HK1194460B - Electrostatic atomizing device, appliances, air conditioner, and refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

Electrostatic atomizing device, equipment, air conditioner and refrigerator

The present application is a divisional application of an invention patent application having an application number of 201080014877.6, an application date of 2010, 2 months and 18 days, entitled "electrostatic atomizing device, apparatus, air conditioner, and refrigerator".

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer for generating nano mist, and an air conditioner in (home) appliances and devices such as refrigerators, showcases, business refrigerators, and storages, air conditioners (including air cleaners and humidifiers).

Background

There has been proposed an electrostatic atomizing device including a conveying section for conveying water from a water storage section in an upper part of the water storage section, a counter electrode provided so as to face in a conveying direction of the conveying section, and a water application electrode for applying a voltage to the water in a path from the water storage section to a tip of the conveying section on the counter electrode side, wherein the conveying section is made of a porous ceramic material made of a solid acid (see, for example, patent document 1).

An electrostatic atomization apparatus has been proposed which includes a water conveyance unit for conveying water by capillary action, a water supply unit for supplying water to the water conveyance unit, and an application electrode for applying a voltage to the water conveyed by the water conveyance unit, wherein the water supply unit is a heat exchange unit including a heat absorption plate having a heat absorption surface and cooling air on the heat absorption surface to generate dew condensation water, and a peltier element and a heat dissipation plate, and the heat exchange unit is disposed below the water conveyance unit (for example, see patent document 2).

In recent years, a refrigerator provided with: a cooling plate disposed in the cooling air path for condensing moisture in the air in the refrigerator; a conveying part for conveying the water exposed in the cooling plate to the water storage part; and a capillary water-collecting body that transports water in the water storage unit to a voltage application unit between the application electrode and the counter electrode, and is provided with an atomizing device that can generate mist and ozone having a deodorizing effect in the storage chamber by applying a voltage (see, for example, patent document 3).

Further, a refrigerator has been proposed in which a water tank is provided below a cover of the refrigerator provided with a cover for making the inside of a vegetable box high humidity, and a mist generating device (ultrasonic vibrator) is provided at a lower portion (bottom surface) of the water tank (for example, see patent document 4).

Further, there has been proposed a refrigerator in which a plurality of colored lighting units are provided in a display portion provided in a front door of the refrigerator, and a light-emitting color or a light-emitting state is switched by an operation of an operation portion, or a "sterilization mode" is displayed in the display portion when a user presses a sterilization button (for example, see patent document 5).

Further, a refrigerator is described in which an ultrasonic humidifier using defrosted water for supplying water is provided in a vegetable room (for example, see patent document 6).

Further, there is described a refrigerator including an atomizing device for supplying a storage chamber with a fine mist and a water storage unit for storing a liquid to be supplied to the atomizing device, and a removing member for removing a content of the liquid in a path (narrow tube passage) connecting the atomizing device and the water storage unit (for example, see patent document 7).

[ patent document 1 ] Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2006-035171

[ patent document 2 ] Japanese patent laid-open No. 2007-181835

[ patent document 3 ] Japanese patent laid-open No. 2007-Ash 101034

[ patent document 4 ] Japanese patent laid-open No. 2006 and 162195

[ patent document 5 ] Japanese patent laid-open No. 2003-172577

[ patent document 6 ] Japanese patent application laid-open No. H06-257933

[ patent document 7 ] Japanese patent laid-open No. 2008-089203

Disclosure of Invention

In the atomizing device described in patent document 1, ceramic is used in the conveying section, but the porosity (porosity) of ceramic is generally about 10 to 50%, the pore diameter (average of pore diameter and pore diameter) is about 0.1 to 3 μm, and the electric resistance is as large as (0.2 to 2) × 10 ¹²Omega · m or so. As described above, since the pore diameter of the ceramic material is very small, the durability against clogging due to foreign matter is extremely small, and there is a problem in reliability in the case of long-term use. Further, since the porosity is also small, the capillary force is small, the water absorption force and the water holding amount are small, the time until the start of electrostatic atomization is long, and atomization may be interrupted. Further, since the resistance is very large, it is difficult to electrically conduct electricity, and high voltage and large electric power are required.

Further, the conveying unit is inserted into the water storage unit in an upward-downward direction, the counter electrode is provided at a position facing the upper front end portion of the conveying unit, and the water storage unit is integrally formed with the conveying unit, the counter electrode, and the like, and it is necessary to detach the water storage unit from the equipment main body such as the air cleaner according to the necessity of supplying water to the water storage unit.

In the atomizer described in patent document 2, since the heat exchange unit is provided below the water carrying unit, and the peltier element and the heat dissipation plate are provided below the heat absorption plate having the heat absorption surface and below the peltier element, respectively, in the heat exchange unit, when the amount of dew formed on the heat absorption surface is large, there is a possibility that dew may overflow from the peltier element provided below the heat absorption surface, and the peltier element having a low water resistance may malfunction.

In the refrigerator having the atomizing device described in patent document 3, since the carrying section for carrying the water condensed in the cooling plate to the water storage section is provided, there are problems that a path from the cooling plate to the water storage section becomes long, a structure of the carrying section becomes complicated, the number of components becomes large, assembly performance is deteriorated, and dust or the like enters the carrying section to clog the carrying section, so that the condensed water cannot be supplied to the water storage section. Further, the capillary water-taking body and the application electrode are separate members, and the structure is complicated, the assembling property is deteriorated, and the cost is also increased. Further, the water level detection means is provided in the water storage portion, which has problems of a large number of components, high cost, and complicated control.

In the refrigerator disclosed in patent document 4, in which the atomizing device is provided in the vegetable box, since the vegetable container and the cover are directly used as the cooling plate of the mist generating device, the collection of the dew condensation water depends on the shape and size of the vegetable container and the cover, and therefore, the shape of the vegetable container and the cover is limited depending on the installation space, and the shape change or the like cannot be made significantly even if the volume of the contents is increased, and it is difficult to stably secure the water necessary for mist spraying, which is a lot of restrictions. Further, since the vegetable container and the cover are directly used for the cooling plate, dew condensation water needs to be generated by making the inside of the vegetable box high in humidity, and it is difficult to expand the cooling plate to another storage chamber which cannot be made high in humidity. Further, since the mist generating device (ultrasonic transducer) is provided on the bottom surface of the water storage tank, a sealing structure for preventing water leakage between the water storage tank and the mist generating device is provided, which makes the structure complicated, deteriorates the assembling property, and increases the cost. Further, since the ultrasonic transducer is used in the mist generating device, the mist cannot be made fine and is difficult to be uniformly sprayed into the interior.

In patent documents 3 and 4, the user does not know that the atomizing device is operating and wants to confirm. In addition, the user has questions as to whether or not the electrostatic atomization device is actually operated and when the electrostatic atomization device is operated.

In the refrigerator described in patent document 5, the "sterilization mode" is displayed when the user presses the sterilization button, but when the user does not press the sterilization button, the user is not aware of whether or not the sterilization is performed and is not concerned even if the user enters the sterilization mode.

In addition, in the refrigerator described in patent document 6, the ultrasonic humidifying device using the defrosting water as the water supply is provided in the vegetable room, but a specific configuration how to use the defrosting water as the water supply is not described, and therefore, it is difficult to secure the defrosting water when necessary. In addition, in order to generate mist, an atomizing filter having a pore size of 0.2 to 0.3mm and a thickness of 80 to 100 μm is required, and the handling and mounting structure is difficult and the structure is complicated. Further, since the ultrasonic transducer is used in the mist generating device, the mist cannot be made fine and is difficult to be uniformly sprayed into the interior.

In the refrigerator disclosed in patent document 7, a path (narrow tube flow path) needs to be provided in the heat insulator to connect the atomizing device and the water storage unit, and a water supply unit for controlling the amount of water to be supplied needs to be provided. In addition, in the chamfering, it is necessary to provide a straight fine hole from the bottom surface portion toward the front end portion in order to supply water to the atomizing portion of the front end portion, which makes the processing difficult and increases the cost.

The invention aims to provide an electrostatic atomization device (mist spray device) which is simple in structure, easy to assemble and low in cost, and a refrigerator, an air conditioner and other (household electrical appliance) equipment with the electrostatic atomization device.

Further, the present invention has an object to provide an electrostatic atomizer (mist sprayer), a refrigerator, an air conditioner, and other (household electrical appliances) equipment having the electrostatic atomizer, which has strong resistance to clogging by foreign matter, can be used for a long period of time, has high reliability, has a large water absorption capacity and a large water holding capacity, has a short time to start electrostatic atomization, does not interrupt the generation of atomization, has a small electric resistance, and has low power consumption.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic atomizing apparatus (mist spraying apparatus), a refrigerator, an air conditioner, and other (household electrical appliance) devices having the electrostatic atomizing apparatus, which can prevent dew from forming in a peltier element, prevent malfunction of the peltier element, and the like, and have high reliability, even when the peltier element is used between a heat absorbing plate and a heat dissipating plate in a heat exchange unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device (home appliance) such as a refrigerator or an air conditioner which can finely atomize atomized water particles and uniformly spray the atomized water particles into a storage chamber.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic atomizer, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, and other (home) appliances equipped with the electrostatic atomizer, which does not require machining of a fine hole in a conveying section, a path (a narrow tube flow path), an electrode, and the like, and which has a simple structure, low cost, and low cost.

Further, the present invention has an object to provide an electrostatic atomizer including means for visually confirming the history of operation, etc., of the electrostatic atomizer during operation and after several times of operation.

Further, it is another object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic atomizer which can be applied to a storage room having an arbitrary temperature range.

Further, the present invention has an object to provide an electrostatic atomizer, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, and other household electrical appliances (devices) having the electrostatic atomizer, which have a small number of parts and a simple structure, and which can operate without providing a water storage part or a water level detection means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable (household) electric appliance such as a refrigerator and an air conditioner, which is equipped with an electrostatic atomizer having high performance and capable of suppressing water interruption.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic atomizer which can humidify and sterilize a storage chamber at low cost and has high reliability without clogging, and a (home) appliance such as a refrigerator and an air conditioner including the electrostatic atomizer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that can achieve the above object even in these (household) appliances.

The invention provides a refrigerator, characterized in that, it has: a refrigerating chamber, wherein a plurality of carrying sheds are arranged in a storage article accommodating space for accommodating storage articles, and a substantially closed container is arranged below the lowest carrying shed; a cooler disposed in a cooler chamber provided on a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber, and configured to generate cold air for cooling the refrigerating chamber; a water storage container which is provided in the cooler chamber, receives and stores the defrosted water generated and dropped in the cooler, and an atomizing device which is provided in a partition wall on the back surface of the refrigerating chamber, has a discharge electrode and an electrode holding portion for holding the discharge electrode, and generates mist by applying a voltage to the discharge electrode; and a water transport unit configured to supply water in the water storage tank to the discharge electrode by utilizing a capillary phenomenon, wherein the atomization device is provided behind a back surface of the substantially closed container, and supplies mist into the substantially closed container from the back surface of the substantially closed container.

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to supply water for spraying mist.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 showing an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view showing the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing control device 30 of refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the storage compartment in a state where the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 1 and 2 showing the present embodiment has its door opened.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 mounted on the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment and showing a state where a cover is attached.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from above.

Fig. 8 is a side view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the side.

Fig. 9 is a front sectional view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the front of the refrigerator 1.

Fig. 10 is a side view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the side.

Fig. 11 is a side view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the side.

Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing another electrostatic atomization device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing another method of assembling the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a plan view showing another electrostatic atomization device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 shown in fig. 14, showing a K-K cross section of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 shown in fig. 14, showing a cross-section M-M of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 17 is a diagram for explaining a state in which a water supply unit is provided in the electrostatic atomization device 200 showing the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention with its doors opened.

Fig. 19 is a front view of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 mounted on the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a cover is attached.

Fig. 20 is a front view of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 mounted on the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a cover is attached.

Fig. 21 is a schematic side sectional view showing a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 22 is a front perspective view illustrating a refrigerating compartment of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 23 is a graph showing the light emission characteristics of a general LED 910.

Fig. 24 is a view showing the refrigerating chamber 2 of the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above.

Fig. 25 is a plan view showing the refrigerating chamber 2 of another refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 26 is a side sectional view showing the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 27 is a front perspective view showing the refrigerating chamber 2 of the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment of the present invention.

(symbol description)

1: a refrigerator; 1A: a machine room; 2: a refrigerating chamber; 2A: a cold (chilled) chamber; 2P: an inner sidewall; 2X: a substantially closed container; 2Y: a substantially closed container; 3: an ice making chamber; 4: a switching room; 5: a vegetable room; 6: a freezing chamber; 7: a refrigerating chamber door; 7A: the left side of the refrigerating chamber door; 7B: the right of the refrigerating chamber door; 8: an ice making chamber door; 9: a switching chamber door; 10: a vegetable room door; 11: a freezing chamber door; 12: a compressor; 13: a cooler; 14: a fan for circulating cold air; 19: a switching chamber thermistor; 22: a thermopile; 15: a switching chamber damper; 16: a switching room cooling air passage; 30: a control device; 50: a cooling air path; 51: a partition wall; 53: a cooling air path; 55: a refrigerating chamber damper; 60: an operation panel; 60 a: a chamber selection switch; 60 b: a temperature zone switch; 60 c: an instant freezing switch; 60 d: an ice making changeover switch; 60 e: a mist spray switch; 72: a box door pocket; 80: a shed in the warehouse; 131: a cooler chamber; 150: a defrosting heater; 151: a heater top plate; 152: a defrosting electrode holding section; 200: an electrostatic atomization device; 210: a cooling plate; 211: a heat sink portion; 211 a: a heat absorbing sheet; 211 b: a heat absorbing sheet; 211 c: a heat absorbing sheet; 211 d: a heat absorbing sheet; 211 e: a heat absorbing sheet; 211T: a protrusion; 211W: an inclined portion; 211X: an outer side surface; 211Y: a lower end face; 212: a heat sink portion; 212 a: a fin plate; 212b, and (3 b): a fin plate; 212 c: a fin plate; 212 d: a fin plate; 212e, and (3 e): a fin plate; 213: a heat conductive portion; 214: a void portion; 220: an electrode holding section; 220G: water collection middle part; 220K: a width-wise dimension; 220L: a longitudinal direction dimension; 220W: an inclined portion; 220X: a water supply unit covering part; 222: a notch portion; 223: a counter electrode accommodating section; 230: a discharge electrode; 231: a protrusion; 232: a main body portion; 237: 1 st main body part; 238: a 2 nd main body part; 240: a counter electrode; 241: an opening part; 250: a high voltage power supply section; 251: a power source; 260: a fixing unit; 261: a counter electrode covering section; 262: an energizing member pressing section; 263: a step portion; 268: a fixing claw part; 269: a water supply unit covering part; 270: a water storage tank; 271: scale lines; 275: water droplets; 277: a water discharge port; 280: an energizing member; 286: an electrode energizing unit energizing part; 300: a cover; 511: a cooling plate insulation material; 512: a mating component; 515: a front surface opening; 531: a lateral cold air outlet; 532: a lateral cold air outlet; 533: an upper cold air outlet; 534: a lower cold air outlet; 600: illuminating the electrostatic atomization device; 800: a mist spray cover; 810: a mist spray nozzle; 820: an outlet cold air path of the electrostatic atomization device; 830: an inlet cold air passage of the electrostatic atomization device; 900: an illumination device; 910: an LED; 910 a: an LED; 910 b: an LED; 910 c: an LED; 910 d: an LED; 910 e: an LED; 910 f: an LED; 915: an optical axis.

Detailed Description

Embodiment 1.

(refrigerator)

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, and fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, a refrigerator 1 includes a half-split (or openable) refrigerator compartment 2 at the uppermost stage. An ice making chamber 3 and a switching chamber 4 are arranged in parallel on the left and right below the refrigerating chamber 2. Refrigerator 1 includes freezing chamber 6 at the lowermost stage, and vegetable compartment 5 above freezing chamber 6. The vegetable compartment 5 is provided below the ice making compartment 3 and the switching compartment 4 arranged in parallel on the left and right, and above the freezing compartment 6.

Of course, the arrangement of the compartments is not limited to the present embodiment, and in the case of an intermediate freezer type in which the ice making compartment 3 and the switching compartment 4 are arranged in parallel in the left and right direction below the refrigerating compartment 2 provided in the upper stage, and the freezing compartment 6 is arranged below the ice making compartment 3 and the switching compartment 4 arranged in parallel in the left and right direction, and the freezing compartment 6 is arranged above the vegetable compartment 5 provided in the lower stage, that is, the freezing compartment 6 is arranged between the vegetable compartment 5 and the ice making compartment 3 and the switching compartment 4 arranged in parallel in the left and right direction, the heat insulating material between the low-temperature compartments becomes unnecessary and heat leakage is small because the low-temperature compartments (e.g., the ice making compartment 3, the switching compartment 4, and the freezing compartment 6) are close to each other, and.

A split type refrigerating chamber door 7 which can be freely opened and closed is provided in a front side opening of the refrigerating chamber 2 as a storage chamber, and the refrigerating chamber door 7 is a split type door formed by 2 refrigerating chamber left and right doors 7A and 7B. Of course, instead of the two-piece door, a single-piece swing door may be used. Ice making chamber 3, switching chamber 4, vegetable chamber 5, and freezing chamber, which are other storage chambers, are provided with extraction type ice making chamber door 8 that can freely open/close the opening of ice making chamber 3, extraction type switching chamber door 9 that can freely open/close the opening of switching chamber 4, extraction type vegetable chamber door 10 that can freely open/close the opening of vegetable chamber 5, and extraction type freezing chamber door 11 that can freely open/close the opening of freezing chamber 6, respectively. In addition, in any one of the left and right refrigerating room left doors 7A and 7B of the refrigerating room 2 as the storage room, operation switches (a room selection switch 60a, a temperature zone switching switch 60B, a flash freezing switch 60c, an ice making switching switch 60d, and a mist spray switch 60 e) for performing temperature setting and the like in the storage room, and an operation panel 60 for performing display of temperature information such as the temperature in the storage room and the set temperature are provided, and operation information of the operation switches, display information of the liquid crystal display unit, temperature information in the storage room, and the like are controlled by a control device 30 constituted by a control substrate mounted with a microcomputer and the like provided in an upper portion of the back surface of the refrigerator main body (back surface of the refrigerating room).

