air conditioner

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner.SOLUTION: An air conditioner 100 comprises an indoor machine 10. The indoor machine 10 comprises: suction ports h0, h1 and h2 formed at a housing, and sucking air in an air-conditioned space; a blowout port h4 formed at the housing, and blowing out air to the air-conditioned space; a heat exchanger 12 provided between the suction ports h0, h1 and h2 and the blowout port h4; a first ion generator 21 arranged at an upstream side of air rather than the heat exchanger 12, and having first electrode parts 21a to 21d for generating ions by electrical discharge; and a second ion generator 22 arranged at a downstream side of air rather than the heat exchanger 12, and having a second electrode part 22a for generating an ion by electrical discharge. A grounded member 12 is arranged at an ion discharge destination of the first electrode parts 21a to 21d, and an output voltage of the second electrode part 22a is lower than output voltages of the first electrode parts 21a to 21d.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, air conditioners equipped with air purification functions have been provided. One known air purification method for air conditioners is the electrostatic precipitator (EPC), which charges suspended particles (dust and dirt) in the air with charges (e.g., negative charges, negative ions) emitted from an ion generator and collects the suspended particles in a grounded collector (e.g., a heat exchanger). While there is a demand for an expanded air purification area, there are limitations on the voltage applied to the electrodes, and increasing the number of electrodes does not improve performance as expected. Therefore, the development of a technology to improve air purification capabilities has been desired. Furthermore, depending on the placement of the ion generator, the charges (negative charges, negative ions) emitted from the ion generator and carried by the wind can electrify nearby components, causing dust and dirt to adhere to those components.

[0003] In relation to the air purification function of the air conditioner, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-63542 (Patent Document 1) discloses an air conditioner that aims to prevent the device from becoming dirty without reducing airflow and maintain air conditioning performance over a long period of time. In the air conditioner of Patent Document 1, a first negative ion generator is provided upstream of the fan in the air passage inside the casing, and a second negative ion generator is provided upstream of the indoor heat exchanger. The negative ions generated by the first negative ion generator negatively charge suspended matter in the intake air, and the negative ions generated by the second negative ion generator negatively charge the indoor heat exchanger, thereby preventing the suspended matter from adhering to the indoor heat exchanger due to electrical repulsion.

[0004] However, this is still not sufficient from the viewpoints of improving air purification capacity and preventing components in the vicinity of the ion generator from becoming charged, and there has been a need to develop a technology that improves air purification capacity while preventing components in the vicinity of the ion generator from becoming charged. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-63542 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide an air conditioner that can achieve both improved air purification capacity and prevention of static electricity on components near the ion generator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides an air conditioner having the following characteristics. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit, the indoor unit having an inlet formed in a housing for drawing in air from a space to be conditioned, an outlet formed in the housing for blowing air into the space to be conditioned, and a heat exchanger provided between the inlet and the outlet. The indoor unit further includes a first ion generator arranged upstream of the heat exchanger in the air flow direction and having a first electrode unit that generates ions by discharging, and a second ion generator arranged downstream of the heat exchanger in the air flow direction and having a second electrode unit that generates ions by discharging. A grounded member is arranged at the destination of the ions emitted from the first electrode unit. Here, the output voltage of the second electrode unit is smaller than the output voltage of the first electrode unit.

