Toxicity target reduction device

Abstract

To provide a means for extinguishing a toxic target without gradually and surely diffusing by decelelatingly discharging a fluid after a toxic target was extinguished outside, while sucking a fluid with a simple structure and while extinguishing by surely decomposing or inactivating and / or annihilating the toxic target contained in a fluid.SOLUTION: A toxic target extinguishing device comprises: a suction section for sucking in a fluid; a discharge section for discharging the fluid; an extinguishing means for decomposing and / or inactivating and / or extinguishing a toxic target contained in the fluid to emit a wave motion; a cylindrical section having a reflecting surface for repeatedly reflecting the wave motion on an inner peripheral surface thereof by forming a flow path communicating the suction section and the discharging section; and a flow generating section for causing air to flow along the flow path. It is characterized in that the flow velocity of the fluid discharged from the discharge section is suppressed compared to the flow velocity of the fluid sucked in from the discharge section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toxicity target elimination device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an air purifier for purifying indoor air is known. According to such an air purifier, contaminants such as odor substances, dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are sucked from the intake port together with the air, and dust is collected by a filter or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, an air purifier including a filter and an electrostatic atomization device has been proposed. This air purifier takes in dust, smoke, pollen, bacteria, mold, allergens, viruses, etc. floating in the room from the intake port into the air purifier, and discharges charged water droplets containing nanoparticles as particles from the electrostatic atomization device, and discharges them from the exhaust port together with the clean air by a blower fan. The charged water droplets are discharged near the intake port to charge and coarsen dust, smoke, pollen, bacteria, mold, allergens, viruses, etc., making it easier to collect them with a filter (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The air purifier described in Patent Document 1 above blows the inhaled air upwards and detects the concentration of pollutants in the air that is returned by this process, thus stirring the air in the room with the blown-out air. In other words, if pollutants are accumulating in a predetermined area, the operation of the air purifier will scatter, stir, and diffuse the pollutants into the room space. Furthermore, viruses, among the pollutants, are extremely small in size compared to pollen and bacteria, and depending on the performance of the filter, they may not be able to be captured at all. In such cases, the viruses that could not be captured are circulated in the room by the return of the air blown out by the air purifier, which in turn scatters, stirs, and diffuses the viruses in the room space, leading to the spread of disease infections and other problems. Furthermore, the air purifier described in Patent Document 2 also has the problem that, because it agitates the indoor air with the clean air released from the exhaust port, it scatters, agitates, and spreads viruses that are lingering in the room, thus spreading disease infections.

[0005] This invention was made through the diligent research of the inventors in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a means that, with a simple structure, can reliably decompose, inactivate, and / or kill toxic substances contained in a fluid while drawing it in, thereby reducing its presence, without diffusing the toxic substances within the space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a toxic substance detoxification device comprising: a suction section for drawing in a fluid; a discharge section for discharging the fluid; a detoxification means for emitting waves that decompose and / or inactivate and / or sterilize toxic substances contained in the fluid; a cylindrical section forming a flow path connecting the suction section and the discharge section, and having a reflective surface on its inner circumference that repeatedly reflects the waves; and a flow generation section disposed at the lower part of the cylindrical section and causing air to flow along the flow path. A guide board placed within the above-mentioned flow path, Equipped with, The above-mentioned guide plate is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, is disposed inside the cylindrical portion, and has a curved and / or twisted shape such that the phase is shifted by a predetermined angle from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion. The method is characterized by suppressing the flow velocity of the fluid discharged from the discharge section compared to the flow velocity of the fluid drawn in from the suction section.

[0007] Furthermore, the toxicity elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that the area of ​​the fluid outlet in the discharge section is larger than the area of ​​the fluid inlet in the suction section.

[0008] Furthermore, the toxic substance elimination device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a housing surrounding the cylindrical portion, and having multiple discharge ports of the discharge portion arranged at substantially equal intervals on the circumferential surface of the housing.

[0009] Furthermore, the toxic substance elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that the suction section is located above the cylindrical section, and the discharge section is located below the suction section.

[0010] Furthermore, the toxicity reduction device of the present invention is characterized in that the fluid flows down in a substantially spiral manner within the cylindrical portion.

[0013] Furthermore, the toxicity reduction device of the present invention is characterized in that the guide plate guides the direction of the flow of the fluid.

[0014] Furthermore, the toxic substance reduction device of the present invention is characterized in that the guide plate is composed of an ultraviolet reflective material or an ultraviolet transparent material.