A compressor 12 is disposed in a machine room 1A provided in the lowermost portion of the rear surface of the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator 1 includes a refrigeration cycle, and the compressor 12 is 1 element constituting the refrigeration cycle, is disposed in the machine room 1A, and has a function of compressing a refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 12 is condensed by a condenser (not shown). The condensed refrigerant is decompressed by a capillary tube (not shown) or an expansion valve (not shown) as a decompression device. The cooler 13 is 1 element constituting a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator and is disposed in the cooler chamber 131. The refrigerant decompressed by the decompression device is evaporated in the cooler 13, and the gas around the cooler 13 is cooled by the heat absorption action at the time of the evaporation. The cool air circulation fan 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the cooler 13 in the cooler chamber 131, and blows cool air cooled around the cooler 13 to the respective chambers (the refrigerating chamber 2, the ice making chamber 3, the switching chamber 4, the vegetable chamber 5, and the freezing chamber 6) of the refrigerator 1 as storage chambers via a cooling air passage (for example, the switching chamber cooling air passage 16, the refrigerating chamber cooling air passage 50, and the like).

A defrosting heater 150 (a glass tube heater for defrosting, for example, a carbon heater using carbon fiber which emits light having a wavelength of 0.2 to 4 μm and transmits through a quartz glass tube) as a defrosting means for defrosting the cooler 13 is provided below the cooler 13. Between the cooler 13 and the defrosting heater 150, a heater top plate 151 is provided above the defrosting heater 150 so that defrosting water falling from the cooler 13 does not directly contact the defrosting heater 150. If a black medium heater such as a carbon heater is used as the defrosting heater 150, the frost in the cooler 13 can be efficiently melted by radiation heat transfer, so that the surface temperature can be made low (about 70 to 80 ℃), and if a flammable refrigerant (for example, isobutane as a hydrocarbon refrigerant) is used as the refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle, the risk of ignition can be reduced even if refrigerant leakage or the like occurs. Further, the frost in the cooler 13 can be melted more efficiently by radiation heat transfer than in a nichrome wire heater, and the frost deposited on the cooler 13 gradually melts and drops without being blocked, so that the drop noise when the heater top plate 151 drops can be reduced, and a refrigerator with low noise and good defrosting efficiency can be provided.

Here, the defrosting heater 150 may be a built-in type heater integrally built in the cooler 13. In addition, a glass tube type heater and an embedded type heater may be used in combination.

The switching room damper 15 as air volume adjusting means is used to adjust the amount of cold air blown by the cold air circulation fan 14 to the switching room 4 as the storage room to control the temperature in the switching room 4 to a predetermined temperature or to switch the set temperature of the switching room 4. The cold air cooled by the cooler 13 passes through the switching chamber cooling air passage 16 as a cooling air passage and is blown into the switching chamber 4. Further, the switching chamber cooling air passage 16 is disposed downstream of the switching chamber damper 15.

The refrigerating room damper 55 as the air volume adjusting means is also used to adjust the amount of cold air to be blown by the cold air circulation fan 14 to the refrigerating room 2 as the storage room, thereby controlling the temperature in the refrigerating room 2 to a predetermined temperature or changing the set temperature of the refrigerating room 2. The cold air cooled by the cooler 13 passes through the refrigerating compartment cooling air passage 50 as a cooling air passage and is blown into the refrigerating compartment 2.

The switching room 4 as a storage room is, for example, a room (storage room) in which the temperature in the storage room can be selected from a plurality of stages between a freezing temperature zone (-17 ℃ or lower) and a vegetable room temperature zone (3 to 10 ℃), and the temperature in the storage room is selected and switched by operating an operation panel 60 provided in either one of the left and right refrigerating room doors 7A and 7B of the refrigerator 1.

A switching chamber thermistor 19 (see fig. 3) as a 1 st temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the air in the switching chamber 4 is provided on, for example, the back side wall surface of the switching chamber 4, and a thermopile 22 (see fig. 3 or an infrared sensor) as a 2 nd temperature detection means for directly detecting the surface temperature of the stored material put into the switching chamber 4 as a storage chamber is provided on, for example, the top surface (center portion, front surface portion, rear surface portion, or the like) of the switching chamber 4. In the duct for sending the cold air from the cooler room 131 to the switching room 4, a switching room damper 15 as an air volume adjusting device capable of controlling the air volume and blocking the duct to prevent the inflow of the cold air is provided, and the switching room damper 15 is opened/closed by the temperature detected by the switching room thermistor 19 (or the temperature detected by the thermopile 22) as the 1 st temperature detecting means, so that the temperature of the switching room 4 is adjusted to the selected temperature range or controlled by the control device 30 so as to fall within the set temperature range. The temperature of the food as the stored material in switching chamber 4 is directly detected by thermopile 22 as the 2 nd temperature detecting means.

An electrostatic atomizing device 200 as a mist spraying device for spraying mist into the storage room is provided in a partition wall 51 (heat insulating wall) on the rear side of the refrigerating room 2 as the storage room. Electrostatic atomizing device 200 is provided such that cooling plate 210 (described later) for collecting moisture in the air in the storage room as dew condensation water penetrates through partition wall 51 (heat insulating wall) on the back side of refrigerating room 2 from inside refrigerating room 2 as the storage room and protrudes into refrigerating room cooling air passage 50 as the cooling air passage.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing control device 30 of refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Microcomputer 31 (microcomputer) is mounted in control device 30, and controls the temperature of each storage room of refrigerator 1, the rotational speed of compressor 12 and cold air circulation fan 14, the opening and closing of switching room damper 15 and refrigerating room damper 55, and the voltage application to electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 (discharge electrode 230 and counter electrode 240 described later) by a program stored in advance. The operation panel 60 includes the following switches.

(1) A compartment selection switch 60a for selecting storage compartments such as a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and a switching compartment;

(2) a temperature zone switching switch 60b for switching a temperature zone (cold storage, freezing, cold setting, soft freezing, etc.) of a storage room such as a switching room, or switching a temperature zone of rapid cooling, strong, medium, weak, etc.;

(3) A flash freezing switch 60c for performing freezing preservation in the storage chamber in a supercooled state (flash freezing is also referred to as supercooled freezing);

(4) an ice making changeover switch 60d for selecting transparent ice, normal, quick, stop, and the like for ice making;

(5) a mist spray switch 60e (electrostatic spray selection) for applying mist spray (electrostatic spray) in the storage chamber by energizing the electrostatic atomizer 200.

Here, a temperature detection sensor for detecting the temperature in the storage room (for example, the switching room 4) will be described. In the present embodiment, a switching chamber thermistor 19 as a 1 st temperature detection means and a thermopile 22 as a 2 nd temperature detection means are provided as temperature detection sensors for detecting the temperature in a storage chamber (for example, the switching chamber 4). The temperature detected by the switching chamber thermistor 19 as the 1 st temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the air in the storage chamber (for example, the switching chamber 4) is input to the microcomputer 31 constituting the control device 30, and the microcomputer 31 (for example, the temperature determination means in the microcomputer 31) performs temperature determination by comparing it with a predetermined value, and controls so as to fall within a predetermined temperature range. Further, a detection signal of the thermopile 22 as the 2 nd temperature detection means for directly detecting the surface temperature of the food or the like in the storage room (for example, the switching room 4) is inputted to the microcomputer 31, and is converted into the surface temperature of the food or the like by calculation processing performed by the microcomputer 31 (for example, by calculation means in the microcomputer 31), and thereafter, predetermined temperature control such as rapid freezing control and supercooling freezing control is performed. Further, control device 30 performs various controls such as temperature control in each storage room (refrigerating room 2, ice-making room 3, switching room 4, vegetable room 5, freezing room 6) and energization control of electrostatic atomizing device 200, and displays the set temperature of each storage room, the temperature of food (surface), the operating state of electrostatic atomizing device 200 provided in each storage room, and the like on operation panel 60 (display panel) provided in any one of refrigerating room left door 7A and refrigerating room right door 7B.

(Electrostatic atomization device)

Fig. 4 is a front view of the storage compartment in a state where the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 1 and 2 showing the present embodiment has its door opened. Fig. 5 is a front view showing the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 mounted on the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment in a state where a cover is attached, fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, fig. 7 is a plan view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment as viewed from above, and fig. 8 is a side view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment as viewed from side.

In the present embodiment, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is provided at an upper portion of a rear surface in a storage room (for example, the refrigerating room 2, the vegetable room 5, and the like, and may be any storage room). In electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200, partition wall 51 (heat insulating wall) provided to penetrate through the back surface of refrigerating room 2 as a storage room, for example, is provided to extend over refrigerating room 2 side and cooling air passage 50 side as a storage room, and cooling plate 210 as water supply means is provided. The cooling plate 210 includes a heat-absorbing sheet 211 formed integrally (or divided) of a material (e.g., aluminum alloy, copper alloy, etc.) having high corrosion resistance and good heat conduction, and projecting toward the refrigerating compartment 2 as a storage compartment, a heat-dissipating sheet 212 projecting toward the cooling air path 50, and a heat-conducting portion 213 connecting the heat-absorbing sheet 211 (storage compartment side sheet) and the heat-dissipating sheet 212 (cooling air path side sheet), and the heat-conducting portion 213 is disposed in a partition wall 51 (heat-insulating wall) between the cooling air path 50 and the refrigerating compartment 2 so that the heat-conducting portion 213 is substantially sealed to a temperature at which the storage compartment can be cooled by leakage from the cooling air path 50 to the storage compartment. The heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat-dissipating sheet portion 212 do not need to protrude particularly, and a predetermined cooling effect (heat-absorbing performance, heat-dissipating performance, and the like) may be obtained.

Here, in fig. 8, a case will be described in which a container-shaped electrode holding portion 220 having an opening or a notch for discharging water through a predetermined gap X in the vertical direction is provided below (directly below) a lower end surface 211Y of a heat absorbing sheet portion 211 (storage chamber side sheet portion). Since the resin-made electrode holding portion 220 is provided below (directly below) the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 (storage compartment side sheet portion) with a predetermined gap X in the vertical direction of about 1mm to 20mm interposed therebetween, and the dew condensation water directly falls on the electrode holding portion 220 directly below, a transport portion for transporting the dew condensation water generated in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 to the electrode holding portion 220 is not required, and the refrigerator 1 is obtained which is simple in structure, compact, and low in cost. The discharge electrode 230 is held by the electrode holding portion 220, and the discharge electrode 230 is formed of a main body portion 232 and a protruding portion 231.

A predetermined gap X in the vertical direction (the falling direction of the dew condensation water) between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the upper end of the electrode holding portion 220 is set to about 1mm to 20mm so that the dew condensation water falling from the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 does not fall outside the container of the electrode holding portion 220 due to the cold air cooling the storage compartment scattering outside the container. Here, the predetermined gap X between the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the electrode holding portion 220 is preferably as small as possible so as to prevent air in the storage chamber from entering the container of the electrode holding portion 220 and the temperature in the container of the electrode holding portion 220 from decreasing and dew condensation water in the container of the electrode holding portion 220 from freezing, and is preferably about 10mm or less.

In this case, it is preferable that the gap Z between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230 (upper surface) as the water supply means is as small as possible, and the gap Z is set to be about 1mm to 30mm so as to reduce the dropping speed of the dew condensation water dropping from the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 to the discharge electrode 230 and the electrode holding portion 220 through the space, to alleviate the impact when dropping to the discharge electrode 230 and the electrode holding portion 220, to suppress the jump and the outward movement of the container, and the like. In the electrode holding portion 220, the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 are fixed and held. However, if water droplets are deposited on the surface of the discharge electrode 230 in the gap Z between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink piece portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230, when a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240, a discharge may occur between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink piece portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230, and therefore, it is necessary to secure a gap that does not discharge, and the predetermined gap Z is preferably 4mm or more. Further, since the discharge electrode 230 is not likely to discharge when water is not stored in the discharge electrode 230, the electrode holding portion 220 is preferably configured to have an opening, a notch, or the like so that water is not deposited or stored in the surface of the discharge electrode 230 facing the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 as the water supply means and is not accumulated in the discharge electrode 230 holding portion of the electrode holding portion 220 (or may be configured to have a configuration in which water is not accumulated in the surface of the discharge electrode 230 and is discharged from the discharge electrode 230 holding portion, or may be configured to have a water storage portion for storing discharged water separately provided below and is not brought into contact with the discharge electrode 230).

Further, by making the size of the electrode holding portion 220 (for example, the width direction dimension 220K and the longitudinal direction dimension 220L in fig. 7 and 8) substantially equal to the size of the cooling plate 210 (for example, the width direction dimension 211K and the longitudinal direction dimension 211L in fig. 7 and 8) or larger than the size of the cooling plate 210, dew condensation water generated in the cooling plate 210 falls into the container of the electrode holding portion 220 and is not blown out to the outside.

Next, in fig. 9, a case will be described in which the periphery of the outer surface of the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 (storage chamber side sheet portion) is covered by a water supply unit covering portion 220X as the upper inner wall of the electrode holding portion 220 by a predetermined length P. Even in this case, there is no change in the aspect of providing the electrode holding portion 220 below the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211.

Fig. 9 is a front sectional view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the front of the refrigerator 1. In the figure, the periphery of the outer surface 211X of the lower end surface 211Y (the lower portion of the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 on the inner side of the cooling panel 210) of the plurality of heat-absorbing sheet portions 211 (storage compartment side sheet portions) is covered by a water supply unit covering portion 220X as the upper inner wall of the electrode holding portion 220 by a predetermined length P. Here, predetermined slits Y (see fig. 9) and Y1 (see fig. 8) in the side direction (the direction substantially perpendicular to the falling direction of the dew condensation water) are provided between the periphery of the outer surface 211X of the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 (the lower portion of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 on the storage side of the cooling plate 210) and the water supply unit covering portion 220X serving as the upper inner wall (water supply unit covering portion) of the electrode holding portion 220. Here, when the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is viewed from the front, the predetermined gap Y as the side gap may be different in both sides (left and right) as viewed from the front, but if the predetermined gaps on both sides are the same Y, then,

211K+2×Y=220K

When the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is viewed from the front, the predetermined gap Y1 as the front gap has the following relationship,

211L+Y1=220L

here, it is preferable that the cold air in the storage chamber is taken into the container of the electrode holding portion 220 so that the temperature of the dew condensation water does not fall down in the container of the electrode holding portion 220 to increase and grow the bacteria, and the gap Y, Y1 between the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the electrode holding portion 220 is preferably 1mm or more, more preferably 2mm or more. Since the size of the predetermined slit Y, Y1 is related to the slit area between the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the container of the electrode holding portion 220 (the area of the opening formed between the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the electrode holding portion 220, into which cold air can enter the container: for example, the area indicated by 220K × 220L-211K × 211L), the slit or the slit area may be set so that the dew condensation water falling in the container of the electrode holding portion 220 is not lower than the temperature at which the dew condensation water does not freeze and so that the dew condensation water in the container is not higher than a predetermined temperature range (for example, a freezing point temperature (for example, about 0 ℃) to about 5 ℃) at which bacteria are not easily propagated.

Here, if the dew condensation water falling from the water supply unit (the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210) as the water supply unit is covered to be in a substantially sealed state by the water supply unit covering portion 220X of the electrode holding portion 220 or to cover at least a part thereof, the water droplets 275 (see fig. 16) falling in the electrode housing portion 225 of the electrode holding portion 220 are less likely to be affected by the periphery of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the electrode holding portion 220 in which the cooling plate 210 is provided (the air flow, the temperature, and the like), and therefore the falling dew condensation water is less likely to be scattered by the air, the cold air flow, and the like, and the dew condensation water generated in the water supply unit (the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210) is less likely to freeze, and the electrostatic atomization device 200 with high reliability is obtained.

Further, if the size (for example, width direction dimension 220K, longitudinal direction dimension 220L) of the upper surface opening portion (water supply unit covering portion 220X) of the container of the electrode holding portion 220 is equal to the size (for example, width direction dimension 211K, longitudinal direction dimension 211L) of the outer side (outer surface, outer peripheral surface) of the lower portion of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 or is larger than the size of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the outer surface 211X of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 is preferably covered with a predetermined gap Y, Y1 of about 1mm to 20mm, air in the storage chamber is less likely to enter the electrode holding portion 220, and therefore, dew condensation water falling in the container of the electrode holding portion 220 can be suppressed from freezing. At this time, if the gap Y, Y1 of the inner surface of the container (water supply unit covering portion 220X) of the electrode holding portion 220 at the position where the outer surface 211X of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the outer surface 211X of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 face each other is too small, there is a possibility that dew condensation water condensed in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 may come into contact with the wall surface of the container and be scattered to the outside of the container by surface tension or the like, and therefore, the predetermined gap Y between the outer surface 211X of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the water supply unit covering portion 220X of the container of the electrode holding portion 220, which is the opening side inner wall, is preferably 2mm or more, and. The predetermined gap Y1 between the lower front surface of the heat sink 211 and the inner wall of the opening front surface of the container of the electrode holding portion 220 may be substantially equal to the predetermined gap Y, and is preferably 2mm or more, and more preferably 2mm to 20 mm.

The length P between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the upper end portion of the container (water supply unit covering portion 220X) of the electrode holding portion 220 (the length P between the upper end portion of the water supply unit covering portion 220X of the electrode holding portion 220 and the heat absorbing sheet portion 211, see fig. 9) may be set by experiments or the like so that the dew condensation water falling from the cooling plate 210 does not jump and flies out of the container, and is preferably about 1mm to 20 mm. Here, the sizes of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the electrode holding portion 220 (water supply unit covering portion 220X) are defined. The heat sink portion 211 has a width dimension 211K and a longitudinal dimension 211L. The electrode holding portion 220 (water supply unit covering portion 220X) has a width dimension 220K and a longitudinal dimension 220L. The width dimension 211K of the heat sink portion 211 is smaller than the width dimension 220K of the electrode holding portion 220 by 2 times the predetermined gap Y in the width direction. As for the dimension 211L in the longitudinal direction of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211, if the predetermined gap in the longitudinal direction is P1 (which may be the same as or different from the predetermined gap P in the width direction), the predetermined gap P1 in the longitudinal direction is smaller than the dimension 220L in the longitudinal direction of the electrode holding portion 220 (the water supply unit covering portion 220X).