[0008] Other problems and solutions disclosed in the present application will be made clear in the detailed description and drawings. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] With the above-described configuration, it is possible to improve the air cleaning ability and prevent the members in the vicinity of the ion generator from being charged. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a remote controller (hereinafter simply referred to as a remote controller) provided in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the indoor unit provided in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the circuit configuration for realizing the air cleaning function in the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the outlet-side ion generator 22 in the indoor unit provided in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation in the air cleaning mode executed by the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the specific embodiments described below. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0012] The present disclosure is directed to an air conditioner. An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an indoor unit, the indoor unit including an air inlet formed in a housing for drawing in air from a space to be conditioned, an air outlet formed in the housing for blowing air into the space to be conditioned, and a heat exchanger provided between the air inlet and the air outlet. In the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention, the indoor unit further includes a first ion generator disposed upstream of the heat exchanger in the air flow direction and having a first electrode unit that generates ions by electrical discharge, and a second ion generator disposed downstream of the heat exchanger in the air flow direction and having a second electrode unit that generates ions by electrical discharge, wherein a grounded member is disposed at a destination where the first electrode unit discharges ions, and the output voltage of the second electrode unit is lower than the output voltage of the first electrode unit. This reduces the output voltage of the second ion generator, which is located downstream of the heat exchanger in the air flow direction, to prevent charging of the destination of the ions emitted, while increasing the output voltage of the first ion generator, which is located upstream of the heat exchanger in the air flow direction, to ensure air purification capacity, thereby achieving both improved air purification capacity and prevention of charging of components near the ion generators.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the output voltage of the first electrode unit is greater than 6.5 kV. In a more preferred embodiment, the output voltage of the first electrode unit is at the upper limit of (e.g., design) constraints. In a specific embodiment, the output voltage of the first electrode unit is 10 kV.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the output voltage of the second electrode unit is 6.5 kV or less. This reduces the possibility that a person will perceive excessive stimulation even if they touch a charged member onto which ions are emitted. In a preferred embodiment, the second electrode unit is a brush electrode, and more preferably, the brush electrode is a carbon brush electrode. In a specific embodiment, a wind deflector having a metal component is arranged in the ion emission direction of the second electrode unit. By setting the output voltage of the second ion generator lower than that of the first ion generator, a metal component can be arranged on the wind deflector. In this specific embodiment, the output voltage of the second electrode unit is preferably 4.7 kV or less. By setting the output voltage to 4.7 kV or less, when a wind deflector having a metal component is arranged in the ion emission direction, the possibility that a person will perceive excessive stimulation even if they touch a charged member onto which ions are emitted is reduced. In a preferred embodiment, the output voltage of the second electrode unit is half or less of the output voltage of the first electrode unit.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the grounded member is a heat exchanger, the counter (grounded) electrode of the second ion generator is a heat exchanger, and suspended matter collected in the heat exchanger is washed away by freeze-cleaning the heat exchanger.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the second electrode portion and the metal member is 37 mm or more. By providing a sufficient distance between the second electrode portion and the metal member, it is possible to effectively prevent ions from charging the wind direction plate.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the heat exchanger and electrical box contained within the housing are grounded, which reduces the possibility of a person perceiving an excessive sensation if they touch the housing while it is negatively charged.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the indoor unit is equipped with a fan that draws air from the conditioned space into the housing and blows the air out into the conditioned space, and the air conditioner control device sets the fan's rotation speed to 1200 rpm or higher while the second electrode unit is discharging. By making the force of the fan's wind pushing ions into space greater than the Coulomb force between the ions and the metal, the ions are released into space by the force of the wind before they are charged to their destination, preventing charging of ungrounded components.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the air conditioner control device sets the angle of the upper and lower louvers to an angle that ensures the maximum airflow while the second electrode unit is discharging. By setting the angle that ensures the maximum airflow, more ions are released into the space, thereby improving the air purification capacity.

[0020] Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 1 to 7, an air conditioner 100 configured to include one indoor unit and one outdoor unit and equipped with an air purification function will be described as an example of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Fig. 1 is a front view of an indoor unit 10, an outdoor unit 30, and a remote control 40 provided in an air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment. The air conditioner 100 is a device that performs air conditioning (hereinafter also referred to as air conditioning) by circulating a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle (heat pump cycle). As shown in Fig. 1, the air conditioner 100 includes the indoor unit 10 installed indoors (the space to be air-conditioned), the outdoor unit 30 installed outdoors, and a remote control 40 that is operated by the user.

[0022] The indoor unit 10 includes a remote control transmitter / receiver 10a. The remote control transmitter / receiver 10a transmits and receives predetermined signals to and from the remote control 40 via infrared communication or the like. For example, the remote control transmitter / receiver 10a receives signals such as an operation command, a stop command, a command to change the set temperature, a command to change the operating state, and a command to set a timer from the remote control 40. The remote control transmitter / receiver 10a also transmits detected values ​​of the indoor temperature and the like to the remote control 40.

[0023] Although not shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 30 are connected via refrigerant piping and also via a communication line.