[0016] Furthermore, the toxic substance elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that the wave is a sound wave, radio wave, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray and / or gamma ray.

[0017] Furthermore, the toxic substance elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that the elimination means has an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light to eliminate toxic substances.

[0018] Furthermore, the toxicity reduction device of the present invention is characterized in that the ultraviolet light source is a mercury lamp, xenon lamp, excimer lamp, metal halide lamp, neon lamp and / or LED.

[0019] Further, the toxicity target elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that the ultraviolet light source has a substantially tubular shape and extends substantially parallel to the axial center of the cylindrical portion.

[0020] Further, the toxicity target elimination device of the present invention includes at least one sensor selected from a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a human presence sensor, and a dirt sensor, and controls the flow generated by the flow generation means based on the detection by the sensor.

[0021] Further, the toxicity target elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that the discharge portion discharges fluid to a region other than the suction region by the suction portion.

[0022] Further, the toxicity target elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that the discharge port area of the fluid in the discharge portion is larger than the suction port area of the fluid in the suction portion.

[0023] Further, the toxicity target elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that the toxicity target is bacteria, viruses and / or harmful molecules.

[0024] Further, the toxicity target elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that a filter on which foreign matter can adhere is arranged between the suction portion and / or the discharge portion and the flow path.

[0025] Further, the toxicity target elimination device of the present invention is characterized in that a heat sink is provided on the outer surface and / or the inner surface of the cylindrical portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0026] According to the present invention, with a simple structure, while sucking in fluid, the toxicity target and the like contained in the fluid are surely decomposed or inactivated and / or killed and eliminated, and the toxicity target is gradually and surely eliminated without diffusing the toxicity target in the space.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing the toxicity target elimination device of the present invention. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view showing the toxicity reduction device of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the inside of the device, excluding the casing. [Figure 4] This is a diagram showing the UV-blocking section. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the airflow inside a toxic substance reduction device. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the airflow inside a room. [Figure 7] This is a diagram showing an information board. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing an information board. [Figure 9] This figure shows a cylindrical section with a heat sink on its outer surface. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a toxic substance elimination device. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view showing the airflow induction section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] Embodiments of the toxic substance elimination device of the present invention are described below. The toxic substance elimination device comprises a suction section for drawing in fluid, a discharge section for discharging the fluid, an elimination means for emitting waves (ultraviolet rays) that decompose and / or inactivate and / or sterilize toxic substances contained in the fluid, and a cylindrical section that forms a flow path connecting the suction section and the discharge section and has a reflective surface on its inner circumferential surface that repeatedly reflects the waves in a higher order. Furthermore, the opening of the discharge section is set so that the flow velocity of the fluid discharged from the discharge section is suppressed compared to the flow velocity when the fluid is drawn in from the suction section.

[0029] Here, "fluid" refers to a concept that includes gases, liquids, and powders, and "toxic substances" refer to pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, as well as substances containing harmful molecules such as formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, nitrite, and odor components, which are toxic to the human body and move along with the fluid.

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the toxic substance elimination device 1 of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the toxic substance elimination device 1 of the present invention. The toxic substance elimination device 1 comprises a roughly cylindrical housing 2 that is erected upright. An intake section 4 for drawing in outside air is formed on the upper end surface of the housing 2, and an exhaust section 6 for discharging air to the outside is formed on the circumferential surface of the housing 2.

[0031] Furthermore, the housing 2 is equipped with a cylindrical section 8 that is roughly cylindrical with a circular inner surface, an ultraviolet radiation section 10 as a means of reducing toxic substances, and a blower section 12 (flow generation section) for circulating air. The suction section 4 has a suction port that is opened at the top of the housing 2, and outside air flows into the inside of the device through the suction port. A filter (not shown) is installed near the suction section 4. Examples of such filters include a coarse dust filter that primarily collects particles 50 μm or larger, a medium-high performance filter (MEPA filter) that primarily collects particles 25 μm or larger, a HEPA filter that collects 0.3 μm particles, and a ULPA filter that collects 0.15 μm particles. Of course, filters can be placed in appropriate positions and in appropriate numbers, and can also be placed near the discharge port 6, for example.

[0032] The discharge section 6 is formed in approximately the middle of the housing 2, and has multiple discharge ports along the circumferential surface of the housing 2. For example, if the housing 2 is cylindrical with a roughly rectangular cross-section, discharge ports are formed on each of the rectangular surfaces. The total opening area of ​​the discharge ports is set to be sufficiently larger than the opening area of ​​the suction ports, for example, twice or more. Furthermore, if the housing 2 is cylindrical with a rectangular cross-section, it is desirable to set the opening area of ​​the discharge ports on each surface to be larger than 1 / 4 of the opening area of ​​the suction ports, preferably more than 1 / 2, so that the total opening area is twice or more.