In this case, the gap Z between the lower end surface 211Y (lower surface) of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the upper surface of the discharge electrode 230 as the water supply means is preferably small so as to suppress the impact, jump, and the like when the dew water falls down to the discharge electrode 230 and the electrode holding portion 220 by suppressing the falling speed of the dew water falling down from the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 to be small, and is preferably about 30mm or less, and more preferably about 10mm or less. Further, as the gap Z is smaller, it is preferable that it is about 0.5mm to 10mm (preferably about 1mm to 8 mm), and further about 1mm to 6mm, since dew condensation water can be continuously supplied (moved) from the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 directly to the discharge electrode 230 by surface tension or capillary phenomenon, and thus, impact and jumping at the time of dropping can be suppressed. Here, if the gap Z is smaller than 1mm, it is preferably 1mm or more because the contact is caused by vibration at the time of operation, start/stop, or the like of the compressor 12, the cold air circulation fan 14, or the like of the refrigerator 1, and a failure such as abrasion or breakage of the heat absorbing piece portion 211 or the discharge electrode 230 is caused, and noise and vibration are a problem due to the contact. Further, when a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 in a state where water adheres to the upper surface facing the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 of the water supply unit as the discharge electrode 230, there is a possibility that discharge occurs between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230, and therefore, it is necessary to ensure a gap that does not discharge without accumulating water in the discharge electrode 230, and the predetermined gap Z is preferably 4mm or more.

As described above, since the cooling plate 210 (heat absorbing sheet portion 211) as the water supply means is provided directly above the discharge electrode 230 (or the electrode holding portion 220) with the predetermined gap Z interposed therebetween, the container-shaped electrode holding portion 220 (or the discharge electrode 230) in which the dew condensation water directly falls is not required as compared with the case where the water supply means is provided below the discharge electrode 230 or at another place, and therefore, a transport portion for transporting the dew condensation water generated in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 as the water supply means to the electrode holding portion 220 (or the discharge electrode 230) is not required, and the refrigerator 1 having a simple, compact and low cost structure is obtained.

Although the example in which the discharge electrode 230 is provided directly below the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink 211 has been described above, the discharge electrode 230 may be provided on the side of the outer side surface 211X of the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink 211. In this case, in order to supply the dew condensation water condensed in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 to the discharge electrode 230, it is preferable that a gap between the side surface of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and a predetermined side surface of the discharge electrode 230 is smaller so that the dew condensation water generated in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 does not directly fall down from the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and can be transmitted and supplied to the discharge electrode 230 by surface tension and capillary phenomenon, and it is preferably about 0.2mm or more and about 5mm or less (preferably about 0.5mm or more and about 3mm or less). If the thickness is about 0.2mm or more and about 5mm or less (preferably about 0.5mm or more and about 3mm or less), dew condensation water can be continuously supplied directly to the discharge electrode 230 from the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 by surface tension or capillary phenomenon, and thus dew condensation water can be prevented from being supplied to the discharge electrode 230. Here, if the predetermined side gap is less than 0.2mm, it is preferably 0.2mm or more because the vibration and contact causes a failure such as abrasion or breakage of the heat absorbing piece portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230 during operation, start/stop, or the like of the compressor 12, the cold air circulation fan 14, or the like of the refrigerator 1, and the noise and vibration become a problem due to the contact.

Further, if the electrode holding portion 220 is fixed to the partition wall 51 below (directly below) the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 (storage compartment side sheet portion) by a screw or the like, the dew condensation water condensed in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 does not need to be carried to the carrying portion of the electrode holding portion 220, and the installation place in the storage compartment of the electrode holding portion 220 can be concentrated to the storage compartment back surface and the storage compartment side surface, and the electrostatic atomizing device 200, the electrode holding portion 220, and the like can be installed integrally with the storage compartment back surface and the storage compartment side surface, so that it is not necessary to additionally provide a mounting member, and the projected volume into the storage compartment can be reduced, and the structure is simple and compact, and the internal volume in the storage compartment can be increased by the amount that the installation range of the electrode holding portion 220 becomes small and compact, and the refrigerator 1 convenient to use having an improved storage property of low cost and a large internal volume.

In the electrode holding portion 220, at least 1 or more (preferably, 2 or more) discharge electrodes 230 made of a metal foam such as titanium are provided so as to protrude to the outside of the container through notches or holes provided in wall surfaces (front wall, side wall) of the electrode holding portion 220 or through upper end portions of the wall surfaces (front wall, side wall) of the electrode holding portion 220 (so as to protrude from the wall surfaces of the electrode holding portion 220). In the present embodiment, since a metal foam such as titanium having a pore diameter of 10 to 800 μm (preferably 50 to 300 μm, preferably 50 to 150 μm) and a porosity of 60 to 90% (preferably 70 to 80%) is used, the capillary force is large, and electricity is efficiently applied to water as an electric conductor, so that the nano mist can be easily and reliably and easily generated, for example, by setting the applied voltage. The discharge electrode 230 is formed of the main body portion 232 and the protruding portion 231, and the discharge electrode 230 may be provided with the protruding portion 231 so as to protrude from the electrode holding portion 220 without penetrating the electrode holding portion 220.

In this way, since the discharge electrode 230 is provided on the front surface and the side surface of the electrode holding portion 220 without penetrating downward from the bottom surface of the electrode holding portion 220, water does not leak downward from the gap at the bottom surface of the container of the electrode holding portion 220 where the discharge electrode 230 is attached. In the case of a structure in which the discharge electrode 230 is attached to the bottom surface of the container, the sealing structure around the attachment portion of the discharge electrode 230 becomes complicated according to the necessity of supplying water to the discharge electrode 230, but in the case of attaching the discharge electrode 230 to the front wall and the side wall of the container, if the attachment position of the discharge electrode 230 such as a notch or a hole position is selected so that at least a part of the wall surface (the front wall and the side wall) remains on the wall surface of the electrode holding portion 220 to which the discharge electrode 230 is attached and a water discharge port is provided at a cost at another position, water does not leak downward from the attachment position of the discharge electrode 230 through the discharge electrode 230, and the sealing structure can be simplified, so that the treatment of the leaked water is not necessary, the assembly performance is improved, the number of components can be reduced, and the reduction in number of components can be realized.

Here, the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 is provided with a plurality of heat-absorbing sheet plates 211a, 211b, 211c, 211d, and 211e, and the heat-dissipating sheet portion 212 is provided with a plurality of heat-dissipating sheet plates 212a, 212b, 212c, 212d, and 212e, so that heat can be efficiently absorbed and dissipated. At least 1 discharge electrode 230 is disposed below (directly below) at least 1 of the plurality of heat absorbing sheets 211a, 211b, 211c, 211d, 211e of the heat absorbing sheet 211 (for example, the plurality of heat absorbing sheets 211b, 211c, 211d in the drawing) (in the drawing, the plurality of discharge electrodes 230b, 230c, 230d are disposed below (directly below) the plurality of heat absorbing sheets 211b, 211c, 211d, respectively), and dew condensation water condensed on the plurality of heat absorbing sheets 211b, 211c, 211d falls on the discharge electrode 230 directly below the respective sheets, whereby water can be efficiently supplied to the discharge electrode 230. Here, the intervals between the plurality of heat absorbing sheets 211b, 211c, 211d are set to a predetermined interval (for example, about 0.5mm to 3 mm). In order to prevent dust and the like from clogging between the sheets and prevent water droplets condensed due to excessively narrow sheet intervals from being difficult to fall due to surface tension, the thickness is preferably 0.5mm or more, and if the sheet intervals are increased, the number of sheets is reduced and sheet efficiency is deteriorated, and therefore, the thickness is preferably 3mm or less. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the predetermined interval between the plurality of heat absorbing sheets 211b, 211c, 211d is set to 0.5mm to 2 mm.

Therefore, even if the amount of dew condensation water is small and the dew condensation water is not accumulated in the electrode holding portion 220, water can be supplied to the discharge electrode 230, so that mist can be prevented from being sprayed into the storage chamber due to insufficient dew condensation water, and the refrigerator 1 including the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 with high performance and high reliability can be provided. Further, since it is not necessary to convey the dew condensation water condensed in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 to the conveying portion of the electrode holding portion 220, and the conveying portion is not clogged with dust or the like and the dew condensation water cannot be supplied to the discharge electrode 230, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 and the refrigerator 1 having a simple structure, low cost, and high reliability can be provided.

Here, in the present embodiment, the dew condensation water condensed in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 may be collected in 1 place (or a predetermined necessary place (for example, about 1 to 4 places)) and then dropped in the electrode holding portion 220. Fig. 10 is a side view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the side. As shown in the drawing, an inclined portion (a slope portion) is provided in the shape of the lower end of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211, and the dew condensation water is guided by the inclined portion, so that the dew condensation water is concentrated to a portion where the dew condensation water is desired to be concentrated. If the lower end of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 is formed in a shape having a slope portion 211W and a projection portion 211T, which are shapes projecting downward, such as a substantially triangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a conical shape, or a finely-cut zigzag shape, the dew condensation water can be concentrated on the projection portion 211T (a portion where it is desired to collect dew condensation water) by the slope portion 211W and fall on a necessary portion of the electrode holding portion 220, and therefore the falling position of the dew condensation water can be specified and grasped, and the size of the electrode holding portion 220 can be reduced, and a compact electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 can be obtained.

Further, if the container shape of the electrode holding portion 220 is also set to provide the inclined portion 220W and the water concentration portion 220G as shown in fig. 11, even if the dew condensation water is small, the dew condensation water can be collected to a predetermined portion of the container (for example, the position of the discharge electrode 230), and therefore, the dew condensation water is not insufficient and mist spraying can be performed. Fig. 11 is a side view showing the inside of the cover of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 provided in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the side. In the figure, the electrode holding portion 220 includes a slope portion 220W that slopes downward, and a water collecting portion 220G that forms a concave portion provided adjacent to a lower portion (lower portion) of the slope portion 220W. The discharge electrode 230 is disposed in the water concentration portion 220G of the electrode holding portion 220. If the container shape of the electrode holding portion 220 is formed in this way, when dew condensation water generated in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 falls in the electrode holding portion 220, the dew condensation water falling on the inclined portion 220W flows into the water concentration portion 220G along the inclination, and therefore the dew condensation water is collected in the water concentration portion 220G.

Therefore, in the discharge electrode 230 disposed in the water concentration portion 220G, the falling dew condensation water flows along the inclined portion 220W and flows into the water concentration portion 220G to be concentrated, so that the dew condensation water is not insufficient and is always immersed in the dew condensation water, and the dew condensation water can be efficiently collected in the water concentration portion 220G disposed in the discharge electrode 230 even when the dew condensation water is small, so that the dew condensation water is not insufficient and mist spraying can be stably performed. In addition, even if the length of the discharge electrode 230 is not lengthened to absorb dew condensation water as much as possible, since dew condensation water is concentrated in the water concentration portion 220G, the discharge electrode 230 can be shortened according to the size of the water concentration portion 220G. Therefore, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 and the refrigerator 1 can be made compact and low cost. Further, since the length of the discharge electrode 230 can be shortened, the length up to the projection 231 (tip portion) of the discharge electrode 230 can also be shortened. In addition, as the length of the discharge electrode 230 is shortened, the dew condensation water can pass through the discharge electrode 230 formed of a metal foam or the like to reach the protruding portion 231 (tip portion) in a short time by a capillary phenomenon, and the time until the fine mist having a nano size is discharged by the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 as a mist spray apparatus can be greatly shortened.

However, in a case where a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 in a state where water is stored in the water concentration portion 220G and water adheres to the discharge electrode 230, and a discharge occurs between the discharge electrode 230 and the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 as water supply means, the water concentration portion 220G may be provided with a water discharge port without storing water. Even if the water discharge port is provided in the water concentration portion 220G without storing water, water can be supplied to the protruding portion 231 (tip portion) by capillary action as long as water from the inclined portion 220W and dew condensation water from the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 directly contact the discharge electrode 230, and therefore, water is not insufficient in the protruding portion 231, and mist spraying can be stably performed.

Further, since the heat conductive portion 213 of the cooling plate 210 described with reference to fig. 6 has a plurality of heat conductive plates 213a, 213b, 213c, and 213d, and a plurality of gaps 214 (gaps 214a, 214b, and 214 c) are provided between the heat conductive plates, and a heat insulating material can be filled and inserted into the plurality of gaps 214, even if the fin portion 212 is supercooled, heat is not excessively transferred to the heat absorbing sheet portion 211, and even if the fin portion 212 on the cooling air path 50 side is excessively cooled by cold air blown from the cooler compartment 131 flowing in the cooling air path 50, the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 on the storage compartment (e.g., the refrigerating compartment 2) side is not easily frozen. Since dew condensation water cannot be generated if the freezing occurs, the freezing is not easily caused because the freezing is hardly caused by a structure that conducts heat but conducts heat. The effect is exhibited if at least 1 of the voids 214 is provided.

That is, in the present embodiment, since at least 1 air gap portion 214 is provided in the heat conductive portion 213 of the cooling plate 210, by adjusting the length of the heat conductive portion 213 (for example, in the case where the cooling plate 210 is arranged in order of the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211, the heat conductive portion 213, and the heat-radiating sheet portion 212 in the longitudinal direction from the front side of the refrigerator 1 as shown in fig. 6 to 11), the size of the air gap portion 214 (the length between the heat-radiating sheet portion 212 and the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 (the length of the heat conductive portion 213 in the longitudinal direction of the refrigerator), the width direction length, the length of the heat conductive portion 213 in the longitudinal direction, the height direction length, and the size and the volume of the opening area), the type and the material of the air such as the gas, the liquid, the heat insulating material, and the like, which are filled and inserted into the air gap portion 214, it is possible to set so that even if the air blown from the cooler room 131 flowing through the cooling air passage 50 passes the heat-radiating sheet portion 212 on the Even when the cooling is performed, the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 on the storage room (for example, the refrigerating room 2) side does not freeze. Therefore, temperature control means such as a heating heater for controlling the temperature of the cooling plate 210 is not required, and the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 and the refrigerator 1 including the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 can be provided at low cost and with a simple structure. On the contrary, even in the structure in which the cooling plate 210 is difficult to be cooled, the shape and thickness of the plurality of heat transfer plates of the heat transfer portion 213, the material and type of the filler and the heat insulator sealed in the void portion 214, and the like are selected so as to obtain a predetermined cooling performance and temperature characteristics, and thus the predetermined cooling performance can be adjusted.

The temperature and the air volume of the cold air in the cooling air passage 50 may be controlled in adjusting the temperature of the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211, and may be controlled by controlling the opening and closing of a refrigerating compartment damper 55 provided in the cooling air passage 50 on the upstream side of the storage compartment (for example, the cooling compartment 2), or may be adjusted appropriately by selecting (changing) the plate thickness, shape, material, and the like thereof so as to obtain predetermined cooling performance and temperature characteristics, or may be adjusted by combining the temperature control and the air volume control of the cold air and the shape, plate thickness, and material change of the heat-conducting sheet portion 213, because the plurality of heat-conducting portions 213 are provided. The number of the heat conductive portions 213 may be selected (increased or decreased), and the filling rate of the heat insulating material inserted into the space 214 and the type of the heat insulating material (for example, foamed polyurethane, vacuum heat insulating material, or the like) may be selected so as to obtain predetermined cooling performance and temperature characteristics. Further, all the cooling plates and the heat transfer plates may have the same plate thickness, length, and shape, or the shape, thickness, length, and the like may be individually changed.

Further, the space 214 provided in the heat conductive portion 213 of the cooling plate 210 may be filled with foam such as urethane or a vacuum heat insulator, or a gas such as air, a liquid, a heat insulator, or the like may be sealed in advance to form a kit 512 in which the cooling plate 210 and the cooling plate heat insulator 511 are integrally molded (or the cooling plate 210 and the cooling plate heat insulator 511 such as urethane or a vacuum heat insulator are integrally molded), so that the components may be independently formed. The cooling plate heat insulator 511 and the kit 512 will be described later (in the description of fig. 18 to 20).

Here, if a laminated structure of a sheet-like organic fiber aggregate is used as the core material as the vacuum heat insulating material, the influence on the human body due to dust at the time of decomposition or recycling is small as compared with the case of using glass fiber as the core material. In addition, when the core material is cut into a predetermined length or a predetermined width and inserted into the gas barrier outer material, and then the pressure is reduced to a substantially vacuum state and the core material is sealed into a substantially airtight structure, when short fibers shorter than the sheet in the longitudinal direction or the width direction are used in the organic fiber aggregate, the fiber length is shortened according to the amount of cutting at the time of cutting the end face and the hole processing portion of the core material, therefore, when the original fiber length is short, the residual fibers remaining in the sheet by cutting may be extremely short, and may not be entangled with other organic fibers of the sheet and be exposed from the cut surface (end surface) of the core material or scattered, the residual fibers of the core material are sandwiched between the sealing surfaces of the outer covering material, and the outer covering material fails to maintain a substantially vacuum state due to poor sealing, and may lose heat insulating performance as a vacuum heat insulating material. Further, if extremely short residual fibers are exposed or scattered from the cut surface (end surface) of the core material, the residual fibers may be sucked into the vacuum pump and cause a failure of the vacuum pump when the vacuum suction is performed by the vacuum pump.

However, if long fibers (for example, fibers having a continuous predetermined length in the longitudinal direction or in the width direction of the sheet) longer than the length direction or the width direction of the sheet are used in the organic fiber aggregate constituting the core material, the length of the residual fibers remaining in the sheet is not extremely shortened even when the end faces are cut off, and the like, so that the residual fibers are entangled with other fibers of the sheet and are not exposed from the cut-off face of the core material or scattered, the residual fibers of the core material are not sandwiched between the sealing faces of the outer covering material, and a substantially vacuum state cannot be maintained because of a poor sealing. In addition, the vacuum pump does not fail. Therefore, the heat insulating material, the electrostatic atomizing device 200, and the refrigerator 1 are excellent in recycling property, excellent in heat insulating performance such as sealing failure, high in reliability, and energy-saving.