[0024] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the refrigerant circuit Q of the air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment. Note that the solid arrows in FIG. 2 indicate the flow of refrigerant during heating operation. Also, the dashed arrows in FIG. 2 indicate the flow of refrigerant during cooling operation. As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 10 includes an indoor heat exchanger 12 and an indoor fan 14. The outdoor unit 30 includes a compressor 31, an outdoor heat exchanger 32, an outdoor fan 33, an outdoor expansion valve 34, and a four-way valve 35.

[0025] The indoor heat exchanger 12 is a heat exchanger in which heat is exchanged between the refrigerant flowing through a heat transfer tube and the indoor air. The indoor fan 14 is, for example, a cylindrical cross-flow fan, and is driven by an indoor fan motor.

[0026] The compressor 31 is a device that compresses a low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant by driving a compressor motor 31a and discharges it as a high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. The outdoor heat exchanger 32 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through its heat transfer tube and the outside air sent in by the outdoor fan 33.

[0027] The outdoor fan 33 is a fan that sends outside air to the outdoor heat exchanger 32 when driven by an outdoor fan motor 33a, and is installed near the outdoor heat exchanger 32. The outdoor expansion valve 34 has the function of reducing the pressure of the refrigerant condensed in the "condenser" (one of the outdoor heat exchanger 32 and the indoor heat exchanger 12). The refrigerant reduced in pressure in the outdoor expansion valve 34 is introduced to the "evaporator" (the other of the outdoor heat exchanger 32 and the indoor heat exchanger 12).

[0028] The four-way valve 35 is a valve that switches the refrigerant flow path depending on the operating state of the air conditioner 100. That is, during cooling operation (see the dashed arrow), the refrigerant circulates in a refrigeration cycle in a refrigeration circuit Q that is formed by sequentially connecting a compressor 31, an outdoor heat exchanger 32 (condenser), an outdoor expansion valve 34, and an indoor heat exchanger 12 (evaporator) in a ring shape via the four-way valve 35.

[0029] During heating operation (see solid arrows), the refrigerant circulates in a refrigeration cycle in a refrigerant circuit Q in which the compressor 31, the indoor heat exchanger 12 (condenser), the outdoor expansion valve 34, and the outdoor heat exchanger 32 (evaporator) are connected in a circular sequence via a four-way valve 35. Furthermore, during internal heating operation in the present embodiment described above, the refrigerant can circulate in a refrigeration cycle in the refrigerant circuit Q, similar to that during heating operation.

[0030] That is, in the refrigerant circuit Q in which the refrigerant circulates in a refrigeration cycle through the compressor 31, the "condenser", the outdoor expansion valve 34 and the "evaporator" in that order, one of the "condenser" and the "evaporator" is the outdoor heat exchanger 32, and the other is the indoor heat exchanger 12.

[0031] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a side cross-sectional configuration of the indoor unit 10 provided in the air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the indoor unit 10 includes a housing 11, an indoor heat exchanger 12, a drain pan 13, an indoor fan 14, a housing base 15, filters 16a and 16b, a front panel 17, upper and lower airflow direction vanes 19, and left and right airflow direction vanes (omitted in Fig. 3).

[0032] The indoor heat exchanger 12 has a plurality of fins and a plurality of heat transfer tubes that pass through the fins. The indoor heat exchanger 12 is divided into a front indoor heat exchanger 12a and a rear indoor heat exchanger 12b. The front indoor heat exchanger 12a is disposed in front of the indoor fan 14. On the other hand, the rear indoor heat exchanger 12b is disposed behind the indoor fan 14. The upper end of the front indoor heat exchanger 12a is connected to the upper end of the rear indoor heat exchanger 12b.

[0033] The drain pan 13 receives condensed water from the indoor heat exchanger 12 and is disposed below the front indoor heat exchanger 12a. The water that falls into the drain pan 13 is discharged to the outside via a drain hose.

[0034] The indoor fan 14 is, for example, a cylindrical cross-flow fan, and is arranged near the indoor heat exchanger 12. The indoor fan 14 includes a plurality of fan blades, a partition plate on which these fan blades are installed, and an indoor fan motor that serves as a drive source.

[0035] Devices such as the indoor heat exchanger 12 and the indoor fan 14 are mounted on the housing base 15. These are covered with a decorative frame and a front panel 17 is attached to the front of the decorative frame to form the housing 11, which is made up of the housing base 15, decorative frame, and front panel 17. Indoor air is taken in through an air intake port h0 formed in the housing 11 of the indoor unit 10. Filter 16a removes dust from the air heading toward the front air intake port h1 and is installed in front of the indoor heat exchanger 12. Filter 16b removes dust from the air heading toward the upper air intake port h2 and is installed above the indoor heat exchanger 12.