[0033] The housing 2 has a roughly cylindrical section 8, an ultraviolet radiation section 10 (reduction means), and a blower section 12 for circulating air inside. The cylindrical section 8 has openings at both ends through which air can pass, and an internal space (cavity) connecting the ends. The cavity in the cylindrical section 8 functions as a flow path that can guide the flow of air. Therefore, the air that flows in through the intake section 4 passes through the cylindrical section 8 from one end (upper end) to the other end (lower end). The cylindrical section 8 also has a roughly endless cross-sectional shape of its inner surface. Here, it is assumed to have a roughly circular inner surface, but of course, the inner surface of the cylindrical section 8 may have a polygonal cross-sectional shape (triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, etc.), an ellipse, an oblong, a constant-width figure (Reuleaux polygon), etc.

[0034] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the inside of the device excluding the housing 2. The cylindrical section 8 is fixed at its lower end to the base 1a of the toxic substance elimination device 1, leaving a gap between them. Therefore, a vent 8a is formed between the base 1a and the cylindrical section 8. The cylindrical section 8 also has a gap in the radial direction relative to the housing 2 that serves as a flow path. That is, the outer diameter of the cylindrical section 8 is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of the housing 2. As a result, the gap between the housing 2 and the cylindrical section 8 connects to the discharge section 6.

[0035] Inside the toxicity mitigation device 1, a flow path is formed in which the suction section 4, the space inside the cylindrical section 8, the vent 8a, the gap between the cylindrical section 8 and the housing 2, and the discharge section 6 are in free-flowing communication. In order to avoid obstructing the flow of air within the flow path, the cross-sectional area of ​​the cavity in the cylindrical section 8 is greater than or equal to the opening area of ​​the suction section 4. Furthermore, the size (opening area) of the vent 8a is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​the cavity in the cylindrical section 8, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the gap between the cylindrical section 8 and the housing 2 is greater than or equal to the size of the vent 8a.

[0036] The cylindrical portion 8 has a reflective surface 9 over its entire inner circumference. The reflective surface 9 is made of an ultraviolet-reflective material capable of repeatedly reflecting ultraviolet light in a high order. Preferably, the ultraviolet-reflective material has a diffuse transmittance of 1% / 1mm or more and 20% / 1mm or less, and a total reflectance in the ultraviolet region of 60% / 1mm or more and 99.9% / 1mm or less, with the sum of the diffuse transmittance and the total reflectance in the ultraviolet region being 90% / 1mm or more. Such ultraviolet-reflective materials may include silver, aluminum, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), silicon resin, quartz glass containing bubbles of 0.05 μm to 10 μm inside, partially crystallized quartz glass containing crystal grains of 0.05 μm to 10 μm inside, alumina sintered body with crystal grains of 0.05 μm to 10 μm, mullite sintered body with crystal grains of 0.05 μm to 10 μm, magnesium carbonate, barium, and at least one of these. The reflective surface 9 can also be formed by providing a thin film of metal (silver, aluminum, nickel, copper, etc.) on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 8. Alternatively, it can be formed by depositing an ultraviolet-reflective material onto the surface of an appropriate base material by vapor deposition, sputtering, or the like.

[0037] Furthermore, when using silver or aluminum for the reflective surface 9, a protective film that functions as a coating may be applied to the surface to prevent oxidation. In this case, the protective film can be made of a material that does not reduce the reflectivity of the reflective surface 9, such as acrylic resin, quartz glass, or PTFE. Methods for forming the protective film with PTFE include vapor deposition and sputtering.

[0038] Furthermore, the reflective surface 9 may be formed by layering thin films on the surface of the cylindrical portion 8. For example, the reflective surface 9 may be formed by layering thin films of metal, thin films of alloys mainly composed of metal, or oxides (aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, etc.). The thickness of each layer of film is set to, for example, an integer multiple of 1 / 4 of the wavelength of ultraviolet light (i.e., an odd or even multiple of 1 / 4 of the wavelength). Specifically, if the main wavelength of ultraviolet light to be reflected is set to 253.7 (nm), the thickness of one layer can be 63.4 (nm), 126.8 (nm), 190.3 (nm), etc. Of course, the film thickness per layer can be set as appropriate, and may be a so-called thick film with a thickness of several tens of micrometers, a so-called thin film with a thickness of several micrometers, or a so-called ultrathin film with a thickness of several nanometers or less. Furthermore, when forming a multilayer film, the surface of the base material may be made mirror-like beforehand, and layers with different refractive indices and / or dielectric constants may be formed alternately.

