, and approximately cone-shaped charged areas EA1 and EA2 are formed by corona discharge between the tip of the discharge electrode 18 (brush tip) and the openings 31 and 32, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0073] When the air that has flowed into the charging section 8 passes through the upstream opening 31 of the upstream ground electrode plate 14 and the downstream opening 32 of the downstream ground electrode plate 15, particles such as fine dust or mist and minute viruses in the air become charged and are collected in the dust collection section 9, and then pass through the ozone decomposition section 10. As a result, the air is filtered to become purified air, and is discharged outside the air purifier 30 from the exhaust port 5.

[0074] Next, with reference to Figures 10 to 15, operations performed by the control unit 60 when the air purifying device 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention captures particles in the air as described above and then sterilizes and / or inactivates the particles will be described. Here, Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the air purifying device 30, Figure 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifying device 30 in the ultraviolet sterilization mode, Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifying device 30 in the ozone sterilization mode, Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifying device 30 in the ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode, Figure 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifying device 30 in the exhaust mode, and Figure 15 is a time chart showing the operation of the air purifying device 30.

[0075] Since it is assumed that the number of bacteria and viruses inside the air purifying device 30 increases as the level of pollution increases, a preset sterilization mode is selected according to the level of pollution inside the air purifying device 30. In this embodiment, three types of modes are preset: an "ultraviolet sterilization mode" that is selected when the level of pollution is low (not very dirty), an "ozone sterilization mode" that is selected when the level of pollution is medium, and an "ozone and ultraviolet sterilization mode" that is selected when the level of pollution is high (highly dirty).

[0076] In this embodiment, the degree of contamination inside the air purifier 30 is determined by the degree of contamination of the charging unit 8 (discharging unit) before the start of sterilization operation after the end of normal operation. Note that normal operation (dust collection operation) refers to an operation in a state in which particles in the air sucked into the inside of the main body by the suction fan are charged and collected by the electric dust collector. When the charging unit 8 becomes dirty, it becomes difficult for current to flow to the charging unit 8, and as a result, the discharge current decreases. Therefore, the current value flowing through the charging unit 8 is detected and the above-mentioned three types of modes are selected according to two thresholds, a first threshold and a second threshold, which are set in advance. Specifically, when the detected current value of the charging unit 8 exceeds the first threshold (e.g., several mA), the "ultraviolet sterilization mode" is selected, when it is equal to or less than the first threshold and exceeds the second threshold (e.g., several hundred μA), the "ozone sterilization mode" is selected, and when it is equal to or less than the second threshold, the "ozone and ultraviolet sterilization mode" is selected.

[0077] First, the overall operational flow will be described with reference to FIG.

[0078] In step 1 (S1), it is determined whether or not the front door open / close detection unit 69 has detected that the front door of the air purifying device 30 is in a closed state. If it is determined that the front door is closed, the process proceeds to the subsequent steps 2 to 4 (S2 to S4), and if it is not determined that the front door is closed, the operation of step 1 is repeated.

[0079] Then, in each of steps 2 to 4 (S2 to S4), the rotation of the suction fan 11 is stopped (see S2), the application of high voltage to the electric dust collector 19 is stopped (see S3), and the shutters 73 of the suction port 4 and the exhaust port 5 are closed (see S4).

[0080] In the next step 5 (S5), it is determined whether the detected current value of the charging unit 8 is equal to or less than the first threshold value. If it is determined that the detected current value of the charging unit 8 is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the process proceeds to the next step 6 (S6). If it is determined that the current value is not equal to or less than the first threshold value (i.e., exceeds the first threshold value), the "ultraviolet sterilization mode" is selected, and as shown in FIG. 11, an operation in the ultraviolet sterilization mode described below is performed.

[0081] Furthermore, in the next step 6 (S6), it is determined whether the detected current value of the charging unit 8 is equal to or less than the second threshold value. As a result, if it is determined that the detected current value of the charging unit 8 is not equal to or less than the second threshold value (i.e., exceeds the second threshold value), the "ozone sterilization mode" is selected, and an operation in the ozone sterilization mode described later is performed as shown in FIG. 12. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 6 (S6) that the detected current value of the charging unit 8 is equal to or less than the second threshold value, the "ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode" is selected, and an operation in the ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode described later is performed as shown in FIG. 13.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the pollution level of the charging unit 8 of the electrostatic precipitator 19 is used to determine the pollution level inside the air purifier 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. In this embodiment, constant voltage control is used, so the current varies depending on the pollution level, but when the voltage varies depending on the pollution level (constant current control), the voltage fluctuation may be used.