[0036] The front panel 17 is a panel that is installed so as to cover the front filter 16a, and is rotatable forward around the lower end as an axis. Note that the front panel 17 may not be configured to rotate.

[0037] The vertical air deflector 19 is a plate-like member that adjusts the vertical flow of air blown into the room as the indoor fan 14 rotates. The vertical air deflector 19 is disposed near the air outlet h4 and is rotated vertically by a vertical air deflector motor. The vertical air deflector 19 is also controlled to open and close the air outlet h4.

[0038] 3, there is also provided a left / right air deflector, which is a plate-like member that adjusts the left / right flow of air blown into the room as the indoor fan 14 rotates. The left / right air deflector is disposed in the outlet air passage h3 and is rotated left / right by a left / right air deflector motor.

[0039] An indoor heat exchanger 12 is disposed between an air intake port h0 and air intake ports h1 and h2 formed in the housing 11 and an air outlet h4. The air drawn in through the air intake port h0 and air intake ports h1 and h2 formed in the housing 11 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes of the indoor heat exchanger 12, and the heat-exchanged air is guided to an outlet airflow duct h3. The air flowing through this outlet airflow duct h3 is guided in a predetermined direction by left-right airflow direction vanes and up-down airflow direction vanes 19, and is blown out into the room through an air outlet h4 formed in the housing 11.

[0040] The indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment is equipped with an inlet-side ion generator 21 arranged on the air inlet h0, h1, h2 side of the indoor heat exchanger 12, and an outlet-side ion generator 22 arranged on the air outlet h4 side of the indoor heat exchanger 12, in order to provide an air purification function.

[0041] The inlet-side ion generator 21 is provided on the rear side of the front panel 17, upstream of the airflow of the indoor heat exchanger 12 (more specifically, the front indoor heat exchanger 12a), and generates negative ions by discharging at its electrode portion. The outlet-side ion generator 22 is provided below the drain pan 13, near the air outlet h4 on the downstream side of the airflow of the indoor heat exchanger 12 (more specifically, the front indoor heat exchanger 12a), and generates negative ions by discharging at its electrode portion. The inlet-side ion generator 21 and the outlet-side ion generator 22 constitute the first and second ion generators in the described embodiment, and these ion generators 21, 22 are used to achieve the air purification function.

[0042] The air purification method employed in the air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment is an electrostatic precipitator (EP), which applies an electric charge (e.g., negative charges or anions) to suspended matter (dust and dirt) in the air and collects the suspended matter in a grounded dust collector. In the described embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger 12 functions as a grounded counter electrode and functions as a dust collector for both the inlet-side ion generator 21 and the outlet-side ion generator 22. The suspended matter (dust and dirt) collected in the indoor heat exchanger 12 is washed away by frost cleaning of the indoor heat exchanger 12. Here, frost cleaning performed on the indoor unit 10 side refers to a function of freezing and frosting the indoor heat exchanger 12 of the air conditioner 100, melting the accumulated frost, and washing away dirt with the resulting water. After operation is stopped, automatic fan cleaning and indoor unit frost cleaning are activated in response to the satisfaction of predetermined conditions.

[0043] In the embodiment to be described, the indoor heat exchanger 12 functions as a dust collector, and such a configuration is suitable for an air conditioner 100 equipped with an indoor frost washing function. However, the invention is not necessarily limited to capturing suspended matter with the indoor heat exchanger 12. In other embodiments, an air cleaning filter may be provided, and the air cleaning filter may capture suspended matter in the air.

[0044] Here, the destination of the ions emitted by the inlet-side ion generator 21 is partly the grounded indoor heat exchanger 12, and the impact of charging is small. On the other hand, the destination of the ions emitted by the outlet-side ion generator 22 is the vertical air deflector 19, as shown in FIG. 3, which is not grounded (grounding is difficult), and therefore there is a possibility that it will become charged. In particular, when the vertical air deflector 19 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel or copper, or an alloy, there is a tendency for charging to occur more easily. Furthermore, there is a possibility that dust and dirt will adhere to the vertical air deflector 19 due to charging.