[0039] Furthermore, a region may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 8 by providing a film of a photocatalytically active substance. That is, by generating an active surface through irradiation with ultraviolet light, sterilization, antiviral effects, deodorization, and reduction of toxic substances such as organochlorine compounds and formaldehyde can be achieved. Examples of photocatalytically active substances include titanium dioxide and tungsten oxide.

[0040] The ultraviolet radiation unit 10 emits ultraviolet light that reduces toxic substances by decomposing, inactivating, disinfecting, sterilizing, and eliminating them. Examples of such units include mercury lamps, xenon lamps, excimer lamps, metal halide lamps, neon lamps, and / or LEDs. The ultraviolet radiation unit 10 has a long, tubular shape and is positioned inside the cylindrical section 8, i.e., within the airflow channel. The longitudinal direction of the ultraviolet radiation unit 10 is parallel to the axial direction of the cylindrical section 8 and is positioned so as to substantially overlap with the central axis of the cylindrical section 8. Therefore, the ultraviolet radiation unit 10 is surrounded by the reflective surface 9. As a result, the ultraviolet radiation emitted from the ultraviolet radiation unit 10 is reflected by the reflective surface 9.

[0041] The ultraviolet radiation emitted from the ultraviolet radiation emitter 10 preferably has a wavelength of about 200 to 300 nm, and more preferably is set to around 250 to 270 nm. Of course, the ultraviolet radiation may also be near-ultraviolet (UV-C), far-ultraviolet (wavelength 10 to 200 nm), or extreme ultraviolet (wavelength 10 to 121 nm), as long as it can at least neutralize the toxic substance. It may also be near-ultraviolet (UV-A, UV-B) with a wavelength exceeding 300 nm.

[0042] Furthermore, a UV LED (Light Emitting Diode) may be applied to the UV radiation section 10. Examples of such UV LEDs include those made of aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN). The UV radiation section can be configured by arranging multiple UV LEDs in a substantially linear arrangement, or by arranging multiple UV LEDs vertically and / or horizontally within a plane.

[0043] It goes without saying that multiple ultraviolet radiation units 10 may be provided. Providing multiple ultraviolet radiation units 10 increases the amount of ultraviolet radiation, thereby improving the efficiency of detoxifying toxic substances.

[0044] Furthermore, the housing 2 is equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) suppression section 14 to prevent UV rays emitted from the UV radiation section 10 from leaking out through the intake section 4. As shown in Figure 4, the UV suppression section 14 consists of multiple plate-shaped members with a refracted (bent) shape arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals. In this case, the plate-shaped members have an appropriate shape, for example, including an inclined surface 14a that is tilted with respect to the axial direction, and the inclined surfaces 14a are arranged in parallel with some overlap when viewed in the axial direction to prevent UV rays from leaking out of the UV radiation section 10.

[0045] The air blower 12 is a so-called propeller-like component and is composed of a rotating body that rotates around the axis of the cylindrical section 8, multiple blades formed on the outer surface of the rotating body, a motor that rotates the rotating body, etc. Furthermore, the type and shape of the air blower 12 are not particularly limited, and may include, for example, axial flow fans (propeller fans), mixed flow fans, centrifugal fans (multi-blade fans, sirocco fans, radial fans, plate fans, turbo fans, limit load fans, airfoil fans, etc.), centrifugal axial flow fans, vortex flow fans, transverse flow fans (cross-flow fans, etc.). Of course, multiple air blowers 12 may be installed. For example, air blowers 12 can be placed at both ends in the axial direction of the cylindrical section 8 or near the suction section 4, and it is also possible to generate airflow using multiple air blowers 12.

[0046] The toxic substance elimination device 1 circulates air using a blower unit 12 and emits ultraviolet light inside the cylindrical section 8 using an ultraviolet radiation unit 10. Specifically, by driving the blower unit 12, air is drawn in from the outside via the intake unit 4, and this air is circulated inside the device and discharged from the discharge unit 6. Here, Figure 5 shows the airflow inside the toxic substance elimination device 1. As shown in Figure 5, the air flowing in from the intake section 4 flows from top to bottom within the cylindrical section 8, and also flows upward along the gap between the cylindrical section 8 and the housing 2 through the vent 8a, and is discharged to the outside through the discharge section 6.