[0083] Also, a sensor whose output changes depending on the degree of contamination (for example, the output decreases when the degree of contamination is high) may be installed inside the air purifying device 30, and the degree of contamination inside the air purifying device 30 may be determined based on the output result of the sensor during the most recent normal operation before the sterilization process. Specifically, the degree of contamination inside the air purifying device 30 may be determined by comparing the number of particles in the air measured by a dust sensor with a threshold value, or by comparing the dose of ultraviolet rays measured by an ultraviolet sensor installed at the ultraviolet ray irradiation position with a threshold value.

[0084] Next, the operation flow in the ultraviolet sterilization mode will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0085] As shown in step 11 (S11) of Fig. 11, when the ultraviolet lamps 52a and 52b start irradiating the charge unit 8 and the dust collector 9 with ultraviolet rays, in step 12 (S12), it is determined whether or not a preset time has elapsed since the start of ultraviolet irradiation. Then, after the ultraviolet lamps 52a and 52b irradiate the charge unit 8 and the dust collector 9 with ultraviolet rays until the preset time has elapsed, if it is determined that the preset time has elapsed, the process proceeds to next steps 13 and 14 (S13 and S14).

[0086] In the next steps 13 and 14 (S13 and S14), the irradiation of ultraviolet light to the charging section 8 and the dust collecting section 9 is stopped (see S13), the shutters 73 of the intake port 4 and the exhaust port 5 are closed (see S14), and the ultraviolet sterilization mode is terminated.

[0087] Next, the operational flow in the ozone sterilization mode will be described with reference to Figs.

[0088] As shown in step 21 (S21) of Figure 12, the polarity of the high voltage applied to the electric dust collecting unit 19 is switched from negative (-) to positive (+), and as shown in step 22 (S22), a high voltage (e.g., +10 kV) is applied to the electric dust collecting unit 19 to generate a streamer discharge.

[0089] Then, in step 23 (S23), it is determined whether a preset time has elapsed since the start of application of high voltage. Then, high voltage is applied to electric dust collector 19 until the preset time has elapsed. If it is determined that the preset time has elapsed, in next step 24 (S24), application of high voltage to electric dust collector 19 is stopped, and the operation of the ozone sterilization mode is terminated.

[0090] Next, the operation flow in the ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0091] 13, the polarity of the high voltage applied to the electric dust collector 19 is switched from negative (-) to positive (+), and as shown in step 32 (S32), a high voltage (e.g., +10 kV) is applied to the electric dust collector 19 to generate a streamer discharge. Also, as shown in step 33 (S33), irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamps 52a and 52b to the charger 8 and dust collector 9 is started.

[0092] Then, in step 34 (S34), it is determined whether a preset time has elapsed since the start of the application of high voltage and the start of irradiation of ultraviolet light. Then, until the preset time has elapsed, the high voltage is applied to the electrostatic precipitator 19, and ultraviolet light is irradiated from the ultraviolet lamps 52a and 52b to the charger 8 and the precipitator 9. If it is determined that the preset time has elapsed, the process proceeds to steps 35 and 36 (S35 and S36).

[0093] In steps 35 and 36 (S35 and S36), the application of high voltage to the electric dust collector 19 is stopped (see S35), and the irradiation of ultraviolet rays to the charging unit 8 and the dust collector 9 is stopped (see S36), and the ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode is terminated.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 15, in the ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode, the set time for irradiating ultraviolet rays may be extended and the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated may be increased compared to other modes.

[0095] As described above, when the ozone sterilization mode or the ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode is completed, the exhaust mode is then performed.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 14, in this exhaust mode, in step 41 (S41), the shutters 73 of the intake port 4 and the exhaust port 5 are opened, and then, as shown in step 42 (S42), the operation of the suction fan 11 is started at a low rotation speed that is slower than the rotation speed during normal operation.