[0045] Fig. 4 shows a circuit configuration 20 that realizes the air purification function in the indoor unit 10 included in the air conditioner 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The circuit configuration 20 shown in Fig. 4 includes electrode sections 21a to 21d of the air inlet-side ion generator 21, electrode section 22a of the air outlet-side ion generator 22, the indoor heat exchanger 12 as a counter electrode, a first high-voltage DC power supply 18a, and a second high-voltage DC power supply 18b.

[0046] 4, different voltages are applied from separate high-voltage power supplies 18a, 18b to electrode units 21a-21d of inlet-side ion generator 21 and electrode unit 22a of outlet-side ion generator 22. First high-voltage DC power supply 18a applies a first high voltage between electrode units 21a-21d of inlet-side ion generator 21 and indoor heat exchanger 12. Second high-voltage DC power supply 18b applies a second high voltage between electrode unit 22a of outlet-side ion generator 22 and indoor heat exchanger 12.

[0047] Here, when considering improving the air purification capacity, it is expected that the air purification capacity will be improved by increasing the output voltage of the electrode sections 21a-21d, 22a of the ion generators 21, 22. On the other hand, from the perspective of preventing charging of the upper and lower airflow direction vanes 19, which are generally difficult to ground, it is necessary to consider at least the output voltage of the outlet-side ion generator 22. Furthermore, with regard to the inlet-side ion generator 21, some of the ions are emitted to the indoor heat exchanger 12, and although the impact of charging is small, the output voltage cannot be increased without limit, and there is a certain upper limit due to the design.

[0048] Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to achieve both improved air purification capacity and prevention of charging of components (particularly, upper and lower air deflectors 19) near the ion generators (particularly, outlet-side ion generator 22), the output voltage of electrode unit 22a of outlet-side ion generator 22 is configured to be smaller than the output voltage of electrode units 21a to 21d of inlet-side ion generator 21. By maintaining the outlet-side output voltage smaller than the suction-side output voltage and increasing the suction-side output voltage, it is possible to prevent charging of the upper and lower air deflectors 19 and ensure sufficient air purification capacity for the design.

[0049] The inlet-side ion generator 21 shown in FIG. 4 includes four electrode units 21a-21d, each of which is preferably a brush-type electrode, and more preferably a carbon brush electrode. The use of carbon brush electrodes increases the amount of ions emitted. Assuming that the indoor heat exchanger 12 is grounded and set as a reference (0 V), the output voltage of the electrode units 21a-21d of the inlet-side ion generator 21 is set to a first high voltage. This first high voltage is preferably greater than 6.5 kV and is at or near the upper limit of the constraint, specifically 10 kV. Note that when the electrode units 21a-21d of the inlet-side ion generator 21 are configured as electrodes that emit negative charges (negative ions), a negative high voltage is applied, and therefore the potential of the electrode units 21a-21d is preferably lower than −6.5 kV, specifically −10 kV. When the voltage is applied to the electrode sections 21a to 21d and they reach the corona discharge region, they are negatively charged, and the charged suspended matter is attracted to the indoor heat exchanger 12 by Coulomb force and ionic wind and collected.

[0050] On the other hand, the outlet-side ion generator 22 shown in FIG. 4 has a single electrode portion 22a, which is preferably a brush-type electrode rather than a needle electrode, and more preferably a carbon brush electrode. Similarly, by employing a carbon brush electrode, the amount of emitted ions can be increased. For example, the number of emitted ions is 4.53 × 10 with a single conventional needle electrode. 6 On the other hand, for the carbon brush electrode, there are 15,000 pieces, which is 6.8 x 10 6The output voltage of the electrode unit 22a of the outlet-side ion generator 22 is set to a second high voltage, preferably 6.5 kV or less, and preferably 4.7 kV or less when a metal material is disposed at the destination of ion emission, such as the vertical airflow direction flap 19. By setting the output voltage of the electrode unit 22a of the outlet-side ion generator 22 to 6.5 kV or less, or 4.7 kV or less when a metal material is disposed at the destination of ion emission, it is possible to reduce the possibility of a person perceiving excessive stimulation even when touching the vertical airflow direction flap 19 at the destination of ion emission. Note that when the electrode unit 22a of the outlet-side ion generator 22 is configured as an electrode that emits negative charges (negative ions), similar to the inlet-side ion generator 21, a negative high voltage is applied to the electrode unit 22a, and therefore the potential is preferably higher than −6.5 kV, and in this specific example, −4.7 kV. When the voltage is applied to the electrode portion 22a and reaches the corona discharge region, the particles are negatively charged, and the charged suspended matter is attracted to the indoor heat exchanger 12 by Coulomb force and ionic wind and collected.