[0047] Furthermore, a high-density, high-dose ultraviolet region is created inside the cylindrical section 8. That is, as the ultraviolet radiation section 10 emits ultraviolet light inside the cylindrical section 8, the ultraviolet light is repeatedly reflected by the reflective surface 9, causing the ultraviolet radiation dose to increase. Consequently, toxic substances in the air flowing from top to bottom inside the cylindrical section 8 pass through the ultraviolet region and are neutralized by exposure to high-dose ultraviolet light.

[0048] Furthermore, the air, after the toxic substances have been neutralized, is discharged to the outside via the discharge section 6. At this time, the discharge section 6 is located in almost the entire circumferential direction, and the flowing air is discharged in multiple directions. In addition, as described above, the opening area of ​​the discharge section 6 is made larger than the opening area of ​​the intake section 4 to reduce the blowing speed. This prevents dust from being stirred up and prevents the diffusion of untreated air (toxic substances) that may be present in the room.

[0049] The toxic substance elimination device 1 can be installed and used indoors. For example, when the toxic substance elimination device 1 is installed in the center of a room as shown in Figure 6, the intake section 4 opens upwards and therefore preferentially draws in the air (and toxic substances) above the device. It is preferable to install such an intake section 4 at a height corresponding to the height at which human exhalation or air containing exhalation accumulates, or at a height below the height at which human exhalation or air containing exhalation accumulates (for example, 70 to 90 cm from the ground). As an example, the intake section 4 can be placed near the height of the respiratory organs, such as the oral cavity or nasal cavity, where human exhalation and exhaust tend to accumulate. Needless to say, the position of the intake section 4 may also be at a height of less than 70 cm from the ground or at a height of 90 cm or more.

[0050] The discharge section 6 discharges air from a different area than the area above the intake section 4, specifically below the intake section 4 and distributing the air almost evenly in all directions. Furthermore, since the discharge section 6 discharges air in each direction at a very low wind speed (blow velocity), there is almost no convection of the indoor air due to the discharged air. Therefore, it is possible to prevent toxic substances contained in human exhalation from being dispersed by the discharged air. However, the closer the position of the discharge section 6 is to the position of the suction section 4, the easier it is for the air discharged from the discharge section 6 to be drawn into the suction section 4. Therefore, it is desirable to space the discharge section 6 away from the suction section 4, and although not particularly limited, it is desirable for the air from the discharge section 6 to be directed horizontally or downwards.

[0051] Furthermore, it is preferable that the discharge section 6 be positioned sufficiently lower than the intake section 4. With such a position, air can be discharged from a position lower than the oral cavity and nasal cavity, thereby suppressing disruption of the airflow (airflow toward the intake section 4) in areas where human exhalation and exhaust tend to accumulate.

[0052] As described above, the toxic substance reduction device 1 of the present invention creates a high-dose ultraviolet region within the cylindrical section 8, which is the air passage, so that toxic substances flowing down with the air can be reduced within the cylindrical section 8. Furthermore, since the total area of ​​the opening of the discharge section 6 is larger than that of the intake section 4, the air is discharged at a slower blowing speed than the air intake speed of the intake section 4. This suppresses the forced airflow in the room caused by the exhaust, and prevents the diffusion of toxic substances floating in the space. In other words, by drawing in air from an area where the presence of toxic substances is highly likely, reliably reducing the toxic substances contained in the drawn-in air, and then discharging the air after the toxic substances have been reduced toward a space different from the intake area and in an area where the presence of toxic substances is low, it is possible to gradually and reliably reduce the toxic substances present in the space without hardly stirring the air in the space. Thus, the toxic substance reduction device 1, while drawing in air, can gradually and reliably reduce toxic substances without dispersing them, such as by thoroughly inactivating and / or killing bacteria, viruses, etc. attached to microdroplets and aerosols using ultraviolet light, or by reliably decomposing toxic molecules using ultraviolet light.

[0053] Furthermore, since air is discharged from the holes in the discharge section 6, which are provided on almost the entire circumference, the air is dispersed radially from the toxic substance reduction device 1. This also suppresses the forced airflow in the surrounding area, and prevents the diffusion of toxic substances remaining in the space into the surroundings. Moreover, by preventing the diffusion of toxic substances into the surroundings, the device can provide a sense of security by not causing users to feel anxious about viral infections, etc.