[0097] Thereafter, in step 43 (S43), it is determined whether a preset time has elapsed since the start of operation of the suction fan 11, and the suction fan 11 is operated at a low speed until the preset time has elapsed. If it is determined that the preset time has elapsed, the operation of the suction fan 11 is stopped and the exhaust mode is terminated, as shown in step 44 (S44). In the exhaust mode, ozone is exhausted outside the device little by little, improving the ozone removal effect of the ozone decomposition section 10 and suppressing a sudden increase in the ozone concentration outside the device.

[0098] In the above-mentioned discharge mode, the suction fan 11 is controlled to operate at a lower speed when the sterilization operation is completed than the suction fan 11 during normal operation (dust collection operation). However, an ozone concentration detector 68 (see FIG. 9) for detecting the ozone concentration may be provided inside the air purifier 30, and the suction fan 11 may be controlled to operate at a lower speed according to the ozone concentration detected by the ozone concentration detector 68. For example, when the ozone concentration is high, the suction fan 11 may be controlled to operate at a lower speed, and the suction fan 11 may be controlled to operate at a higher speed according to the decrease in the ozone concentration. The suction fan 11 may be allowed to continue operating at a low speed until the ozone concentration becomes 0 or almost 0. Furthermore, the suction fan 11 may be controlled to operate in conjunction with the opening operation of the sealing means 6 (shutter 73).

[0099] Thus, according to the air purifying device 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the sterilizing power of ozone from the electrostatic precipitator 19 and the sterilizing power of ultraviolet light from the sterilizing unit 12 are used in combination, so that the sterilizing actions of ozone and ultraviolet light complement each other. In other words, even if there is an area that cannot be reached by ultraviolet light, ozone can be filled over a wide area to sterilize, and ultraviolet light can be concentrated in a narrow area to reliably sterilize the irradiated area, so that viruses, bacteria, and dust in the air can be inactivated reliably in a synergistic manner.

[0100] Furthermore, as described above, during normal operation in which particles in the air are charged and collected, a constant voltage control is used to apply a high voltage (e.g., -6 kV) to the electrostatic precipitator 19. However, in the ozone sterilization mode or ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode, the polarity is changed to increase the voltage (e.g., +10 kV) when streamer discharge is performed, so that more ozone is generated and the sterilization effect is improved.

[0101] The above description of the embodiment of the present invention describes a preferred embodiment of the air purifying device according to the present invention, and therefore may include various technically preferable limitations, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these aspects unless there is a description that specifically limits the present invention. In other words, the components in the above embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately replaced with existing components, etc., and various variations including combinations with other existing components are possible, and the description of the above embodiment of the present invention does not limit the content of the invention described in the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0102] The technology of the present invention is expected to be suitably used in air purifying devices for home and commercial use. [Explanation of symbols]

[0103] 4 Intake port 5. Exhaust port 6 Sealing means 8 Charged Part 9 Dust collection section 10 Ozone Decomposition Section 11 Suction fan 12 Sterilization section 17 Support substrate 18 Discharge Electrode 19 Electric dust collector 13 Opening for UV irradiation (charged part) 26 Insulator (charged part) 28 Insulator (charged part) 30 Electrostatic Precipitator 35 Dust collection electrode plate 36 High voltage electrode plate 39 Opening for ultraviolet irradiation (dust collection section) 45 First insulator (dust collection section) 46 Second insulator (dust collection section) 47 Reflector 50 Communication part 52a Ultraviolet lamp (charging part) 52b Ultraviolet lamp (dust collection section) 53a Ultraviolet power supply unit (charging unit) 53b Ultraviolet power supply unit (dust collection unit) 60 Control section 68 Ozone concentration detector

Claims

1. an electric dust collecting unit that applies a high voltage to charge particles and collects the charged particles; A sterilization unit that irradiates ultraviolet light to sterilize and / or inactivate particles; A sealing means for sealing the inside of a main body that houses the electric dust collecting unit and the sterilizing unit; A suction fan that draws air into the main body; A control unit that stops the suction fan during a sterilization and / or inactivation operation, and operates the electric dust collector and / or the sterilizer after sealing the inside of the main body by the sealing means; wherein the control unit controls the rotation speed of the suction fan at the end of a sterilization and / or inactivation operation in which ozone is generated from the electric dust collector in accordance with an ozone concentration inside the main body.