[0051] 4, in this embodiment, the grounded member is the indoor heat exchanger 12, and the opposing (grounded) electrode of the outlet-side ion generator 22 is also the indoor heat exchanger 12. In addition to the indoor heat exchanger 12, the electrical component box is also grounded. This reduces the possibility that a person will perceive excessive stimulation even if they touch the housing 11 with negative ions adhering to it.

[0052] As described above, some of the ions emitted by the inlet-side ion generator 21 are grounded components (indoor heat exchanger 12), which means that they are less affected by charging. However, some of the ions emitted by the outlet-side ion generator 22 are ungrounded components (upper and lower airflow direction vanes 19), which means that they become charged. Therefore, by making the inlet-side output voltage greater than the outlet-side output voltage, or more preferably by making the outlet-side output voltage less than half the inlet-side output voltage (inlet-side output voltage / 2 > outlet-side output voltage), it is possible to ensure air purification performance while taking the above-mentioned measures against charging. In particular, by making the output voltage of the outlet-side ion generator 22 lower than that of the inlet-side ion generator 21, it becomes possible to use metal components for the airflow direction vanes.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the number of electrodes 21a-21d of the inlet-side ion generator 21 is four, but this is not particularly limited. However, from the viewpoint of cost-effectiveness, three to five is preferable, and four is even more preferable. Furthermore, providing a separate outlet-side ion generator 22 is more effective than, for example, increasing the number of electrodes of the inlet-side ion generator 21 from four to six. This is thought to be because the ion generators are installed at separate locations, so they do not interfere with each other and their performance is improved. Therefore, if even greater air purification performance is required, an additional outlet-side ion generator may be installed.

[0054] Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the outlet-side ion generator 22 in the indoor unit 10 provided in the air conditioner 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 5, the direction in which negative ions are emitted is indicated by a sector B, and as shown in Fig. 5, the electrode unit 22a of the outlet-side ion generator 22 is configured to emit negative charges (negative ions) approximately perpendicular to the air outlet h4 of the indoor unit 10. Here, a slit S is provided in the housing portion beyond the electrode unit 22a of the outlet-side ion generator 22, and negative ions are emitted from between the slits S. The configuration in which the electrode unit 22a is located behind the slit S prevents the user from easily touching the electrode unit 22a.

[0055] Here, it is desirable to ensure a certain distance L between the tip of electrode portion 22a and the metal part of vertical airflow direction flap 19, more specifically, a distance of 37 mm or more. This is because if the distance between the tip of electrode portion 22a and the metal part is too close, more ions than expected will be charged to vertical airflow direction flap 19.

[0056] Various operations of the air conditioner according to this embodiment, including the operation in air purification mode, will be described below with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner according to this embodiment. In addition to the above configuration, the indoor unit 10 shown in Figure 6 also includes an imaging unit 23, an environment detection unit 24, and an indoor control circuit 25.

[0057] The imaging unit 23 captures images of the room (air-conditioned space) and includes an imaging element such as a CCD sensor (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS sensor (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). Based on the image capture results of the imaging unit 23, the indoor control circuit 25 detects people (occupants) in the room. By detecting people in the air-conditioned space, it becomes possible to control various operations and maintenance operations according to the time people are present in the room, whether or not they are present, the number of people, their locations, and the amount of activity.

[0058] The environment detection unit 24 has the function of detecting the indoor condition and the equipment condition of the indoor unit 10, and is equipped with an indoor temperature sensor 24a, a humidity sensor 24b, and an indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 24c. The indoor temperature sensor 24a is a sensor that detects the temperature inside the room (the space to be air-conditioned). Although not particularly limited, the indoor temperature sensor 24a is installed on the air intake side of the filters 16a and 16b (see FIG. 3).