Further, if long fibers (fibers having a continuous predetermined length in the longitudinal direction or the width direction of the sheet, for example) longer than the length direction or the width direction of the sheet are used for the organic fiber aggregate constituting the core material, it is useful even in the case where a vacuum heat insulating material having holes is desired by performing a hole processing on the core material, and it is also possible to use a vacuum heat insulating material using long fibers for the core material having holes substantially equivalent to or larger than the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 for the partition wall 51 of the storage room and store the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 in the holes. Thus, the refrigerator has excellent heat insulating performance, and has sterilizing, antibacterial and drying preventing effects. Similarly, functional components other than the electrostatic atomizing device 200 may be housed in the hole of the vacuum heat insulating material. Further, since the vacuum heat insulating material using the long fibers as the core material does not cause a sealing failure and cannot maintain a substantially vacuum state as described above, it is possible to provide the energy-saving refrigerator 1 which is less likely to cause a sealing failure and has good recycling properties and improved heat insulating performance, not only in the electrostatic atomization device 200, but also in the case of using the heat insulating material for heat insulation of the refrigerator 1.

In this case, the cooling plate heat insulating material 511 may be mounted by being fitted into the partition wall 51 fixed to the storage room (e.g., refrigerating room 2) or the like, with a predetermined size substantially equal to or larger than the size (e.g., width-directional length, height-directional length) of the heat conductive portion 213 of the cooling plate 210. In this case, a through hole or the like having a size substantially equal to or larger than that of the cold plate heat insulator 511 may be provided in the rear wall of the storage room (for example, the refrigerating room 2) and fitted into the partition wall 51 of the storage room.

(formation of an Electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200)

If a cooling plate heat insulating material 511 (for example, foamed urethane, a vacuum heat insulating material, or the like) having a predetermined size is integrally formed (or integrally formed) with the cooling plate 210 around the heat conductive portion 213 of the cooling plate 210, and is provided as a separate component as a kit component 512 and detachably attached to the back wall of the storage room, the assembly property is improved when the heat insulating material is fitted into or fixed to the back wall of the storage room (for example, the refrigerating room 2). Here, the void 214 provided in the heat conductive portion 213 of the cooling plate 210 may be filled with polyurethane foam, or a vacuum heat insulator, a gas such as air, a liquid, a heat insulator, or the like may be sealed to form a kit by integrally forming only the cooling plate 210, or a kit 512 may be formed by separately forming the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat-dissipating sheet portion 212, sandwiching a heat insulator or a peltier element between the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat-dissipating sheet portion 212, and formed integrally, so as to be separately componentable and detachable. If the heat is forcibly transferred by using the peltier element as described above, mist spraying can be easily applied without performing special processing or the like on home appliances such as an air conditioner, a humidifier, an air cleaner, and the like.

Further, if elements other than the cooling plate 210, for example, the electrode holding portion 220, the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, the high-voltage power supply portion 250, and the like are also appropriately formed integrally with the cooling plate heat insulator 511 to form a kit 512, the assembling property of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is improved. In addition, in the case of malfunction, failure, or the like of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200, only the component 512 made of a component independent from the partition wall 51 can be detached from the back wall of the storage room, so that replacement of the component and repair are facilitated. Further, the refrigerator 1 can be easily removed at the time of disassembly, recycling, or the like, and therefore, the recycling property is improved. Here, a vacuum heat insulating material using long fibers in a core material having holes substantially equal to or larger than the cooling panel heat insulating material 511 forming the kit 512 may be used for the partition walls 51 of the storage compartment, and the kit 512 or the cooling panel heat insulating material 511 forming the kit 512 may be accommodated in the holes. This provides a refrigerator 1 which is excellent in heat insulating performance, excellent in assembling/disassembling/recycling performance, antibacterial, anti-drying, and energy-saving.

When disposed in the storage compartment, the high-voltage power supply unit 250 (see fig. 8) which may have a failure due to dew condensation, freezing, or the like may be disposed as an independent element in a place where dew condensation, freezing, or the like does not occur, and may be connected by, for example, a lead wire or the like which is insulated. For example, the high-voltage power supply unit 250 may be integrated with the control device 30 provided on the upper rear surface of the refrigerator 1, or may be disposed in a control device housing chamber housing the control device 30 and connected to the electrostatic atomization device 200 via a connector or the like by a connection wire such as a lead wire so that the connection can be easily released. The location of the high-voltage power supply unit 250 is not limited to the housing room of the control device 30, and may be any location as long as condensation, freezing, and the like do not occur, for example, at a location separated from the housing room by a heat insulating wall. In addition, if the high-voltage power supply unit 250 is set to a waterproof standard or a standard having low-temperature durability in advance, it can be installed in any storage room in the refrigerator 1.

In the above description, the cavity 214 provided in the heat conductive portion 213 of the cooling plate 210 is filled with foam such as urethane or vacuum heat insulator, or the kit 512 in which gas such as air, liquid, heat insulator, or the like is sealed in advance and the cooling plate 210 and the cooling plate heat insulator 511 are integrally molded (or the cooling plate 210 and the cooling plate heat insulator 511 such as urethane or vacuum heat insulator are integrally formed) is separately assembled and detachably attached, but the kit may be further assembled and detachably attached so as to include the cooling air passage 50 (a part of the cooling air passage 50) located on the back surface of the cooling plate heat insulator 511. This facilitates assembly, and if functional elements such as a damper device, a deodorization device, and a sterilization device that perform predetermined operations, screen holes such as a filter device and a sterilization device that are clogged, and elements that need replacement whose effect becomes weak with the passage of time are fitted into a cooling air passage in a range of installation (for example, a size substantially equivalent to the cooling plate heat insulating material 511), the installation element 512 can be easily removed at the time of failure or service inspection, and services such as inspection, repair, and replacement can be easily performed, so that serviceability is improved, and recycling performance is also improved.

Here, the kit 512 may be provided with a cold air outlet that blows cold air into the storage room (e.g., the refrigerator compartment 2). Fig. 18 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention with its door opened, and fig. 19 and 20 are front views of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 mounted on the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention with its cover attached.

In the kit 512, at least 1 or more upper cold air outlet 533 and lower cold air outlet 534 are provided in the cooling plate heat insulator 511 on the side or in the vertical direction of the cover 300 of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200. The number of the side cold air outlet openings 531, 532, the upper cold air outlet opening 533, and the lower cold air outlet opening 534 may be 1 or plural.

Since the cooling air outlets (the side cooling air outlets 531, 532, the upper cooling air outlet 533, and the lower cooling air outlet 534) for cooling the storage room (for example, the refrigerating room 2) are provided at least one place in the kit 512 as described above, the cooling air outlets for blowing out the cooling air for cooling the storage room can be provided only by mounting the kit 512 in which the electrostatic atomization device 200 is provided in the partition wall 51, and therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate cooling air outlet in the partition wall 51 of the storage room, the manufacturing of the inner box is simplified, and the low-cost refrigerator 1 can be obtained.

In the case where the cooling air passage for the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is common to the cooling air passage for cooling the storage compartment and the temperature control of the cooling air passage 50 affects the temperature control of the storage compartment (in the case where one of the temperature controls of the storage compartment is preferred), the cooling air passage dedicated to the electrostatic atomizing device 200 may be provided separately from the cooling air passage 50 of the storage compartment. The cooling air passage dedicated to the electrostatic atomizing device 200 may cool the fin portion 212, so the flow rate of the cool air may be small, and the cooling air passage cross-sectional area may be cooled to an air volume that is lower than a predetermined temperature of the fin portion 212 (to an extent that the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 does not freeze and the temperature of the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 is lower than the temperature of the storage room and moisture in the air in the storage room can condense in the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211), and is preferably about 1/2 or less of the storage room cooling air passage 50. Further, since the damper device is not required when the temperature control of the fin portion 212 of the cooling plate 210 provided in the cooling air passage is not required, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 and the refrigerator 1 can be provided at low cost and easily controlled.

Here, a counter electrode 240 (counter ground electrode) made of a conductive material (e.g., a conductive resin having high corrosion resistance, etc., a conductive metal, etc.) is provided at a position facing the discharge electrode 230 with a predetermined gap (predetermined gap F in fig. 8) therebetween so that a voltage can be applied efficiently, for example, a gap set to about 1mm to 10mm, and is provided in the vicinity (side surface vicinity, upper and lower vicinity) of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200, and a power supply 251 for generating nano mist by energizing the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 is provided in the high-voltage power supply unit 250. In the counter electrode 240, a counter electrode opening 241 (e.g., a through hole) for mist spraying is provided at a position facing the protruding portion 231 (tip end portion) of the discharge electrode 230. In the figure, a plurality of opposed electrode openings 241b, 241c, and 241d are provided in the opposed electrodes 240 at positions opposed to the plurality of discharge electrodes 231b, 231c, and 231d, respectively (see fig. 6).

In the present embodiment, the discharge electrode 230 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape of a foamed metal having a three-dimensional mesh structure such as titanium with a pore diameter of 10 to 800 μm (preferably 50 to 300 μm, more preferably 50 to 150 μm) and a porosity of 60 to 90% (preferably 70 to 80%), the protrusion 231 has a tapered (small) shape (for example, a substantially conical shape tapered toward the counter electrode 240) as it tapers or gradually tapers toward the counter electrode 240, compared with the prior ceramic porous material and metal rod, the water supply quantity is large, the capillary force is also large, the water is efficiently supplied as an electric conductor to be in a shape which is easy to discharge, therefore, the water can reach the tip of the protrusion 231 sufficiently in a short time, the time until the nano mist is generated can be shortened, and the nano mist can be generated and sprayed immediately after the voltage is applied. Further, since the voltage can be applied efficiently, the amount of generated nano mist can be increased, the inside of a room such as a storage room or a room can be sufficiently humidified, and the effects of sterilization and deodorization can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, since the discharge electrode 230 and the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 are provided with the discharge electrode 230 and the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 separated from each other by the predetermined gap Z, the degree of freedom of the shape and the degree of freedom of the arrangement of the cooling plate 210 or the discharge electrode 230 are increased, the shapes and the arrangements of the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, and the cooling plate 210 can be freely set in accordance with the structures of the household appliances such as the refrigerator 1, the air conditioner, and the air cleaner, and the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 can be obtained which is compact and efficient in accordance with the household appliances. Here, if the gap Z between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink piece portion 211 and the upper surface of the discharge electrode 230 is in a state where water droplets are deposited on the surface of the discharge electrode 230, when a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240, there is a possibility that discharge will occur between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink piece portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230, and therefore it is necessary to secure a gap that does not discharge even when water droplets are deposited on the surface of the discharge electrode 230, and the predetermined gap Z is preferably 4mm or more. Even in a state where water is stored in the discharge electrode 230, if a predetermined gap is secured to be 4mm or more, no discharge occurs between the discharge electrode 230 and the heat absorbing plate portion 211 as the water supply means, and therefore no problem occurs, but discharge does not easily occur in a state where water is not stored in the discharge electrode 230, and therefore storage may not be performed. The electrode holder 220 may be configured such that an opening, a notch, or the like is provided on the surface of the discharge electrode 230 facing the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 as the water supply means so that water does not adhere to or accumulate on the surface of the discharge electrode 230 (or may be configured such that excess water is discharged from the portion of the discharge electrode 230 of the holding electrode holder 220 even if water is accumulated on the surface of the discharge electrode 230, or a water storage portion for storing the discharged water is provided separately below so that water accumulated in the water storage portion does not contact the discharge electrode 230).

Further, the degree of freedom in setting the range of the applied voltage and the range of setting the predetermined gap F (see fig. 8) can be increased, and the nano mist can be reliably and easily generated. Further, since the thinner the tip portion of the protrusion 231 on the counter electrode side, the more stable the voltage can be applied, the discharge can be stably performed, and the nano mist of the radical species having the uniform particle size can be stably and continuously sprayed. Here, in the present embodiment, the shape of the protruding portion 231 (tip shape) of the discharge electrode 230 is formed in a substantially conical shape, the shape of the counter electrode 240 is formed in a substantially circular opening (aperture) shape (counter electrode opening 241) which is substantially similar to the shape of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230 and is larger than the cross-sectional shape of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230, and the predetermined gap F (distance) in this case is set to about 1mm to 6mm, whereby a voltage can be efficiently applied to the generation of the nano mist. The predetermined gap F is preferably about 1mm to 6mm because it is not possible to apply a voltage efficiently even if it is too large or too small, and the amount of generation of nano mist is suppressed.

Here, the discharge electrode 230 may not particularly have a substantially cylindrical shape, and may have a flat plate shape, a pit (recess) shape, or the like. If at least the portion of the discharge electrode 230 that receives the dew condensation water is flat plate-like or concave (concave) in shape, the dew condensation water dropping from the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 can be efficiently received by the discharge electrode 230, so that the dew condensation water can be used for nano mist vaporization without waste, and the nano mist can be stably supplied. In particular, if the portion that receives the dew condensation water of the discharge electrode 230 is in the shape of a pit (recess), the dew condensation water can be stored by the discharge electrode 230 itself, so that the shortage of dew condensation water can be eliminated, and the electrode holding portion 220 is not required or can be reduced, whereby the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 and the refrigerator 1 having a simple structure, low cost and high reliability can be provided. In the present embodiment, in consideration of a state in which the discharge electrode 230 is clogged with foreign matter and water cannot be supplied to the protruding portion 231, or a state in which water supply is reduced to a state in which mist spraying is not possible, a filter may be provided in the discharge electrode 230. In the present embodiment, a metal foam having a three-dimensional mesh structure of titanium or the like with a pore diameter of 10 to 800 μm (preferably 50 to 300 μm, more preferably 50 to 150 μm) and a porosity of 60 to 90% (preferably 70 to 80%) is used for the discharge electrode 230, therefore, the capillary force and the water supply force are large, and water is transported to the tip of the protrusion 231 in a short time, the dew condensation water that normally drops on the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 is not stored in the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230, however, even if dew condensation water is stored in the flat plate-like surface of the main body portion of the discharge electrode 230 or in the shape of a pit provided in the main body portion 232, when a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240, no discharge is generated between the discharge electrode 230 and the water supply unit, a predetermined gap Z that does not discharge is provided between the discharge electrode 230 and the water supply unit.

In addition, since the electrostatic atomization device 200 can adjust the amount of ozone and radicals generated in the mist by adjusting the voltage applied to the power supply 251 of the high-voltage power supply unit 250, it is possible to suppress the influence on the human body to such an extent that the influence is not exerted, and it is possible to avoid adverse effects such as deterioration of resin members constituting the inner wall of the storage chamber, and it is possible to provide the refrigerator 1 which can eject nano mist having sterilization and disinfection effects, is hygienic, highly reliable, and does not exert influence on the human body.

In the electrostatic atomization device 200, the cover 300 is provided in the front so that the user does not directly touch it. The front cover 300 is attached to cover the cooling plate 210, the electrode holding portion 220, the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, and the like, and in the cover 300, 1 or more openings (for example, a front opening 515, a side opening (not shown), an upper opening (not shown), and a lower opening (not shown)) having a size such that a user's finger cannot be inserted are provided on the front surface or both side surfaces, and moisture vaporized by the nano mist is sprayed into a storage chamber (for example, the refrigerating chamber 2, which may be any storage chamber) from the opening provided by 1 or more openings in the cover 300. Further, if a front opening is provided in the front, upper, and lower surfaces of cover 300 to such an extent that 1 or more fingers of the user cannot be inserted, it is possible to spray water droplets vaporized by nano mist in a necessary direction in the storage room (for example, refrigerating room 2) or in all directions in the storage room.

The electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is provided on, for example, the back of the back, side, or top of the storage room, and applies a high voltage to atomize the mist, so that the fine mist subjected to nano mist vaporization can be sprayed, and therefore, the flow of the cold air for cooling the storage room can be sprayed from the vicinity of the back (back) to the vicinity of the front of the refrigerator 1, and the flow of the cold air for cooling the storage room can be sprayed from the upper side to the lower side of the storage room by gravity, so that the mist of nano-sized particles can be sprayed to substantially the entire area of the storage room. In addition, if the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is provided on the back near the side surface of the upper portion of the back, the internal volume of the storage room (for example, the refrigerating room 2) can be used widely.

Since the user hardly reaches the refrigerator 1 at the back side of the upper shelf of the storage room (e.g., the refrigerating room 2) provided at the upper part thereof, and the stored materials are not visible and are not easily stored, and thus the user hardly feels the stored materials usable, if the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is provided at the side back of the upper part of the back surface of the storage room or at the side back of the upper part of the storage room or at the upper back of the upper part of the storage room, the dead volume (dead volume) hardly used in the storage room can be effectively used, and therefore, the sterilization and humidification of the storage room can be realized without reducing the internal volume, and the refrigerator 1 having a large internal volume and capable of maintaining the freshness cleanly can be obtained.

In particular, in the case of a large refrigerator 1 having an overall height of about 165cm or more and 300L (liters) or more, since the back side of the upper back of a storage room (e.g., the refrigerating room 2) provided in the uppermost part of the refrigerator 1 (particularly, the back side of the upper back) is difficult to reach by a user (particularly, a housewife, a child, an old man or the like having a height of less than about 160 cm) and is inconvenient to use, and therefore, dead volume is easily generated, the dead volume (dead volume) which is hardly used in the storage room can be effectively used by providing the electrostatic atomizing device 200 near the back (e.g., the upper side of the upper shelf, the back at the side, the back at the center) of the upper shelf of the storage room (e.g., the refrigerating room 2) at the uppermost stage, and the inside of the storage room can be sterilized and humidified without reducing the volume, and freshness can be maintained cleanly, therefore, the refrigerator 1 has a large internal volume, is fresh, has high reliability, and can be stored for a long time.

Further, if the electrostatic atomization device 200 is provided on the back portion near the center of the upper portion of the back surface in the storage room, it is possible to efficiently spray the mist of the nano-sized particles to the entire region in the storage room (in the storage room) by only providing 1 electrostatic atomization device 200. In particular, if the opening portion capable of spraying the mist is provided on the front surface, the lower surface, and both side surfaces of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 200, for example, the cover 300, so that the mist of the nano-sized particles from the electrostatic atomization apparatus 200 provided in the vicinity of the approximate center can be sprayed from both the side surfaces, the mist can be sprayed into the interior from the front surface, the lower surface, and both the side surfaces. Further, if the front surface opening 515 for mist spraying is provided in the front surface (front surface), the upper surface, and the lower surface of the cover 300 of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200, mist can be sprayed to the substantially central portion in the interior. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 can be provided which can efficiently perform sterilization and humidification of the entire area in the storage room, can be stored for a long period of time, and is low in cost.