[0054] Furthermore, the filters installed in the toxicity mitigation device 1 are not limited to the vicinity of the intake section, but can be installed at any appropriate location. The number of filters is also not limited; for example, they may be placed inside the cylindrical section 8 or near the discharge section 6. Additionally, the air discharge velocity may be suppressed by utilizing the pressure loss caused by the number of filters installed.

[0055] Furthermore, since the ultraviolet radiation section 10 can gradually increase in temperature due to continuous emission of ultraviolet rays, it is greatly affected by temperature depending on the radiation time. In other words, the output gradually decreases with radiation time, so it is desirable to have a structure that promotes heat dissipation from the ultraviolet radiation section 10. For example, the cylindrical section 8 can be formed from a material with high thermal conductivity, and heat dissipation can be promoted by utilizing thermal convection.

[0056] Furthermore, guide plates (guide sections) may be placed inside the cylindrical section 8 to guide the flow of air. By causing the air to swirl around the ultraviolet radiation section 10 using such guide plates, the heat dissipation efficiency can be improved. Also, by swirling the air inside the cylindrical section 8, the orientation of the toxic object relative to the ultraviolet radiation section 10 can be changed, allowing ultraviolet rays to be emitted from various directions towards the toxic object. In other words, it becomes easier to emit ultraviolet rays to toxic objects that are hidden in the shade of dust and dirt, thus reliably reducing and eliminating the toxic object.

[0057] Furthermore, the guide plate, like the cylindrical portion 8, can be made of a material with high thermal conductivity, which can further promote heat dissipation from the ultraviolet radiation portion 10. As shown in Figure 7, the guide plate 20 may have a shape that is gradually curved so that the phase shift is approximately 90° from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction. Of course, the shape of the guide plate 20 can be set as appropriate, and it goes without saying that it may also have a shape in which the phase angle shifted along the longitudinal direction exceeds 90°.

[0058] Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 8 may be provided with a heat sink on its outer surface (outer circumferential surface) to further promote heat dissipation from the ultraviolet radiation portion 10. That is, as shown in Figure 9, the overall heat dissipation efficiency of the cylindrical portion 8 may be improved by providing irregularities (alternating concave and convex portions) on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 8. Needless to say, the shape, extension direction, and arrangement direction of the irregularities are not limited to those that extend along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 8 and are arranged in parallel along the circumferential direction, as shown in Figure 9. The irregularities may, for example, be formed in a circumferential manner along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 8, and multiple irregularities may be formed in the axial direction. Alternatively, multiple irregularities may be formed obliquely to the axial direction, multiple irregularities may be formed in a row, or irregularities may be formed in a roughly knurled pattern (square, crisscross, etc.). Needless to say, similar irregularities may also be formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 8.

[0059] Furthermore, the guide plate 20 may be formed from an ultraviolet-reflective material, similar to the cylindrical portion 8, to create a high-dose ultraviolet region, or it may be formed from an ultraviolet-transmitting member that transmits ultraviolet light. Even in this case, the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet radiation portion 10 and transmitted through the guide plate 20 can be reflected by the reflective surface 8 and transmitted through the guide plate 20 again, hardly hindering the detoxification of toxic substances. Examples of ultraviolet-transmitting materials include glass, quartz (SiO2), sapphire (Al2O3), amorphous fluororesins such as PTFE, and acrylic resins.

[0060] Furthermore, if the guide plate 20 is made into a spiral shape with one or more turns, the contact area with the air increases, which can improve heat dissipation efficiency. However, this may increase pressure loss, but this pressure loss can be used to adjust the blow-out speed from the discharge section.

[0061] Furthermore, the number of guide plates 20 is not limited to two; for example, it is possible to arrange three or more guide plates 20, such as four guide plates 20 as shown in Figure 8. Of course, increasing the number of guide plates 20 increases the total contact area between the air passing through the cylindrical section 8 and all the guide plates 20, which can improve heat dissipation efficiency. The guide plate 20 may be formed to extend over substantially the entire area along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 8, but is not limited to this, and may extend from one end or the other end of the cylindrical portion 8 to an intermediate part in the axial direction, or may be present only in the intermediate part excluding one end and the other end of the cylindrical portion 8. Furthermore, the guide plate 20 may be intermittently arranged along the axial direction within the cylindrical portion 8, such as being placed at one end of the cylindrical portion 8 and in the intermediate part.

[0062] Furthermore, a swirling airflow may be generated inside the cylindrical section 8 by a component other than the guide plate 20. Here, Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the toxic substance reduction device 1, in which an airflow induction section 30 can be provided as a guide to induce a swirling airflow between the cylindrical section 8 and the blower section 12.