[0059] The humidity sensor 24b is a sensor that detects the humidity of the air in the room (the space to be air-conditioned) and is installed at a predetermined position in the indoor unit 10. The humidity sensor 24b is installed in the same position as the indoor temperature sensor 24a, although this is not particularly limited. The indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 24c is a sensor that detects the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 12 and is installed in the indoor heat exchanger 12.

[0060] The detected values ​​of the indoor temperature sensor 24a, humidity sensor 24b, and indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 24c are output to the indoor control circuit 25. Sensors other than the indoor temperature sensor 24a, humidity sensor 24b, and indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 24c may be provided.

[0061] Although not shown, the indoor control circuit 25 is configured to include electronic circuits such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), various interfaces, etc. The program stored in the ROM is read and loaded into the RAM, and the CPU executes various processes.

[0062] 6, the indoor control circuit 25 includes a storage unit 25a and an indoor control unit 25b. In addition to predetermined programs, the storage unit 25a stores the imaging results of the imaging unit 23, the detection results of the environment detection unit 24, data received via the remote control transmitting / receiving unit 10a, and the like. The indoor control unit 25b executes predetermined control based on the data stored in the storage unit 25a.

[0063] In addition to the above configuration, the outdoor unit 30 also includes an outdoor temperature sensor 36 and an outdoor control circuit 37. The outdoor temperature sensor 36 is a sensor that detects the temperature outside the room (outdoor air temperature), and is installed at a predetermined location in the outdoor unit 30. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the outdoor unit 30 also includes sensors that detect the intake temperature, discharge temperature, discharge pressure, etc. of the compressor 31 (see FIG. 2). The detected values ​​of the sensors, including the outdoor temperature sensor 36, are output to the outdoor control circuit 37.

[0064] Although not shown, the outdoor control circuit 37 includes electronic circuits such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and various interfaces, and is connected to the indoor control circuit 25 via communication lines. As shown in FIG. 6, the outdoor control circuit 37 includes a memory unit 37a and an outdoor control unit 37b. The memory unit 37a stores predetermined programs as well as detected values ​​of various sensors, including the outdoor temperature sensor 36. The outdoor control unit 37b controls the compressor motor 31a (i.e., the compressor 31), the outdoor fan motor 33a, the outdoor expansion valve 34, and other components based on the data stored in the memory unit 37a. Hereinafter, the indoor control circuit 25 and the outdoor control circuit 37 will be collectively referred to as the "control unit K." The control unit K controls the operation of various operation modes, including the air purification mode.

[0065] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation in the air purification mode executed by the air conditioner 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The control shown in Fig. 7 starts from step S100 in response to a command to switch to the air purification mode being given to the air conditioner 100 by the remote control 40 or the like. Here, the air purification mode may be any mode in which ions are generated from the ion generators 21, 22 and suspended matter in the air is captured by the indoor heat exchanger 12. There may be a mode dedicated to the air purification operation, or there may be a mode in which air purification is performed in conjunction with another operation (for example, blowing air).

[0066] In step S101, the control unit K controls the four-way valve, the compressor, etc. as necessary to stop the operation of the refrigerant circuit Q having the indoor heat exchanger 12.

[0067] In step S102, the control unit K opens the upper and lower airflow direction flap 19 and sets it to a predetermined open position. In a preferred embodiment, in step S102, the control unit K can set the angle of the upper and lower airflow direction flap 19 to an angle that ensures the maximum volume of air blown out of the housing 11. This allows more ions to be released into the conditioned space, thereby improving the air purification capacity.

[0068] In step S103, the control unit K can set the rotation speed of the indoor fan 14 to a predetermined rotation speed when operating in the air purification mode. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit K can set the rotation speed of the indoor fan 14 to, for example, 1200 rpm or more, more preferably 1300 rpm or more. By releasing ions into the space using the force of the wind before the ions are charged to the upper and lower airflow direction flap 19, the force of the wind from the indoor fan 14 pushing ions into the space becomes greater than the Coulomb force between the ions and metal, which is advantageous. In step S104, the air purification operation continues.

[0069] As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to provide an air conditioner that can achieve both improved air purification capacity and prevention of charging of components in the vicinity of the ion generator.

[0070] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments and may include various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for ease of understanding, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with another configuration.