When a flammable, heavier-than-air flammable or slightly flammable refrigerant (e.g., a hydrocarbon refrigerant (HC refrigerant) or the like, such as isobutane or the like) is used as the refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle, even if the refrigerant leaks, if the high-voltage power supply unit 250, the discharge electrode 230, and the counter electrode 240 of the electrostatic atomization device 200 are disposed above the storage compartment (e.g., the refrigerating compartment 2) disposed in the upper portion (e.g., the upper portion of the storage compartment disposed in the uppermost portion of the refrigerator 1), the leaked flammable refrigerant is heavier than air, so that the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 provided in the upper portion of the refrigerator 1 is not filled with the liquid from the lower portion of the refrigerator 1, or a large amount of time is required until the filling, therefore, the refrigerator 1 with less risk of failure due to ignition of the leaked flammable refrigerant can be obtained with high safety and reliability.

Further, if a recess is provided in the partition wall 51 (back wall, side wall) on the back and side surfaces of the storage chamber and the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is accommodated in the recess, the internal volume increases and the design is also improved. In this case, the thickness of the back wall and the side wall of the storage chamber is limited in many cases, and therefore, it is necessary to have a structure as thin as possible. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to reduce the size of the cooling plate 210 in the longitudinal direction as much as possible, the length of at least one of the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat-dissipating sheet portion 212 of the cooling plate 210 in the vertical direction (vertical longitudinal direction in fig. 8) or the horizontal direction (width 211K direction in fig. 9, for example) is increased, and the longitudinal direction length (longitudinal direction size 211L of the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 in fig. 8, for example) is reduced. That is, with respect to the cooling performance by heat conduction, the length in the front-rear direction (longitudinal direction) of at least one of the heat-absorbing fin portion 211 and the heat-dissipating fin portion 212 of the cooling plate 210 (for example, the longitudinal direction dimension 211L of the heat-absorbing fin portion 211 in fig. 8) is made smaller (thinner) than the length in the up-down direction (longitudinal direction) or the left-right direction (width direction) (for example, the up-down longitudinal direction dimension in fig. 8 and the width dimension 211K in fig. 9) to such an extent that the equivalent degree (the degree of obtaining a necessary predetermined cooling performance) can be maintained, and the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the cooling plate 210 is made as small as possible. For example, in the case of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211, if the width direction dimension 211K is increased and the longitudinal direction dimension 211L is decreased, the longitudinal direction dimension of the cooling plate 210 can be decreased, so that the longitudinal direction dimension of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 can be decreased, and a small and thin electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 can be obtained. Similarly, if the dimension in the longitudinal direction is reduced while the dimension in the width direction is increased in the fin portion 212, the dimension in the longitudinal direction can be reduced, and a small and thin electrostatic atomizing device 200 can be obtained.

In the case where (a part of) the cooling air passage is provided in the partition wall 51 (heat insulating wall) on the back surface and the side surface of the storage compartment of the refrigerator 1 (in the case where a recess for accommodating at least a part (or all) of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is provided in the partition wall 51, and (a part of) the cooling air passage is provided on the side of the recess, or the like), if at least a part (or all) of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is accommodated in the recess of the partition wall 51 positioned on the side of the cooling air passage, the fin portion 212 of the cooling plate 210 is disposed in the cooling air passage on the side of the recess, and the fin portion 211 is disposed in the recess or the storage compartment, the cooling plate 210 of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is disposed in the cooling air passage in the direction of the recess for accommodating the electrostatic atomizing device 200, and therefore, it is not necessary to provide the fin portion 212 so as to penetrate the partition wall 51 on the, can be easily assembled, installed, etc. In this case, the heat conductive portion 213 may be provided so as to penetrate the heat insulating spacer between the concave portion and the cooling air passage, and the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat dissipating sheet portion 212 may be provided so as to be arranged in the width direction (left-right direction) of the refrigerator without arranging the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat dissipating sheet portion 212 in the longitudinal direction of the refrigerator 1, and the heat absorbing sheet plate (heat absorbing sheet portion 211), the heat dissipating sheet plate (heat dissipating sheet portion 212), and the heat conductive portion 213 may be provided by increasing the length in the vertical direction (flow direction of the cold air in the air passage) to increase the heat transfer area and thinning the longitudinal direction (for example, the width direction 211K direction of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211).

Although the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is applied to the refrigerator 1 as described above, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 of the present invention is not limited to the refrigerator 1, and may be applied to home appliances, devices, and the like such as an air conditioner, an air cleaner, a humidifier, and the like.

(second mode of Electrostatic atomizer)

Here, another configuration example of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is explained. Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing another electrostatic atomizing device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention, fig. 13 is a perspective view showing an assembling method of another electrostatic atomizing device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention, fig. 14 is a plan view showing another electrostatic atomizing device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention, fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the electrostatic atomizing device 200 having a K-K section shown in fig. 14 according to the embodiment of the present invention, fig. 16 is a sectional view showing the electrostatic atomizing device 200 having an M-M section shown in fig. 14 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 17 is a view for explaining a state in which a water supply unit is provided in the electrostatic atomizing device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in fig. 1 to 11, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 includes a discharge electrode 230, a counter electrode 240, and an electrode holding portion 220, and the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 are housed and provided in the electrode holding portion 220 so as to form a predetermined gap (a gap similar to the gap F in fig. 8). In the discharge electrode 230, a rectangular parallelepiped (quadrangular prism) shaped main body portion 232 having a substantially rectangular (or substantially quadrangular) cross section elongated in the axial direction and a rectangular parallelepiped (or rectangular cone) shaped protruding portion 231 having a substantially rectangular (substantially quadrangular) cross section protruding from a middle portion of the main body portion 232 in the axial direction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction are integrally formed into a substantially T-shape and are formed of a metal foam such as titanium. The main body 232 of the discharge electrode 230 may have a cylindrical shape having an elongated shape (a shape elongated in the axial direction) with a substantially circular cross section, and the protrusion 231 may be provided so as to protrude from the middle of the axial direction of the main body 232 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction, or may have a cylindrical shape (or a conical shape) with a substantially circular shape (or a substantially circular shape) in cross section. That is, the shape of the protrusion 231 may be a conical shape or a pyramidal shape tapered toward the counter electrode 240. In addition, the number of the protruding portions 231 may be 1 or plural.

Here, as shown in fig. 12, in the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230, the axial length is X2, the width is X3, and the thickness is X4. In the protruding portion 231, the protruding length is X1, the width is X5, and the thickness is X6. When the length X2 of the main body portion 232 is longer than the length X1 of the protruding portion 231 and the value of X2/X1 (the ratio of X2 to X1) is 4 to 20 times longer, workability is good, and the amount of water supplied from the main body portion 232 to the protruding portion 231 is also large, and the water supply time can be shortened, so this is preferable (when the ratio of X2 to X1 is 6 to 15 or lower, the strength is preferably weakened if the ratio is too large, because a balance is obtained from the viewpoints of workability, strength, water supply amount, and water supply time). Further, when the thickness X4 of the main body 232 and the thickness X6 of the protrusion 231 are in the range of about 1.5 to 4mm, workability is good, and water absorption and moisture retention are good, so that the water can be supplied to the protrusion 231 by capillary action in a short time, which is preferable. Thus, in the present embodiment, X1=3 to 7mm, X2=30 to 80mm, X3=4 to 7mm, X4=1.5 to 4mm, X5=3 to 7mm, and X6=1.5 to 4mm are set. The substantially T-shaped discharge electrode 230 may be manufactured by cutting a sheet-like metal foam having a thickness of about 1.5 to 4mm, such as titanium, by press working, laser working, or the like.

As described above, the discharge electrode 230 includes: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped or substantially cylindrical body portion 232 formed of a metal foam having a three-dimensional mesh structure and extending in the axial direction; and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped or substantially cylindrical protruding portion 231 protruding from the axial middle of the body portion 232 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the body portion 232, formed integrally with the body portion 232 to be shorter than the axial length of the body portion 232, and configured to supply water adhering to the surface of the body portion 232 by capillary action. Therefore, the surface area of the main body 232 can be increased greatly, and a large amount of water adhering to the surface of the main body 232 can be supplied to the protruding portion 231 by capillary action.

Further, when water is supplied from the main body 232 to the tip end portion in the direction facing the counter electrode 240 of the protruding portion 231 by capillary phenomenon, since the protruding portion 231 is provided from the middle of the main body 232 in the axial direction (substantially the center in the axial direction), the main body is divided into 2 pieces (for example, the 1 st main body 237 and the 2 nd main body 238) with respect to the protruding position of the protruding portion 231, and therefore, water can be supplied to the protruding portion 231 by capillary phenomenon from 2 places (both sides of the protruding portion 231) of the 1 st main body 237 and the 2 nd main body 238, and therefore, a large amount of water can be supplied to the protruding portion 231, and the mist spray amount can be increased, and mist spray can be stably performed. Even if one of the 1 st body portion 237 and the 2 nd body portion 238 (for example, the 1 st body portion 237) fails to function due to clogging or the like, water can be supplied to the protruding portion 231 through the other (for example, the 2 nd body portion 238), so that the electrostatic atomizing device 200 (mist atomizing device) with high reliability can be obtained in which water can be stably supplied to the protruding portion 231 for a long period of time and mist can be stably atomized for a long period of time.

The electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 includes a fixing means 260 (pressing means) for fixing and holding the discharge electrode 230 or the counter electrode 240 housed in the electrode holding portion 220 to the electrode holding portion 220, and is configured by integrally forming at least the electrode holding portion 220, the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, and the fixing means 260 into a kit, and is provided on a wall surface (for example, a side wall, a back wall, or a partition wall 51) of the storage compartment in the case of the refrigerator 1. In addition, in the air conditioner and other devices, since the electrostatic atomizing device 200 (kit) is installed in a housing such as an indoor unit installed indoors (on the downstream side of a filter with respect to the flow of air), the electrostatic atomizing device 200 (kit) can be easily and compactly assembled, and the electrostatic atomizing device 200 (kit) can be easily attached to a wall surface or a housing.

Here, in the present embodiment, the discharge electrode 230 (for example, both the main body portion 232 and the protruding portion 231, or only the main body portion 232) includes: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped or substantially cylindrical body portion 232 formed of a metal foam having a three-dimensional mesh structure and extending in the axial direction; and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, a substantially cylindrical, a substantially pyramidal, or a substantially conical protruding portion 231 protruding from the axial middle of the body portion 232 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction and formed integrally with the body portion 232 to be shorter than the axial length of the body portion 232 so as to supply water adhering to the surface of the body portion 232 through the inside of the body portion 232 according to a capillary phenomenon, wherein the axial length X2 of the body portion 232 is set to be in a range of 4 to 20 times the length X1 of the protruding portion. If the axial length X2 of the main body 232 is too long relative to the length X1 of the protrusion, the main body 232 is too thin and long, resulting in poor shape balance, poor machining accuracy, and damage during machining, assembly, and the like, and therefore the axial length X2 of the main body 232 is preferably 20 times or less (preferably 15 times or less) the length X1 of the protrusion. Further, if the axial length X2 of the main body 232 is too short relative to the length X1 of the protruding portion, the amount of water supplied from the main body 232 is too small, and the time until water is supplied to the distal end portion of the protruding portion becomes too long and the time until mist is sprayed becomes too long, so the axial length X2 of the main body 232 is preferably about 4 times or more (preferably about 6 times or more) the length X1 of the protruding portion.

In the case where the main body portion 232 is rectangular parallelepiped, the installation surface to the electrode holding portion 220 is flat, so that the position is stable when installed, and it is preferable that the axial length X2 of the main body portion 232 is sufficiently larger than the protruding length X1 of the protruding portion 231. In the main body 232, it is desirable that water falling from the water supply unit directly above is efficiently received on the upper surface, and as much water adhering to the upper surface is supplied to the tip end portion of the protrusion 231 through the inside by capillary action, and therefore, it is preferable to increase the surface area as much as possible by increasing the axial length, and to increase the upper surface area by increasing the width X3 to be larger than the thickness X4. In addition, the protruding portion 231 is preferably short, preferably about 7mm or less, because it is desirable to supply water to the tip portion facing the counter electrode in as short a time as possible. Further, if the protruding portion 231 is too short, a voltage may be applied between the main body portion 232 and the counter electrode 240, and the processing is difficult, so that it is preferably about 7mm or less.

When the tip portion of the protruding portion 231 is tapered toward the counter electrode 240, even in a state where there is no water at the tip portion (water-supply-free state), ozone is generated to such an extent that it does not affect the human body and the sterilization and deodorization effects are exerted if a voltage is applied. Here, if the shape of the protruding portion is made to be a pyramid shape or a cone shape and the tip of the protruding portion 231 is made to be tapered toward the counter electrode 240, there is no relation with the presence or absence of water at the tip of the protruding portion 231, and if a voltage is constantly applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 during operation of the apparatus, mist spraying or ozone spraying can be performed even when the water supplied from the water supply unit is insufficient, so that a home appliance such as a refrigerator 1 or an air conditioner, which can perform deodorization and sterilization, can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, when the sizes (width, thickness, etc.) or the sectional areas of the external shapes of the main body 232 and the protruding portion 231 are substantially equal to each other, the workability is good when the axial length of the main body 232 is in the range of 4 to 20 times the length of the protruding portion 231, the amount of water supplied from the main body 232 to the protruding portion 231 is large, and the water supply time can be shortened. Here, if the length is 21 times larger than 20 times, the main body 232 is too long in the axial direction, and therefore, the main body is damaged during machining or during assembly, which deteriorates reliability. In addition, at 3.5 times smaller than 4 times, the upper surface area of the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 becomes small, so that the amount of water supplied to the protruding portion 231 is small and water shortage occurs, and therefore mist cannot be stably sprayed, so that the axial length of the main body portion 232 is preferably 4 times to 20 times the length of the protruding portion 231. Preferably, the range of 6 times to 15 times is selected, the strength of the discharge electrode 230 is obtained, and a large amount of water can be supplied to the protruding portion 231 in a short time, so that the water can be stably supplied to the protruding portion 231, and the amount of nano mist sprayed when a voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 can be increased, which is preferable.

In the present embodiment, since the discharge electrode 230 is a metal porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure such as a sponge, using a metal foam such as titanium, the water absorption amount inside the metal is about 2 to 5 times larger than that of a material not made of a metal foam, the capillary force is larger than that of a sintered metal, and the resistance is as low as (0.4 to 2) × 10^－7Omega m or so, and is a ceramic having a large resistance (a resistance as large as about 10) because it efficiently applies electricity to water as a conductor¹²Ω · m) and the like, and the amount of mist generated can be increased by particularly easily turning on electricity, and the setting of the applied voltage and the like can be made easy, and the applied voltage can be reduced, and nano mist can be generated reliably and easily. If the resistance is 10^－8Ω·m～10^－4The material of about Ω · m is easy to conduct electricity, and the amount of mist generated is large, and nano mist can be stably generated. Further, since the electrostatic atomizer has a small resistance and is easily electrically conducted, it is possible to obtain an electrostatic atomizer which is easily applied with a high voltage and has low power.

In the present embodiment, a metal foam such as titanium having a pore diameter of 10 μm to 800 μm and a porosity of 60% to 90% is used for the discharge electrode 230. Since the metal foam has a particularly high resistance to clogging due to foreign matter as compared with ceramics and the like having a pore diameter as small as 0.1 to 3 μm, which are not metal foams, water can be stably supplied from the main body 232 to the protruding portion 231 for a long period of time. If the pore diameter is less than 10 μm, the risk of clogging is high, and therefore the pore diameter is preferably 10 μm or more. Further, if the pore diameter is larger than 800 μm, the water droplets become large and the amount of generation of nano mist is suppressed, so the pore diameter is preferably 800 μm or less. Further, the larger the porosity (porosity), the more water can be held inside, so when used in the electrostatic atomization device 200, the porosity is preferably large. In the present embodiment, unlike conventional ceramics, sintered metals, and the like, in which the porosity is 50% or less, a metal foam having a three-dimensional mesh-like structure of titanium or the like, which has a porosity of 60% to 90%, is used, so that more water can be retained in the metal foam than in conventional ceramics, sintered metals, and the like. Therefore, a large amount of nano mist can be efficiently generated.

Among the metal foams used for the discharge electrode 230, those having a large capillary force, a small variation in pore diameter, and a high resistance to clogging are preferable, and those having a pore diameter of 50 μm to 300 μm and a porosity of 70% to 80% are preferable. Further, since the discharge electrode 230 is made of titanium foam, the rigidity and strength of the discharge electrode 230 can be improved, and therefore, electrical wear due to voltage application can be suppressed, and the wear resistance against fine vibration and the like during operation of the refrigerator 1 and the air conditioner can be improved, and long-term use can be realized, and the reliability can be improved. Further, by using titanium for the discharge electrode 230, the amount of ozone generated by corona discharge at the time of voltage application can be reduced by decomposition by reduction, and as compared with the case of using a ceramic material for the electrode, the adverse effect on the human body due to an excessive amount of ozone generated can be suppressed, and the electrostatic atomization device 200 capable of generating appropriate ozone safely can be provided. In addition, when titanium foam is used for the discharge electrode 230, the fusion property with water is improved by the oxidation treatment, and water on the surface of the body portion 232 can be easily absorbed by the capillary phenomenon or water can be stably supplied to the protrusion 231, so that nano mist can be stably sprayed for a long period of time.

The counter electrode 240 is provided with a predetermined gap F (the same as fig. 8) from the tip of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230, and a counter electrode opening 241, which is a substantially rectangular through hole, is provided at a position facing the tip of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230. Here, the cross-sectional shape of the distal end portion of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230 is a substantially quadrangular shape, and the counter electrode opening 241 of the counter electrode 240 is a substantially quadrangular-shaped opening larger than the substantially quadrangular shape of the distal end portion of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230. The cross-sectional shape of the tip portion of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230 may be a substantially circular shape, the opening shape of the counter electrode opening 241 of the counter electrode 240 may be an opening having a shape substantially similar to the cross-sectional shape (or outer diameter shape) of the tip portion of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230 and larger than the cross-sectional shape (or outer diameter shape) of the tip portion of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230, the opening shape of the counter electrode opening 241 of the counter electrode 240 may be different from the cross-sectional shape (or outer diameter shape) of the tip portion of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230, the tip portion of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230 may be formed in a tapered shape (the cross-sectional shape (or outer diameter shape) is substantially a quadrangle), the opening shape of the counter electrode opening 241 of the counter electrode 240 is a circular opening having a shape larger than the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion.