2. an electric dust collecting unit that applies a high voltage to charge particles and collects the charged particles; A sterilization unit that irradiates ultraviolet light to sterilize and / or inactivate particles; A sealing means for sealing the inside of a main body that houses the electric dust collecting unit and the sterilizing unit; A suction fan that draws air into the main body; A control unit that stops the suction fan during a sterilization and / or inactivation operation, and operates the electric dust collector and / or the sterilizer after sealing the inside of the main body by the sealing means; and wherein, when the electric dust collecting unit and / or the sterilizing unit is operating, the control unit selects, depending on the level of contamination inside the main body, an ultraviolet sterilization mode in which only the sterilizing unit is operated, an ozone sterilization mode in which only the electric dust collecting unit is operated, or an ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode in which both the electric dust collecting unit and the sterilizing unit are operated.

3. an electric dust collecting unit that applies a high voltage to charge particles and collects the charged particles; A sterilization unit that irradiates ultraviolet light to sterilize and / or inactivate particles; A sealing means for sealing the inside of a main body that houses the electric dust collecting unit and the sterilizing unit; A suction fan that draws air into the main body; A control unit that stops the suction fan during a sterilization and / or inactivation operation, and operates the electric dust collector and / or the sterilizer after sealing the inside of the main body by the sealing means; The sterilization unit includes a reflector that reflects the irradiated ultraviolet light toward the electric dust collector, An air purifying device characterized in that the reflector has a communication section that can be opened and closed to allow communication between the contaminated air area and the clean air area, and an ultraviolet power supply section that supplies power to the sterilization section is provided in the clean air area.

4. The air purifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit switches the polarity of the high voltage applied to the electric dust collector from negative (-) to positive (+) during a sterilization and / or inactivation operation in which ozone is generated from the electric dust collector.

5. The air purifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit controls current and / or voltage so that a streamer discharge is generated in the electric dust collecting unit during a sterilization and / or inactivation operation in which ozone is generated from the electric dust collecting unit.

6. The air purifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit reduces the rotation speed of the suction fan at the end of a sterilization and / or inactivation operation in which ozone is generated from the electric dust collector to a speed lower than the rotation speed of the suction fan during normal operation.

7. 7. The air purifying device according to claim 1, further comprising an ozone decomposition section disposed downstream of the electric dust collector in the air flow direction.

8. The air purifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sterilizing unit is disposed at a position that sandwiches the electric dust collecting unit and is spaced apart from an air flow passage.

9. The electric dust collector includes a charging unit that applies a high voltage to charge particles, and a dust collector that collects the particles charged by the charging unit. In the charging section, a plurality of support substrates for supporting a discharge electrode to which a high voltage is applied are provided in parallel along the air flow direction, The dust collecting section includes a high-voltage electrode plate to which a high voltage is applied, and a dust collecting electrode plate that collects particles repelled by the high voltage applied to the high-voltage electrode plate, the high-voltage electrode plate being provided in parallel along the air flow direction, The sterilization unit is provided with an ultraviolet lamp, and the ultraviolet lamp is arranged in a direction intersecting the support substrate, the high-voltage electrode plate, and the dust collecting electrode plate. The air purifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. An air purifying method in which particles in the air sucked into the inside of a main body by a suction fan are charged and collected by an electric dust collecting unit, and then the particles are sterilized and / or inactivated by irradiating them with ultraviolet light by a sterilizing unit, During the sterilization and / or inactivation operation after the operation is stopped, the suction fan is stopped and the inside of the main body is sealed by a sealing means, and then the electric dust collecting unit and / or the sterilizing unit are operated; An air purification method comprising: step A of controlling the rotation speed of the suction fan at the end of a sterilization and / or inactivation operation in which ozone is generated from the electric dust collecting unit in accordance with the ozone concentration inside the main body; and step B of selecting, during operation of the electric dust collecting unit and / or the sterilization unit, either an ultraviolet sterilization mode in which only the sterilization unit is operated, an ozone sterilization mode in which only the electric dust collecting unit is operated, or an ozone / ultraviolet sterilization mode in which both the electric dust collecting unit and the sterilization unit are operated, in accordance with the degree of contamination inside the main body, and characterized in that either step A or step B is executed.

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