[0071] Furthermore, some or all of the above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, etc. may be realized in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. Furthermore, some or all of the above-described configurations, functions, etc. may be realized by computer-executable programs written in legacy programming languages ​​such as assembler, C, C++, C#, Java (registered trademark), or object-oriented programming languages, in which a processor realizes the respective functions. Information such as the programs, tables, and files that realize the respective functions may be stored on device-readable recording media such as storage devices such as HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), SSDs (Solid State Drives), ROMs, EEPROMs, EPROMs, and flash memories, flexible disks, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-RAMs, DVD-RWs, Blu-ray Discs, SD (registered trademark) cards, and MOs, or distributed via telecommunications lines.

[0072] Furthermore, some or all of the above configurations, functions, etc. can be implemented on a programmable device (PD) such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and can be distributed on a recording medium as circuit configuration data (bitstream data) to be downloaded to the PD to realize the above functional units on the PD, or data written in HDL (Hardware Description Language), VHDL (Very High Speed ​​Integrated Circuits Hardware Description Language), Verilog-HDL, etc. for generating the circuit configuration data. Furthermore, the control lines and information lines shown are those considered necessary for explanation, and not all control lines and information lines are necessarily shown in the product. In reality, it can be assumed that almost all configurations are interconnected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10...indoor unit, 10a...remote control transmitter / receiver, 12...indoor heat exchanger, 13...drain pan, 14...indoor fan, 15...casing base, 16...filter, 17...front panel, 19...upper and lower air deflectors, 18...high-voltage power supply, 19a...motor for upper and lower air deflectors, 20...electrical circuit, 21, 22...ion generator, 21a to 21d, 22a...electrode unit, 23...imaging unit, 24...environment detection unit, 24a...indoor temperature sensor, 24b...humidity sensor, 24c...indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor, 25...indoor control circuit, 25a...storage unit, 25b...indoor control unit, 30...outdoor unit, 31...compressor, 31a...compressor motor, 32...outdoor heat exchanger, 33...outdoor fan, 33a...outdoor fan motor, 34...outdoor expansion valve, 35...four-way valve, 36...outdoor temperature sensor, 37...outdoor control circuit, 37a...storage unit, 37b...outdoor control unit, 40...remote control unit, 100...air conditioner, h0, h1, h2...air intake port, h3...air outlet duct, h4...air outlet, Q...refrigerant circuit

Claims

1. An air conditioner having an indoor unit, The indoor unit is an intake port formed in the housing for drawing in air from the space to be air-conditioned; an air outlet formed in the housing for blowing air into the air-conditioned space; a heat exchanger provided between the air inlet and the air outlet; a first ion generator disposed upstream of the heat exchanger in the air flow direction and having a first electrode unit that generates negative ions by electrical discharge; a second ion generator disposed downstream of the heat exchanger in the air flow direction and having a second electrode portion that generates negative ions by electrical discharge; an earthed member is disposed at a destination of ions emitted from the first electrode unit, and an output voltage of the second electrode unit is smaller than an output voltage of the first electrode unit.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the output voltage of the first electrode unit is greater than 6.5 kV.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the output voltage of the first electrode unit is an upper limit value due to constraints.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the output voltage of the first electrode unit is 10 kV.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the output voltage of the second electrode unit is 6.5 kV or less.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the second electrode portion is a brush electrode.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6 , wherein a wind direction plate having a metal member is arranged in the ion emission direction of the second electrode portion.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein the brush electrode is a carbon brush electrode.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 7 , wherein the output voltage of the second electrode unit is 4.7 kV or less.

10. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the grounded member is the heat exchanger, the counter electrode of the second ion generator is the heat exchanger, and the suspended solids collected in the heat exchanger are washed away by freeze cleaning of the heat exchanger.

11. The air conditioner according to claim 7 , wherein a distance of 37 mm or more is ensured between the second electrode portion and the metal member.

12. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger and the electrical component box provided in the housing are grounded.

13. The indoor unit is A fan that draws air from the air-conditioned space into the housing and blows air out into the air-conditioned space 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the control device of the air conditioner sets the rotation speed of the fan to 1200 rpm or more while the second electrode unit is discharging.

14. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the control device of the air conditioner sets the angle of the upper and lower airflow direction plates to an angle that ensures a maximum air volume while the second electrode unit is discharging.

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