The electrode holding portion 220 includes an electrode housing portion 225 that houses and holds and fixes a main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230, and a counter electrode housing portion 223 that is provided so as to protrude from an intermediate portion (substantially central portion) in an axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the electrode housing portion 225 and houses and holds a counter electrode 240. The discharge electrode 230 is provided so that a protruding portion 231 protruding from a main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 housed in the electrode housing portion 225 protrudes toward the counter electrode housing portion 223 via a cutout portion 222 such as an opening or a notch provided in a partition wall between the electrode housing portion 225 and the counter electrode housing portion 223. Here, in the case where the water supply unit is the cooling plate 210, if the water supply unit is held in a state where water droplets are adhered to the upper surface of the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230, there is a possibility that electric discharge is generated between the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230, and therefore, in this case, the electrode holding portion 220 may be provided with an opening, a notch, or the like (not shown) in the bottom surface, the side surface, or the like so that water supplied from the water supply unit does not accumulate in the electrode holding portion 220.

That is, if a notch or an opening is provided in the electrode holding portion 220 or the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit, pressing member), and dew condensation water falling from the heat absorbing portion (heat absorbing sheet portion 211) in a state where the body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 is held in the electrode holding portion 220 does not accumulate in the electrode holding portion 220 or the body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230, even when a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240, it is possible to suppress water accumulation in the body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 held in the electrode holding portion 220 and discharge from the discharge electrode 230 to the heat absorbing portion (heat absorbing sheet portion 211) of the cooling plate 210. Here, if water droplets are adhered to the surface of the discharge electrode 230 in the gap Z between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 serving as the water supply means and the discharge electrode 230 (the upper surface of the main body portion 232), when a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240, a discharge may occur between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230, and therefore, it is necessary to secure a gap that does not discharge, and in the present embodiment, the predetermined gap Z is set to 4mm or more.

In addition, the counter electrode holding portion 224 such as a notch or a recess for holding the step portion 245 of the counter electrode 240 is provided in the counter electrode accommodating portion 225. The counter electrode 240 is provided with a counter electrode conducting portion 246 formed of a hole or the like for conducting electricity by connecting a power supply line or a lead wire, and the counter electrode conducting portion 246 is connected to a high voltage power supply portion 250 (fig. 11 and the like) via the power supply line or the lead wire.

In the discharge electrode 230, the main body portion 232 is press-fixed to the electrode housing portion 225 via the energizing member 280 by the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) in a state where the main body portion 232 is housed/held in the electrode housing portion 225 and the protruding portion 231 is housed in the opposite electrode housing portion 223. The energizing member 280 (electrode energizing means) is provided with a pressing portion 281 which is in contact with and pressed against the main body portion 232, a spring portion 282 which is elastically deformed when pressed by the fixing means 260 (pressing means, pressing member) to press the pressing portion 281 against the main body portion 232, and an electrode energizing means energizing portion 286 which is connected to the high-voltage power supply portion 250 via a power supply line or a lead wire and is configured by a hole or the like to be energized. The electrode energizing unit energizing portion 286 energizes the discharge electrode 230 via a power line, a lead wire, and the like by the high-voltage power supply portion 250. Here, the energizing member 280 may not have a structure in which the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) presses and holds the energizing member 280, but may have a shape having spring properties such that the main body portion 232 is sandwiched by spring force from the side surface (in the width direction) to apply voltage to the discharge electrode 230.

The fixing unit 260 (pressing unit, pressing member) has a container shape, and includes: an opening 266 (see fig. 14) provided in the bottom surface portion (or the side surface portion); an electrode pressing portion 265 provided in the bottom surface portion (or the side surface portion) for pressing and fixing the discharge electrode 230 from above toward the electrode holding portion 220 or for suppressing the upward movement of the discharge electrode 230; an inclined portion 264 (see fig. 13) inclined from the outside toward the center so as to receive water supplied from a water supply unit provided above (directly above) and efficiently supply water to the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230; a conductive member pressing portion 262 (see fig. 13) provided in the bottom surface portion (or the side surface portion) and pressing/fixing the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 housed in the electrode housing portion 225 of the electrode holding portion 220 to the electrode holding portion 220 side via a conductive member 280 formed of an elastic body; and a counter electrode covering portion 261 provided so as to protrude from the vicinity of the substantially center in the axial direction of the side wall of the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) in a direction substantially equivalent to the direction of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230, and covering at least the opening portion 241 portion of the counter electrode 240 (the stepped portion 245 in which the counter electrode 240 is inserted into the cutout portion 224 of the counter electrode receiving portion 223 of the electrode holding portion 220 and received) received in the counter electrode receiving portion 223 of the electrode holding portion 220 from above, thereby suppressing adhesion of dust, dirt, and the like to the opening portion 241 of the counter electrode 240. Here, the energizing member pressing portion 262 has a stepped shape recessed from the electrode pressing portion 265 by an amount of thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the energizing member 280, and at least a part of the energizing member 280 is housed in the electrode pressing portion 265 (preferably, substantially the entire portion of the energizing member 265 other than the electrode energizing portion 286 of the energizing member) in a state where the discharge electrode 230 is pressed by the fixing means 260 (pressing means) via the energizing member 280.

Accordingly, the discharge electrode 230 and the opposite electrode 240 are pressed/fixed to the electrode holding portion 220 via the energizing member 280 by the fixing unit 260 (pressing member). In a state where the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 are fixed to the electrode holding portion 220, a predetermined gap F is provided between a substantially rectangular planar distal end portion of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230 and the opening 241 of the counter electrode 240. The predetermined gap F is provided within a range of 1mm to 8mm so that the output becomes large when the current is applied and a large amount of nano mist can be emitted.

The energizing member pressing portion 262 is provided with a step that can maintain the thickness amount of the elastic force (the thickness amount obtained by subtracting the contraction amount due to the elastic deformation from the thickness amount) when the energizing member 280 is pressed, with respect to the discharge electrode pressing portion 265 provided in the bottom surface portion of the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit, pressing member), and by accommodating the energizing member 280 in the step portion and pressing the energizing member 280 from above with the discharge electrode pressing portion 265, the body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 is pressed/fixed to the electrode holding portion 220 side in accordance with the elastic force of the energizing member 280.

Further, on the surface opposite to the energizing member pressing portion 262 (the surface on the upper opening side of the fixing unit 260), a stepped portion 263 partially recessed (stepped portion one step higher) is formed to accommodate the energizing member 280, and a gap between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 (a distance between the discharge electrode 230 and the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 (for example, a distance between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230 (a predetermined gap Z)) may be secured by positioning the cooling plate 210 at this portion, and the gap may be set as a necessary predetermined gap.

The fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) fixes the side wall and the like of the electrode holding portion 220 in a state in which the discharge electrode 230 is housed and held in the electrode housing portion 225 of the electrode holding portion 220 and in a state in which the discharge electrode 230 is pressed against the electrode holding portion 220 from the upper surface opening portion side of the electrode holding portion 220 via the energizing member 280. Even in this case, with respect to the gap Z between the lower end surface of the water supply unit (e.g., the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink portion 211) and the discharge electrode 230 (upper surface), in order to reduce the dropping speed of water falling from the water supply means (for example, the heat absorbing sheet portion 211) to the discharge electrode 230 and the electrode holding portion 220 through the space, to alleviate the impact when the water falls to the discharge electrode 230 and the electrode holding portion 220, to suppress the jumping and the flying out of the container, etc., it is preferably small, preferably about 1mm to 30mm, but if the water droplets are adhered to the surface of the discharge electrode 230, when a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240, a discharge may occur between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230, therefore, the predetermined gap Z between the water supply unit (for example, the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink 211) and the discharge electrode 230 is preferably 4mm or more, which is a gap that does not cause discharge.

(Structure of water storage tank)

As shown in fig. 16 and 17, instead of providing the cooling plate 210, a water supply unit such as a water tank 270 may be detachably held by the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit). Since the water storage tank 270 is provided with the scale 271 so that the user can see the scale 271 in a state where the water storage tank is installed in the refrigerator 1, the time when the water supplied to the discharge electrode 230 is replenished can be visually confirmed. Here, if the distance (predetermined gap) required between the water discharge port 277 of the water reservoir tank 270 (supply port for supplying water in the water reservoir tank 270 to the discharge electrode 230) and the discharge electrode 230 is set to be substantially equal to the distance (predetermined gap Z required) between the discharge electrode 230 and the lower end surface of the heat sink portion 211 of the cooling plate 210, an equivalent effect is obtained.

As shown in fig. 17, when the water tank 270 is used instead of the cooling plate 210, if the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) is provided with the water supply unit cover 269 to position, hold, and fix the water tank 270, the electrostatic atomization device 200 having a simple structure and low cost is obtained. Further, since the water droplets 275 falling from the water storage tank 270 are covered by the water supply unit covering section 269 of the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) to be in a substantially sealed state or at least partially covered, the water droplets 275 falling in the electrode storage section 225 of the electrode holding section 220 are less likely to be affected by foreign substances such as dust and mold in the air around the electrode holding section 220 and the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) provided, and therefore the water droplets in the electrode holding section 220 are less likely to be contaminated, and a sanitary electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is obtained. Further, since the water droplets 275 that have been covered so as to fall from the water discharge port 277 of the water storage tank 270 are in a substantially sealed state or at least partially covered by the water supply unit covering section 269 of the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit), the water droplets 275 that have fallen within the electrode housing section 225 of the electrode holding section 220 are less susceptible to influences (such as air flows and temperature influences) of the surroundings where the electrode holding section 220 and the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) are provided, and therefore the water droplets 275 are not scattered around by the air and the cold air flows, or the water and water droplets 275 within the water storage tank 270 are less susceptible to freezing, and the highly reliable electrostatic atomization device 200 is obtained.

That is, in the present embodiment, in the electrostatic atomizing device 200, the covering section of the water supply unit 269 covering at least a part of the falling path of water between the water supply unit and the electrode holder 220 is provided to the fixing unit 260 so that water supplied by the water supply unit (the cooling plate 210, the water storage tank 270, and the like) provided directly above the discharge electrode 230 or the electrode holder 220 falling down from the discharge electrode 230 or the electrode holder 220 is not directly affected by the flow of air around the falling water, the dropped water droplets 275 are less likely to be affected by foreign matters such as dust, mold, and dirt in the air around the electrode holder 220 and the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit), water droplets adhering to the discharge electrode 230 and water droplets in the electrode holder 220 are less likely to be contaminated, thereby, clogging of the discharge electrode 230 can be suppressed, and a clean and sanitary electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 with high reliability can be obtained.

Here, in the case where the water storage tank 270 (water supply unit) made of resin, which is not electrically conductive, is used for the water supply unit, the discharge electrode 230 does not discharge to the water storage tank 270 even in a state where water adheres to the upper surface of the body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230, as compared with the case where the cooling plate 210 is used for the water supply unit, and therefore the electrode holding portion 220 may be formed in a container shape to store water. This makes it possible to stably supply water to the protruding portion 231 while maintaining the state in which water is always stored in the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230, and thus to stably spray mist. Even when the cooling plate 210 is provided in the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit), the same effect can be obtained if the water droplets 275 (dew condensation water) falling from the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 are covered in a substantially sealed state by the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) or the like.

As shown in fig. 17, the fixing unit 260 is provided with fixing claws 268 protruding outward from the side wall, and the fixing claws 268 are provided at least 1 place in the side wall of the electrode holding portion 220 at positions facing the fixing claws 268, and the fixing unit 260 is pressed in the direction of the electrode holding portion 220, so that the fixing claws 268 of the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) are fitted into or hooked on the fixing recesses provided in the side wall of the electrode holding portion 220, whereby the fixing unit 260, the energizing member 280, the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, and the electrode holding portion 220 can be integrally fixed/held by a simple operation by only lightly pressing the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) toward the electrode holding portion 220 side, and the component can be integrated into a unit, and can be incorporated into a product such as a refrigerator 1 and an air conditioner, The installation and insertion of the device and the like become easy.

In the present embodiment, since the distance between the water discharge port 277 of the water storage tank 270 (water supply means) (supply port for supplying water in the water storage tank 270 to the discharge electrode 230) and the discharge electrode 230 is set to have the predetermined gap Z in a range in which water falling from the water discharge port 277 cannot be supplied to the discharge electrode 230 and the electrode holder 220 due to the influence of ambient air and cold air, the water supply means (for example, the water storage tank 270 and the like) is not required, and the water supply means and the water flow path for transporting water supplied from the water supply means are not required, compared to a case where the water supply means (for example, the water storage tank 270 and the like) is installed in a different place apart from the electrostatic atomization device 200 and the water is transported from the water supply means to the electrostatic atomization device 200 via the water flow path by a water transport means such as a pump and the like, and thus, the home electric appliance 1, the air conditioner and the like which are.

Further, if the discharge electrode 230 is provided directly below the water discharge port 277 of the water storage tank 270 so as to have the predetermined gap Z, and the water storage tank 270 is integrated and integrated into a kit in a state of being aligned so as to have the predetermined gap Z together with the fixing unit 260, the current-carrying member 280, the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, and the electrode holding portion 220 so as to be attachable and detachable, the water droplets falling from the water storage tank 270 can be directly dropped on the discharge electrode with a simple structure, and the assembling property and the attaching property are further improved. In the case of using the cooling plate 210 instead of the water tank 270, the cooling plate 210 may be fixed to the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) together such that dew condensation water condensed on at least the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 directly falls to the discharge electrode 230 and the discharge electrode 230 is positioned directly below the heat absorbing sheet portion 211. In this case, the distance between the water storage tank 270, the heat sink 211, and the discharge electrode 230 may be set to the predetermined gap Z. The setting of the predetermined gap Z is as described above.

Here, since the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 of the present embodiment has a shape in which the main body 232 of the discharge electrode 230 is elongated in the axial direction and short in the longitudinal direction (the length in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the thickness direction), it can be installed to a thin wall surface such as a ceiling wall forming the upper surface of the storage room of the refrigerator 1, a side wall forming the side surface of the storage room, a partition wall 51 (partition plate) partitioning the storage room from the storage room, or a small portion in the longitudinal direction in an air conditioner or the like, and thereby, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the home electric appliances and devices such as the refrigerator 1 and the air conditioner. Further, since the main body 232 is elongated and has a large surface area, it is possible to receive water such as dew condensation water or supply water by a sufficient area, and it is possible to supply a sufficient amount of water such as dew condensation water or supply water to the protruding portion 231 by capillary action, and since the main body 232 is elongated and has a large surface area, even if a small amount of foreign matter is present in the water and adheres to the surface of the main body 232, water is supplied to the protruding portion 231 through the voids inside the main body 232 without any problem due to capillary action, and therefore, a low-cost and highly reliable electrostatic atomization device 200 and home electric appliances are obtained which do not require a filter or the like for removing dew condensation water or supply water foreign matter, and can release the nano mist during a guaranteed period (for example, a 10-year service period). Here, the length in the axial direction and the sectional shape of the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 may be set to a degree that can secure a surface area in which water can be supplied to the protruding portion 231, assuming foreign matter in water within a product guarantee period (for example, about 10 years).

In addition, in the installation of the electrostatic atomizer 200, since the main body 232 is elongated and has a small thickness in the longitudinal direction, even if the protrusion 231 is installed so as to protrude from the main body 232 in the lateral direction (for example, substantially horizontal direction), a thin and compact electrostatic atomizer 200 that can be installed to a small installation place in the longitudinal direction, for example, a side wall, a ceiling wall, a partition wall, or the like can be obtained, but when the protrusion 231 is installed so as to protrude from the main body 232 in the substantial direction or in the substantially downward direction, the thickness in the longitudinal direction may be small, and in this case, a thin and compact electrostatic atomizer 200 that can be installed to a small installation place in the longitudinal direction, for example, a side wall, a ceiling wall, a partition wall, or the like can be obtained.

As described above, the water storage tank 270 is used in the water supply unit, and the electrode holding portion 220 that fixes or houses the discharge electrode 230 is formed in a container shape to be able to catch water, but the shape of the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape to be a shape having a width (in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 12, a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a square shape having a substantially rectangular surface having a width X3 and a length X2), and the upper surface having the width is formed in a substantially horizontal shape (may be slightly inclined, for example, at an angle of 5 degrees or less) when installed, and the shape of the electrode holding portion 220 may be not a container shape that can store water but a shape (discharge electrode fixing portion) that fixes the discharge electrode 230 (for example, the main body portion 232).

In the present embodiment, the present invention includes: a discharge electrode 230 including a main body portion 232 formed of a metal foam having a three-dimensional mesh structure, and a protruding portion 231 for supplying water adhering to the surface of the main body portion 232 by capillary action; an electrode holding portion 220 for holding a discharge electrode 230; a counter electrode 240 provided on the electrode holding portion 220 and facing the protruding portion 231; and a water supply unit (for example, the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the water storage tank 270) which is provided directly above the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 and supplies water to the discharge electrode 230, wherein the main body portion 232 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the axial direction and has a width larger than a thickness thereof, whereby an area of an upper surface having a surface shape can be increased, and the upper surface receiving water can be made substantially horizontal, whereby an area receiving water can be increased.

That is, although the water droplets 275 supplied from the reservoir tank 270 fall down on the main body 232 of the discharge electrode 230 directly below, the upper surface of the main body 232 has a substantially rectangular shape having a width X3 and a length X2 and is disposed substantially horizontally, and therefore the falling water can be directly caught on the upper surface of the main body 232 having the shape of the surface, and the water falling on the upper surface is immediately absorbed from the surface into the interior of the main body 232 by capillary action and supplied to the protruding portion 231. Therefore, in this case, since the shape of the electrode holding portion 220 may not be a container shape, and the body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 may be fixed or held without storing water, when the water falling from the water storage tank 270 is too much to be completely absorbed in the body portion 232, a water discharge port capable of discharging water, such as a notch or an opening, may be provided in the electrode holding portion 220, and a discharge means or the like may be provided below, on the side, or the like of the water discharge port of the electrode holding portion 220, so that the water may be discharged downward from the upper surface of the body portion 232 to discharge the water to the outside of the electrostatic atomization device 200. For example, in the case of an indoor unit of an air conditioner, it is sufficient to discharge the waste water together, and in the case of a refrigerator, it is sufficient to discharge the waste water together with defrosting water to the outside.