[0063] Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the airflow induction section 30, which has a plurality of vanes 32 serving as guides on the inner circumferential surface of one end of the cylindrical outer frame 30a, at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction. The vanes 32 are arranged in an inclined direction with respect to the axial direction so that the air passing through them swirls in a spiral. Since the blades 32 are located upstream of the blower section 12 in the direction of airflow, they are positioned downstream of the blades 32. Therefore, the airflow generated by the blower section 12 can be forcibly swirled by the airflow guide section 30, and a swirling airflow can gradually be generated even within the cylindrical section 8 upstream of the airflow guide section 30.

[0064] Furthermore, the placement of the airflow induction unit 30 is not limited to between the cylindrical section 8 and the blower section 12, but can be set at an appropriate position. Therefore, the airflow induction unit 30 may be placed inside the cylindrical section 8, or between the suction section 4 and the cylindrical section 8. Needless to say, multiple airflow induction units 30 may also be provided. In addition, a highly reflective layer capable of reflecting ultraviolet rays may be provided on the inner surface of the blades 32 of the airflow induction unit 30, that is, the surface facing the central side in the axial direction of the cylindrical section 8, so that ultraviolet rays directed outward from the cylindrical section 8 are reflected inward.

[0065] Furthermore, although the housing 2 is given a rectangular cross-sectional shape in the embodiment described above, it is not limited to this. That is, as long as it can surround at least the cylindrical portion 8, the housing 2 can have any suitable shape, such as a cylindrical shape, a cylindrical shape, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, or a polygonal prism shape. Also, when the suction portion 4 is formed at the top of the housing 2, the top may be flat, but it is preferable to make it a shape that prevents objects from being placed on the top of the housing 2, such as a cone shape. In this way, it becomes difficult to place objects on the housing 2, preventing part or all of the suction portion 4 from being blocked and preventing a decrease in the amount of intake air.

[0066] Furthermore, the arrangement of the intake section 4 and the discharge section 6 in the housing 2 is not particularly limited. At a minimum, the intake section 4 should be positioned to efficiently draw in toxic substances floating and lingering in the room. The discharge section 6 should be positioned to discharge air in a way that prevents the lingering toxic substances from spreading throughout the room.

[0067] Furthermore, the openings of the suction port of the suction section 4 and the discharge port of the discharge section 6 may be set to the size such that, for example, the amount of air drawn in through the suction section 4 is 250 L / s or more, and the velocity of the air blown out from the discharge section 6 is 1 to 2 m / s or less. The intake volume is set appropriately depending on the installation environment of the device. For example, when installing in a room or space where people gather, the intake volume may be set to correspond to the total exhaust volume of the staff in the room or the people around the device. Since the exhaust volume of one person is 5 to 8 liters per minute, if you set the intake volume to be able to draw in almost all of the exhaled breath of ten people, you should set the rotation speed of the blower unit 12, the size of the blades, etc. so that the intake volume is 80 L / min or more.

[0068] The orientation of the housing 2 is not limited to vertical placement as shown in Figure 1; it may also be positioned horizontally, i.e., with the axial direction horizontal. In this case, the intake and exhaust sections should be arranged so as to draw in air from areas where toxic substances are likely to be present, and to discharge air while avoiding areas where toxic substances are likely to be present. For example, it is desirable to provide an intake section on a part of the top surface of the housing when it is positioned horizontally, and to place the exhaust section on the circumferential surface or end face in the axial direction of the housing, excluding the top surface.

[0069] Furthermore, the internal flow path may be configured so that its cross-sectional area gradually increases toward the downstream side along the flow direction. In this way, the flow velocity of the flowing air gradually decreases, reducing the air blowing velocity at the discharge section 6 and further suppressing disturbance to the surrounding airflow.

[0070] Furthermore, when the toxic substance elimination device of the present invention is used to take in ambient air for the purpose of inactivating or sterilizing airborne pathogenic microorganisms, it can be installed in spaces where people gather or where people tend to congregate, such as offices, conference rooms, restaurants, showrooms, libraries, schools, kindergartens, daycare centers, shops, entertainment facilities (karaoke boxes, aquariums, planetariums, movie theaters, art galleries, museums, bowling alleys, etc.), and vehicles (cars, airplanes, ships, trains).