(utilization of defrosting Water)

In the case where cooler chamber 131 accommodating cooler 13 is disposed near the rear surface of the storage room (e.g., refrigerating room 2) in which electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is installed, if a defrosting electrode holding part 152 having a shape of storing defrosting water is provided such that a heater top plate 151 provided in a lower part of the cooler 13 is formed in a container shape (a member (for example, a container) having a shape of storing water separately from the heater top plate 151) as shown in fig. 2, when the defrosting water stored in the defrosting electrode holder 152 is supplied to the electrostatic atomizing device 200 through a defrosting water transfer part formed of a filter, felt, or the like and utilizing a capillary phenomenon or the like, the defrosting electrode holder 152 can be used as the electrode holder 220 in the storage chamber, therefore, it is not necessary to provide the electrode holding part 220 in the storage room, and further, it is not necessary to provide the cooling plate 210, and therefore, the refrigerator 1 having a simple structure at low cost can be obtained.

Here, the heater top plate 151 is provided to cover the upper side of the defrosting heater 150 so that the defrosting water falling from the cooler 13 does not directly reach the defrosting heater 150, but the size and capacity of the defrosting electrode holding portion 152 may be determined in consideration of the number of times of defrosting and the defrosting time, because the size and capacity of the defrosting electrode holding portion 152 are sufficient to ensure the amount of defrosting water necessary for mist spraying. The defrosting electrode holder 152 may have a size and a capacity enough to ensure a required amount of defrosting water for mist spray, and may be provided in at least a part of the heater top plate 151 without being provided in the entire area of the heater top plate 151. The defrosting electrode holding part 152 is provided on the upper part of the heater top plate 151, and even if the defrosting water is stored excessively and overflows, the defrosting electrode holding part is discharged to the outside from the defrosting water discharge port provided in the lower part, so that there is no problem, and it is not necessary to deal with the case where the defrosting water overflows from the defrosting electrode holding part 152, and the refrigerator 1 with low cost and simple structure is obtained. Here, in the present embodiment, since the defrosting electrode holding portion 152 that receives defrosting water falling from the cooler 13 (which often falls in a state of frost) is used as the electrode holding portion of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200, the defrosting electrode holding portion 152 often collects the defrosting water in a state of frost as it is, and the frost gradually melts, so that the defrosting electrode holding portion 152 can secure the defrosting water for a long time. Therefore, even when the defrosting operation is performed 1 time per 1 day, the defrosting water can be secured in the defrosting electrode holding part 152 for a long time, and therefore the mist can be stably sprayed.

In particular, if a black medium heater such as a carbon heater is used as the defrosting heater 150 as defrosting means, the frost in the cooler 13 can be efficiently melted from the front surface or the inner surface by the radiant electric heat, and therefore the ratio of the frost adhering to the cooler 13 falling in a state of frost is reduced, and therefore the frost does not fall in a state of only frost but not water in the defrosting electrode holding portion 152 and cannot be used for electrostatic spraying. Furthermore, even if the mist falls properly in the state of frost, the frost is gradually dissolved, so that the defrosting water can be secured in the defrosting electrode holding portion 152 for a long time, and the mist can be sprayed stably for a long time. Further, if an insertion type heater provided integrally with the cooler 13 is used in the defrosting unit, the frost adhering to the cooler 13 can be heated from the inner side (base insertion heater) and the outer side (carbon heater or the like as a defrosting heater), and therefore the ratio of water and frost falling from the defrosting electrode holding portion can be set as necessary. For example, in this case, by setting the switch or the like provided on the operation panel 60 by the user or by setting and controlling the voltage application amount and the voltage application timing of each of the embedded heater and the defrosting heater in advance by the control device 30, it is possible to continuously hold the appropriate predetermined defrosting water required for the mist spray for a long time in the defrosting electrode holding portion 152, and an effect that the mist spray can be further stabilized is obtained.

Further, as the defrosting means, a hot gas defrosting circuit may be provided in which the high-temperature refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle is directly caused to flow to the cooler 13 to defrost the cooler 13 without using the defrosting heater 150 or the like.

In this case, a hot gas defrosting circuit may be added, in which a compressor 12 for compressing a refrigerant, a switching valve (not shown), a condenser (not shown) for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 12, a pressure reducing device (not shown) for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant condensed by the condenser, and a cooler 13 for evaporating the refrigerant reduced in pressure by the pressure reducing device to generate cold air for cooling a storage chamber are connected in this order to form a refrigeration cycle, and the high-temperature refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 12 is bypassed to the cooler 13 via the switching valve, and the high-temperature refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 12 is passed through the cooler 13 to defrost the cooler 13.

If the hot-gas defrosting circuit (bypass circuit) is provided as described above, when defrosting is performed, the switching valve is switched so that the high-temperature/high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor 12 does not flow directly to the cooler 13 through the condenser in the hot-gas defrosting circuit, and frost adhering to the cooler 13 can be heated from the surface of the cooler 13 by the high-temperature refrigerant to melt the frost from the inside of the frost, whereby defrosting can be performed efficiently in a short time.

In addition, if the hot gas defrosting circuit (bypass circuit) is used as the 1 st defrosting unit and as the 2 nd defrosting unit in combination with a heater (glass tube heater or the like) of a black medium such as a carbon heater that can transfer heat by radiation, it is possible to further efficiently melt frost. In this case, if the defrosting heater 150 as the 2 nd defrosting means is also used as a heating means for heating the frost or defrosting water in the defrosting electrode holding portion 152, it is not necessary to separately provide a heating means, and the refrigerator 1 having a simple structure and a low cost can be obtained. Here, as a heating means for heating the frost or the defrosting water in the defrosting electrode holding portion 152, a bypass pipe of a hot gas defrosting circuit (bypass circuit) as the 1 st defrosting means may be used. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently collect defrost water without providing a separate heating means, and to provide an inexpensive refrigerator 1 capable of stably spraying mist.

Here, as the energization control of the heating means, a mist spray switch 60e for operating the electrostatic atomizing device 200 may be provided on an operation panel 60 provided on the front surface of an opening/closing door (for example, the refrigerating chamber door 7) provided so as to cover the front surface opening of the storage chamber (for example, the refrigerating chamber 2) of the refrigerator 1, and the mist spray switch 60e may be operated. When the mist spray switch 60e is operated, the current may be supplied for a predetermined time or may be supplied for a time set by the user by appropriately setting the operation time within a predetermined time range. Further, the operation may be performed for a predetermined time in conjunction with the opening or closing of the opening/closing door of the storage room in which the electrostatic atomization device 200 is installed. In this case, the energization time of the heating means may be set in advance by an experiment or the like, or an appropriate time may be set by the user within a predetermined time range set in advance by the user.

Here, one end of the defrosting water transport unit made of felt or the like may be disposed in the defrosting electrode holding unit 152 via a filter, and the other end of the defrosting water transport unit may be directly connected to the electrode holding unit 220, or may be disposed in the electrode holding unit 220 when the electrode holding unit 220 is provided in the storage chamber. Further, if the defrosting of the cooler 13 is set to be performed periodically (for example, 1 time or more per a minimum day), the water supply to the electrostatic atomization device 200 is not insufficient, and the nano-mist-vaporized water droplets can be stably supplied into the storage chamber (storage compartment). Here, even in a case where the cooler chambers 131 and the coolers 13 are distant from the storage room in which the electrostatic atomization device 200 is installed (for example, in a case where the storage room in which the electrostatic atomization device 200 is installed is an upper part and the cooler chambers 131 and the coolers 13 are installed in a back surface of a lower storage room, or in a case where the storage room in which the electrostatic atomization device 200 is installed is a lower part of the refrigerator 1 and the cooler chambers 131 and the coolers 13 are installed in a back surface of an upper storage room of the refrigerator 1), if the defrosting water conveyance part is configured to be capable of utilizing a capillary phenomenon, or a material capable of utilizing a capillary phenomenon is used, or the like, it is possible to stably supply water to the electrostatic atomization device 200 without problems. In addition, when there is a possibility that water in the defrosted water conveyance unit freezes, the defrosted water conveyance unit may be disposed by providing a heat insulator or the like around the defrosted water conveyance unit to insulate heat from the surroundings of the defrosted water conveyance unit in a range where at least the defrosted water conveyance unit freezes, or by embedding the defrosted water conveyance unit in a heat insulator such as a partition wall.

In particular, in the case where refrigerating room 2 and vegetable room 5 are located at the upper part of refrigerator 1 and the cooler for refrigerating room and the cooler for vegetable room are also located at the upper part of refrigerator 1 independently of cooler 13 for freezing room 6, and the coolers for refrigerating room and the coolers for vegetable room are arranged on the back surfaces of refrigerating room 2 and vegetable room 5, since defrosting electrode holding part 152 is provided in the upper back surface of refrigerator 1 (the coolers for refrigerating room and the coolers for vegetable room are arranged on the back surfaces of refrigerating room 2 and vegetable room 5), when electrostatic atomizing device 200 is provided in refrigerating room 2 and vegetable room 5, the length and handling of the defrosting water conveying part can be shortened and simplified, and refrigerator 1 provided with electrostatic atomizing device 200 having a simple structure and having no problem even if defrosting water overflows, and having a low cost can be provided.

The mist spray switch 60e for operating the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 may be provided on the operation panel 60 provided on the front surface of the opening/closing door (e.g., the refrigerating chamber door 7) provided so as to cover the front surface opening of the storage chamber (e.g., the refrigerating chamber 2) of the refrigerator 1, and the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 may be operated by operating the mist spray switch 60 e. The operation may be performed for a predetermined time period when the mist spray switch 60e is operated, or the operation time may be set by allowing the user to appropriately set the operation time within a predetermined time range and operate the electrostatic atomizing device 200 for a set time period. Further, the operation may be performed for a predetermined time in conjunction with the opening or closing of the opening/closing door of the storage room in which the electrostatic atomization device 200 is installed. In this case, the operation time of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 may be set in advance by experiments or the like, or the user may set an appropriate time within a predetermined time range set in advance.

In the case where the defrosting water is used in the electrostatic atomization device 200, if the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operated after defrosting is completed, the electrostatic atomization can be performed reliably without causing shortage of the water in the defrosting water collection unit. In this case, if the time taken after defrosting is too long, the electrostatic atomization device 200 may be operated immediately after defrosting is started or after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of defrosting, instead of after defrosting. When the defrosting operation is performed at night, the operation of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 may be set to be performed at any time as long as the period from the end of defrosting (or the start of defrosting or the middle of defrosting) to the start of the next defrosting operation is long. In this case, since the defrosting water can be used without waiting for the start of defrosting or the end of defrosting, the electrostatic atomization device 200 can be operated as needed. Therefore, it is not necessary to supply water for atomizing mist, and the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 which does not require maintenance can be obtained. Here, instead of using the defrosting water of the defrosting electrode holder 152, water may be supplied from a water supply tank for supplying water for ice making to the electrostatic atomization device 200 through a water supply conveyance unit (not shown). As the supply means for supplying water to the electrostatic atomization device 200, at least 2 of the supply of dew condensation water by the cooling plate 210, the supply of defrosting water by the defrosting electrode holding portion 152, the supply of water from the water supply tank, other means, and the like may be used in combination.

(application to substantially closed space of refrigerator)

Next, as shown in fig. 18, a case will be described in which substantially closed containers 2X and 2Y are provided in a storage room such as a refrigerating room 2, and an electrostatic atomizing device 200 is disposed in the substantially closed containers 2X and 2Y. In the present embodiment, the inside of the substantially sealed container 2X is a cold storage chamber 2A in which temperature control is performed in a cold storage temperature band of about +3 ℃ to-3 ℃, and the inside of the substantially sealed container 2Y is used as a vegetable storage container or a vegetable chamber 5 in which temperature control is performed in a vegetable chamber temperature band of about +3 ℃ to +5 ℃. Here, in the present embodiment, the temperature control in the substantially closed containers 2X and 2Y is performed by the cooling plate 210 of the electrostatic atomization device 200. That is, the cooling plate 210 of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is configured by the fin portion 212 provided on the cooling air passage 50 side and the heat absorbing portion 211 provided in the substantially closed containers 2X and 2Y (in the storage room), and therefore, the cooling plate has a structure in which the inside of the substantially closed containers 2X and 2Y is cooled by the direct cooling method in which the inside of the substantially closed containers 2X and 2Y is cooled by the heat absorbing portion 211. When it is difficult to control the temperature simply by raising the temperature in the substantially closed containers 2X and 2Y by direct cooling using the cooling plate 210, an indirect cooling system may be combined with the indirect cooling system of indirectly cooling the outside of the substantially closed containers 2X and 2Y by cold air.

Here, as the structure of the substantially sealed containers 2X and 2Y, if a detachable lid is provided in an upper surface opening portion of the container having an upper surface opening portion whose upper surface is opened, the container having a substantially sealed structure can be configured. The cover may be provided on one side of the container, may be provided on a shelf 80 or a partition wall provided in the upper part of the container, or may be used as a cover for both the shelf and the partition wall in the upper part of the container. In the present embodiment, the opening (notch, opening) into which at least a part of the electrostatic atomizer 200 (e.g., the cover 300) can be inserted is provided in the back surface of the container, and the predetermined gap between the electrostatic atomizer 200 (e.g., the cover 300) and the opening of the container is made as small as about 0.5mm to 2mm as possible in a state where at least a part of the electrostatic atomizer 200 is inserted into the substantially sealed container 2X, 2Y from the opening (notch, opening), so that the temperature outside the container is less likely to affect the inside of the substantially sealed container 2X, 2Y, the temperature fluctuation inside the substantially sealed container 2X, 2Y is reduced, and the controllability of the temperature inside the substantially sealed container 2X, 2Y is improved. In this case, if the electrostatic atomizing device 200 and the predetermined gap of the opening of the substantially sealed container 2X or 2Y are plugged or sealed in a state where the substantially sealed container 2X or 2Y is inserted into or installed in the storage compartment of the refrigerator 1, the predetermined gap can be further reduced to achieve substantial sealing, and therefore, the container is less susceptible to the influence of the temperature outside the container, and the temperature controllability inside the substantially sealed container 2X or 2Y is further improved. Further, since the inside of the container is substantially sealed, the moisture in the nano mist sprayed into the container can provide the moisture retaining effect in the container, and the antibacterial, deodorizing, antifouling, and sterilizing effects in the container can be provided by the effects of ozone and radicals in the mist, which can improve the effects as compared with the case where the container is not provided with a substantially sealed structure.

(application to supercooling Chamber)

Next, in the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is installed in, for example, the switching room 4 as a storage room, and the switching room 4 is set to the supercooling freezing (instant freezing). First, since the momentary freezing switch 60c (supercooling freezing) is provided in the operation panel 60, the flow of supercooling freezing will be described in brief. The switching room 4 as a storage room of the refrigerator 1 is cooled to a freezing temperature (for example, about-7 ℃). The air temperature in the switching chamber 4 is detected by the switching chamber thermistor 19 to open/close the switching chamber damper 15, thereby suppressing temperature fluctuation of about ± 1K. After the stored material to be supercooled and frozen is introduced into the switching chamber 4, the user presses the switches of the operation panel 60 (pressing the momentary freeze switch 60c among the chamber selection switch 60a to the mist spray switch 60e (here, momentary freeze means supercooled freeze (if "supercooled", it is erroneously recognized as "supercooled" to avoid this, and it is called "momentary freeze" as a different expression) if the momentary freeze switch 60c is pressed, the control device 30 starts the detection temperature processing (surface temperature estimation processing) of the thermopile 22, periodically (every predetermined time) repeats the operation to estimate the surface temperature of the stored material in the switching chamber 4, and when the estimated temperature T1 reaches around 1 to-2 ℃, the reduction of the set temperature of the switching chamber 4 is started to gradually cool to a low temperature, if cooling is performed, the supercooled state is released at a certain timing and the moisture in the stored goods is instantaneously frozen. After the moisture is frozen, in order to freeze the portion other than the moisture as early as possible, cold air is blown into the switching room 4 rapidly, or the set temperature is further lowered to perform rapid freezing to freeze, and if frozen, supercooling freezing is completed. While the user operates operation panel 60 to press momentary freezer switch 60c to perform "momentary freezing (supercooling freezing)" control, operation panel 60 indicates that "momentary freezing" is in progress.

Although the example in which the temperature of switching room 4 is detected by switching room thermistor 19 and the temperature of stored material 25 to be charged is detected by thermopile 22 has been described above, the temperature of switching room 4 may be adjusted by opening/closing switching room damper 15 by detecting the temperature of switching room 4 by thermopile 22, for example. That is, both the temperature detection of the air temperature in the storage room and the temperature detection of the surface temperature of the stored object may be performed only by the thermopile 22 as the temperature detection means.

The temperature T1 of the stored material during the supercooling freezing process may be directly displayed in the operation panel 60 by numerical values. Thus, the user can observe the surface temperature T1 of the stored material and confirm the progress of supercooling freezing, normal freezing, and the like.

Here, supercooling freezing (supercooling freezing) will be described in some detail. The refrigerator 1 of the embodiment of the present invention includes: a control mechanism for maintaining a stable temperature environment required for stably realizing supercooling and adjusting the temperature and the cold air such as the temperature, the air speed, the air volume, the timing and the like directly blown out to the cold air of the food; a box for containing food; a device or control means for determining supercooling completion required for reliably realizing supercooling release; and a device or control mechanism that provides the stimulus required for supercooling release. Further, the refrigerator has a cooling and storage function for maintaining high-quality freezing after supercooling release.

Here, the supercooling freezing is divided into the following 5 states according to the food temperature.

(1) The unfrozen food is at a temperature above the freezing point of the food.

(2) The supercooled state food temperature is a state below the freezing point of the food and not frozen. The food temperature continues to decrease, and therefore, the food is in a supercooled state.

(3) When the temperature of the supercooled food returns from the temperature below the freezing point to the freezing point.

(4) Freezing start-freezing completion state: the food reaches the freezing point and changes its phase (from liquid water to solid ice if it is water) to a state of transition at a constant temperature.

(5) Freeze complete/cryopreservation state: the food is frozen through the process of (4).