[0071] Furthermore, while the toxic substances were neutralized by ultraviolet irradiation, heating means to further neutralize the toxic substances may be provided, as well as electric field generating means to neutralize the toxic substances by generating a localized microscopic discharge phenomenon or by creating an electric field in the flow path using a pair of opposing positive and negative electrodes to adsorb toxic substances (especially pathogenic microorganisms) onto the electrodes. Of course, heating means and / or electric field generating means may be used instead of an ultraviolet light source to neutralize the toxic substances.

[0072] Furthermore, the toxic substance elimination device may include at least one sensor from among a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a human presence sensor, and a dirt sensor, and the flow generated by the flow generating means may be controlled based on the detection by the sensor. For example, the flow generating means may be operated when the sensor detects the presence of a person in the vicinity. The flow generating means may also be stopped when the sensor no longer detects a person, or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the flow generating means started operating.

[0073] Furthermore, although the ultraviolet radiation unit 10 was used as an example of a mitigation method, any radiation unit that emits waves such as sound waves, radio waves, microwaves, infrared rays, visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays and / or gamma rays may be used as long as it can mitigate the toxic substance.

[0074] Furthermore, sensors such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, motion sensors, dirt sensors, and particle counters may be provided, and the airflow from the blower unit 12 and the ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation unit 10 may be controlled based on the detection by these sensors. For example, the system may be controlled to start operating when a person is detected by the motion sensor, or to stop operating when no more people are detected, or when a predetermined time has elapsed since no more people were detected. Alternatively, the system may be configured to stop operation when the particle count measured by the particle counter falls below a certain level. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1...Toxic substance reduction device, 2...Housing, 4...Intake section, 6...Discharge section, 8...Cylindrical section, 9...Reflective surface, 10...Ultraviolet radiation section, 12...Air blowing section, 14...Ultraviolet suppression section, 20...Guide plate, 30...Airflow induction section.

Claims

1. A suction section that draws in fluid, A discharge section for discharging the above fluid, A detoxification means that emits waves that decompose and / or inactivate and / or sterilize toxic substances contained in the above fluid, A cylindrical portion having a flow path that connects the above-mentioned suction portion and the above-mentioned discharge portion, and a reflective surface on its inner circumferential surface that repeatedly reflects the above-mentioned waves, A flow generating unit is located at the lower part of the cylindrical section and causes air to flow along the flow path, The system comprises a guide board placed within the above-mentioned flow path, The above-mentioned guide plate is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, is disposed inside the cylindrical portion, and has a curved and / or twisted shape such that the phase is shifted by a predetermined angle from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion. A toxic substance reduction device characterized by suppressing the flow velocity of the fluid discharged from the discharge section compared with the flow velocity of the fluid drawn in from the above-mentioned suction section.

2. The toxicity elimination device according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of ​​the fluid outlet in the discharge section is larger than the area of ​​the fluid inlet in the suction section.

3. The device comprises a housing that surrounds the cylindrical portion, The toxic substance reduction device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of discharge ports of the discharge section are arranged at substantially equal intervals on the circumferential surface of the housing.

4. The suction section is positioned above the cylindrical section, The toxic substance elimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the discharge section is disposed below the suction section.

5. The toxicity elimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fluid is made to flow down in a substantially spiral manner within the cylindrical portion.

6. The toxic substance reduction device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide board guides the direction of the flow of the fluid.

7. The toxic substance elimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sign is composed of an ultraviolet reflective material or an ultraviolet transparent material.

8. The toxic substance elimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the wave is a sound wave, radio wave, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray and / or gamma ray.

9. The toxic substance device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the elimination means has an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light to eliminate the toxic substance.

10. The toxicity reduction device according to claim 9, characterized in that the ultraviolet light source is a mercury lamp, a xenon lamp, an excimer lamp, a metal halide lamp, a neon lamp and / or an LED.

11. The toxic substance reduction device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the ultraviolet light source has a substantially tubular shape and extends substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical portion.

12. It comprises at least one of the following sensors: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a motion sensor, and a dirt sensor. The toxicity reduction device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it controls the flow generated by the flow generating means based on detection by the above-mentioned sensor.

13. The toxic substance elimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the discharge section discharges fluid to an area other than the suction area by the suction section.

14. The toxicity elimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the area of ​​the fluid outlet in the discharge section is larger than the area of ​​the fluid inlet in the suction section.

15. The toxic target elimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the toxic target is bacteria, viruses and / or harmful molecules.

16. The toxicity reduction device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a filter capable of accumulating foreign matter is provided between the suction section and / or the discharge section and the flow path.

17. The toxicity elimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a heat sink is provided on the outer surface and / or inner surface of the cylindrical portion.

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