Here, the freezing point of the main food is explained. The temperature is-1.7 deg.C for beef/pork, -1.3 deg.C for tuna, -1.7 deg.C for potato, -1.2 deg.C for strawberry, and-2.0 deg.C for apple. (reference: Japanese Integrated foodstuff industry, page 922 (1975))

In the states (1) to (2), there are a condition required for supercooling to protrude (to make the food at a temperature equal to or lower than the freezing point in the unfrozen state) and a condition for deepening supercooling (to lower the temperature reached in the supercooled state), and in (3), there is a condition for releasing the supercooled state and starting freezing, and in (4) and (5), there is a condition for maintaining the degree of superiority of the supercooled and frozen food. If the control of (1) to (3) is performed to obtain a sufficiently deep supercooling degree (temperature difference between the freezing point of the food and the temperature to which supercooling is performed), the effects are not lost by (4) and (5). However, when the door is opened for a long time for the food to be taken in and out or when the supercooled state is released by setting the set temperature to the freezing point temperature or higher and the temperature in the supercooled chamber to, for example, 0 ℃.

The following describes the steps (1) to (3).

First, the results of a study conducted when beef having a thickness of 15mm and 150g was introduced as a food will be described. The supercooling condition in the supercooling chamber (the same as the supercooling space) of the refrigerator 1 of the present invention will be described. The point to be noted when the condition for supercooling is set is the difference between the lowest reaching point of the cooling rate and the core temperature of the food to be cooled (the temperature reached in the supercooled state) and the freezing point, and the like. If the cooling rate is too high, the temperature of the entire food is cooled in a non-uniform state (the difference between the surface temperature of the food and the core temperature is large), and thus frozen portions and non-frozen portions are formed. Since ice crystals grow around ice nuclei, even if a part of the food is frozen, water is taken from the unfrozen part and grows. As a result, large needle-shaped ice crystals were formed. Needle-like ice crystals and large ice crystals that are generated between cells or the like cause water in the cells to flow out and the cells to be destroyed, and cause dripping and flowing out when the food is thawed.

As a result, the original taste of the food is reduced, nutrients such as free amino acids are reduced, and the texture is deteriorated. On the other hand, if the cooling rate is too slow, there is no problem in maintaining the supercooled state, but the unfrozen state becomes long, and there is a problem in that the quality of the food deteriorates due to bacterial growth, promotion of oxidation, and the like. That is, the unfrozen state is not lengthened because the cooling speed is increased when the temperature reaches a temperature equal to or lower than the freezing point (supercooled state), and the supercooling is released as soon as the temperature reaches the lowest reaching point of the core temperature. In this way, the food is supercooled to a supercooled state of freezing point or below, and is supercooled to be released, and temperature control and cold air adjustment are performed continuously or in stages until the food is completely frozen. In order to solve such a problem, there is a method of adding an antibacterial function to the supercooled space. Examples of the antibacterial function include a method using ultraviolet rays or ozone.

In the present embodiment, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is provided in a storage room (for example, the switching room 4) in which supercooling freezing is performed. By providing the electrostatic atomizing device 200, when the supercooled state is maintained, the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is operated to spray water droplets vaporized by the nano mist into the storage chamber, and the ozone, radicals and the like in the nano mist suppress bacterial growth, promote oxidation and the like, so that the cooling rate is delayed in the supercooled freezing control to maintain the supercooled state for a long time, and even if the unfrozen state is extended, the original delicacy of the food, the decrease in nutrients such as free amino acids, and the deterioration in taste can be suppressed, and the supercooled state (unfrozen state) can be stored for a long time, so that a refrigerator and a method for storing food in a refrigerator are provided in which the original delicacy of the food is obtained without thawing, and the preserved food having a good taste is obtained without the decrease in nutrients such as free.

Further, since the atomized water droplets can be sprayed uniformly into the storage chamber, the freshness of the stored material can be maintained and the drying can be suppressed by the atomized water droplets. Therefore, the freshness of the stored material in the supercooled state, the stored material in the supercooled freezing state, and the stored material in the normal cooling state can be maintained, and the drying can be suppressed, the quality of the food is not deteriorated, and the refrigerator 1 which is fresh, clean, highly reliable, and can perform cooling, freezing, supercooling, and supercooling freezing can be provided.

In the case of supercooling freezing, the time during which the material stays in a supercooled state without freezing (the time during which the material can be maintained in a supercooled state without freezing) in a temperature range (-1 ℃ to-10 ℃) including the temperature range around the maximum ice crystal formation range (-1 ℃ to-5 ℃) is generally longer than the time during which the material passes through the freezing and rapid freezing. However, in the supercooled state, even if the passage time of the temperature range (-1 ℃ to-10 ℃ C.) including the maximum ice crystal formation range (-1 ℃ to-5 ℃ C.) is long, the frozen ice crystals do not grow, and fine ice crystals can be produced substantially uniformly. In the freezing using the temperature zone in the vicinity of the maximum ice crystal temperature zone, the method for considering supercooling freezing of the present invention is a new freezing method in that a large number of small ice crystals are formed and the freezing is performed with good quality. In the supercooling freezing of the present invention, the following was confirmed: if the supercooled state is released, the freezing starts and the ice is completely frozen through the phase change state in which the temperature does not change, but if the supercooled state is passed, the ice crystals are not enlarged even if the time for the maximum ice crystal formation zone is extended in the subsequent freezing process (even if the ice crystals stay in the maximum ice crystal formation zone for a long time), and the ice crystals are fine and substantially uniform throughout the food, and thus high-quality supercooled freezing can be performed.

If the supercooled state is passed, even if it takes a long time in the freezing process after that, the crystal state of ice is hardly affected, and therefore there is no problem, but if the supercooled state is released and rapid freezing is performed in the freezing process, the possibility that the crystal state of ice is enlarged becomes further low, and therefore, good food quality can be obtained. In addition, since a factor (for example, bacterial growth) other than the factor of the degradation of the quality of the food, which is associated with the ice crystal, can be avoided, freezing with better quality can be performed.

In the above, the case where the food that has entered the supercooled state is frozen by supercooling release has been described, but it is not necessary to freeze the food that has entered the supercooled state. As an advantage of the supercooled storage in which the supercooled state is maintained without freezing, there is a point that the supercooled state is not completely frozen and the ice crystals are not completely formed although the supercooled state is stored at a freezing temperature or lower, that is, at a temperature at which the supercooled state is usually frozen, and therefore the supercooled state is hardly subjected to structural change of the food due to the ice crystals while the supercooled state is stored at a low temperature. Although freshness can be effectively maintained in such a point that various chemical changes of the food can be suppressed when the food is stored at a lower temperature, the present invention (supercooling storage, supercooling freezing) can achieve both the advantages of low-temperature storage and unfreezing. Further, since the food is in a supercooled state and is not frozen, it is not necessary to thaw the food. However, the supercooled state is an unfrozen state, and water in the food is unfrozen, and this water may be utilized in bacterial growth and various chemical changes, but if the supercooled freezing can be performed from the supercooled state, as in the present invention, the food quality can be maintained in a good state. Therefore, although the quality of food may be deteriorated (attention may be paid) in the storage in the supercooled state (supercooled storage) as compared with the frozen storage (supercooled freezing), there is no problem if the food is stored for a short period of time (for example, for about 1 to 3 weeks).

Here, the electrostatic atomization device 200 provided in the storage room (for example, the switching room 4) in which the supercooling freezing control is performed may be operated at the same time as the start of the supercooling freezing control (for example, the operation of the momentary freezing switch 60c provided in the operation panel 60) or may be operated from the middle of the supercooling freezing control. Here, the operation of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 may be terminated at a predetermined temperature (for example, freezing point temperature, 0 (zero) degree centigrade in the case of water) at which dew condensation water condensed in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 does not freeze.

That is, if the momentary freeze switch 60c provided on the operation panel 60 is operated, the supercooling-freeze control is started, and the temperature in the storage room gradually decreases, but at this time, the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 is started simultaneously with the start of the supercooling-freeze control (for example, the operation of the momentary freeze switch 60c provided on the operation panel 60) or after a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of the supercooling-freeze control, and the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 is ended at a time when the detected temperature of the switching room thermistor 19 (or the thermopile 22 serving as the 2 nd temperature detecting means) serving as the 1 st temperature detecting means provided in the storage room (for example, the switching room 4) reaches a predetermined temperature.

Here, when the momentary freeze switch 60c provided on the operation panel 60 is operated, the electrostatic atomization device 200 may be operated to perform the supercooling freezing control after a predetermined time has elapsed. Since the condensed water can be sprayed into the storage room by the electrostatic atomizing device 200 before the supercooling freezing control is started, the stored material can be stored in a wet state, a supercooled state, or a supercooled frozen state.

Here, when there is a possibility that the high-voltage power supply unit 250 of the electrostatic atomization device 200 may malfunction due to dew condensation or freezing, the high-voltage power supply unit 250 of the electrostatic atomization device 200 may be provided independently in the control device 30, for example, without being incorporated into the electrostatic atomization device 200 and provided independently in the storage chamber. Further, if the heating means is provided near the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is provided in a storage room in which supercooling freezing and freezing are performed, and even if the cooling plate 210, the electrode holding portion 220, the discharge electrode 230, and the like are frozen in the case of freezing and storing, the heating means can be melted by supplying electricity, and when the temperature in the storage room rises, reuse of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 can be immediately realized. The electrostatic atomizing device 200 operates even when the mist spray switch 60e provided on the operation panel 60 is operated.

As the initial setting of the mist spray device (electrostatic atomization device 200), the operation of the mist spray device (electrostatic atomization device 200) is set to be operated only when the mist spray switch 60e is operated, and when the user selects a room by the room selection switch 60a and the temperature of the storage room is set by the temperature zone switching switch 60b thereafter, the timing of operating the mist spray device (electrostatic atomization device 200) (the setting of the timing of operating the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operated/stopped in conjunction with the operation of the momentary freeze switch 60c, operated/stopped at predetermined time intervals, operated/stopped in conjunction with the opening/closing of the door, operated/stopped in conjunction with the outside air temperature and the temperature in the storage room, operated/stopped in conjunction with the ON/OFF of the compressor 12 and the cooling air circulation fan 14, and operated/stopped in conjunction with the ON/OFF of the compressor 12 and the cooling air circulation fan 14, Operating/stopping in conjunction with opening/closing of the damper device, etc.) and setting of the operation time, the electrostatic atomization device 200 can operate in conjunction with the operation of another operation switch, the temperature in another storage compartment, the opening/closing of the door, the ON/OFF of the compressor 12, the cool air circulation fan 14, etc., even if the mist spray switch 60e is not operated.

Further, if at least 1 storage compartment is provided with both the direct cooling air passage and the indirect cooling air passage, and a flow control means such as a damper is further provided to switch between indirect cooling and direct cooling, it is possible to provide a refrigerator 1 or a storage compartment which can be switched to rapid freezing, normal freezing, supercooled freezing, and supercooled storage, and can spray nano mist by electrostatic atomization. Further, since indirect cooling and direct cooling can be switched (used separately), it is also possible to use the refrigerator 1 or the storage room as a vegetable storage room in which a storage room (for example, a switching room) can be set to high humidity by switching to indirect cooling and a high humidity state can be maintained by spraying nano mist. Further, since the electrostatic atomization device 200 is disposed in the storage room, the atomized nano mist can be uniformly sprayed into the storage room, and sterilization, antibiosis, freshness maintenance, prevention of drying, and the like can be performed in the storage room.

Further, since the high-quality freezing function can be achieved by the supercooling freezing function in addition to the conventional quick freezing and the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is provided, the high-quality freezing which can save energy and suppress drying as compared with the conventional one, that is, the energy-saving freezing can be achieved as a countermeasure against global environment.

Further, if a cooling structure capable of temperature control for changing the cooling temperature to a plurality of levels by introducing cold air into the space for realizing supercooling is adopted, the structure and control of the refrigerator, which are not significantly changed from those of the conventional refrigerator, can realize supercooling freezing of food such as meat, and the nano mist can be sprayed, so that the effects of sterilization, antibiosis, and prevention of drying in the storage room can be realized.

According to the present invention, since the infrared sensor is used as the temperature detection means, for example, the surface temperature of the food can be measured, the temperature closer to the food (for example, the surface temperature of the food) can be detected, the success rate of the supercooling freezing is increased, and the frozen storage (supercooling freezing) with good quality of the food can be provided.

According to the present invention, since the supercooled freezing function is provided in which the food is frozen in the supercooled state, it is possible to perform high-quality freezing in which the size and shape of ice crystals formed during freezing are not likely to break the original structure of the food. Further, since the ice crystals are small, a state close to the original state can be obtained even if the ice crystals are broken, and the food quality such as the taste, texture, and storage state of the food at the time of thawing is good. Further, since the supercooled freezing is provided in which the ice pit is frozen in the supercooled state, the ice pit is small and fine, and the ice pit is substantially uniform throughout the entire frozen object such as food, and therefore the quality of the food is better than in the case of normal freezing or rapid freezing. Further, since the fine nano mist can be uniformly sprayed into the storage chamber, the effects of sterilization, antibiosis, and prevention of drying can be achieved.

In addition, since the food supercooled and frozen by the refrigerator 1 of the present invention has a slow cooling rate in the supercooled state, ice crystals begin to form simultaneously until the temperature inside the food decreases uniformly, the ice crystals partially do not grow unevenly, and the size of the ice crystals formed inside the food is small and substantially uniform, so that the quality of the food can be maintained, and since the electrostatic atomization device 200 is provided, the food can be prevented from being dried, and bacteria can be removed and sterilized in the storage chamber, so that the quality of the food is not easily deteriorated even if the stored material is stored in the supercooled state for a long period of time.

The refrigerator 1 of the present invention includes: a freezing chamber 6 capable of performing temperature adjustment continuously or stepwise from 0 ℃ to the temperature of a freezing temperature zone of the stored food by circulating cold air from the cooler 13; a cooling chamber provided in freezing chamber 6 for taking in cold air blown out from a cold air outlet of freezing chamber 6 and sucked into cooler 13 and maintaining food in a supercooled state in which the food is not frozen even at a temperature equal to or lower than a freezing point; a temperature setting unit for setting the temperature of the freezing chamber 6 to-2 ℃ or lower and-15 ℃ or higher so that the food stored in the cooling chamber is in a supercooled state; a cold air adjusting unit for adjusting cold air blown into the freezing chamber 6 and taken into the cooling chamber in a manner of suppressing the air speed around the food stored in the cooling chamber and maintaining the food stored in the cooling chamber in a supercooled state; supercooling release means for releasing the supercooled state by changing the air speed, temperature, and the like around the food stored in the cooling chamber; and a freezing temperature setting means for rapidly cooling the food by increasing the air speed around the food or reducing the temperature around the food after the supercooling is released and freezing the food at a set temperature lower than 0 ℃.

In the present embodiment, as the storage room capable of supercooling cooling, supercooling freezing, and quick freezing, other than the switching room 4, the direct cooling air passage and the indirect cooling air passage may be provided and the air passage may be switched even in other storage rooms such as the freezing room 6 and the vegetable room 5, and supercooling freezing and quick freezing may be performed. Thus, a desired storage room can be set to a desired temperature range or supercooled and frozen according to the preference of a user without selecting the storage room, and a refrigerator or a storage room which is convenient for the user can be provided. In addition, regardless of which storage room (e.g., refrigerating room 2, switching room 4, vegetable room 5, freezing room 6, etc.), the electrostatic atomization device 200 can be installed by installing a heating means or the like according to the controlled temperature zone in the storage room.

(display in operation of Electrostatic atomizing device)

Next, the visual recognition means will be described with respect to an example of the refrigerator 1 in a case where the cover 300 of the electrostatic atomization device 200 is provided with the visual recognition means so that the user can visually confirm whether or not the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, 5, and 18 to 20, at least 1 electrostatic atomization device illumination 600, for example, an LED, is provided in the cover 300 of the electrostatic atomization device 200 or in the cover 300 itself so that the user can visually confirm whether or not the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating. The electrostatic atomization device lighting 600 is turned on when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is in operation, and if the electrostatic atomization device 200 is in operation when the open/close door (door) of the storage room is opened, it is turned on and blinks, and the user can visually recognize it. Here, when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is not operating when the opening/closing door (door) of the storage room is opened, the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600 may be used as the interior lighting, and may be continuously turned on by a color (for example, white or the like) that can be used as the interior lighting. If the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating when the opening/closing door (door) of the storage room is opened, the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600 may be turned on or off, and the user may be allowed to visually recognize the operation by a lighting method different from that when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is not operating and is used as the interior lighting.

When the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600 is provided in the cover 300 and when 1 or a plurality of openings (for example, the front opening 515 or the side opening (not shown), the upper opening (not shown), and the lower opening (not shown)) having a size such that a user's finger cannot be inserted are provided on the front surface or both side surfaces, if a position where light previously provided in the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600 (for example, an LED, a lamp, or the like) leaks into the storage chamber from the opening as an opening, it can be known that the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating without any particular time and effort. In addition, even when the lighting device is used as the interior lighting, the interior lighting can be irradiated into the storage room without separately providing the interior lighting, and thus sufficient brightness can be ensured. Conversely, if the position and the number of the openings as the openings of the cover 300 are set so that the inside of the storage chamber can be irradiated with sufficient brightness without omission, the inside of the storage chamber can be irradiated during the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200, and therefore, it can be seen that the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating without any special trouble. In addition, even when the lighting device is used in combination with the interior lighting, the interior lighting can be irradiated without omission without providing additional interior lighting, and thus the interior lighting can be replaced.

Here, if 2-color LEDs or 2 or more LEDs having different colors are used for the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600, a white LED used as interior lighting that lights up when the storage compartment door is opened, and blue, green, and red LEDs used as electrostatic atomization device lighting that lights up during operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 may be used separately. Further, as means for making the user visually recognize that the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating, the user can easily recognize that the electrostatic atomization device is in operation by displaying a "electrostatic atomization device is in operation" on the operation panel 60 provided in the door of the storage room (e.g., the refrigerating room 2), providing a dedicated illumination (LED or the like) for indicating that the electrostatic atomization device is operating, and emitting colors of blue, green, and red.

Further, if the size of the mist spray amount and the sterilization degree (sterilization intensity) in the storage chamber are displayed by the size of a graph such as a large, medium, and small display or a bar, or by the size and number of a sign or a figure (for example, a figure such as a leaf sign, a figure of a simple shape such as a four-sided circle, or a circle) according to the intensity of the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 (for example, the magnitude of the applied voltage, the spray amount of the mist spray, and the like), the user can immediately visually recognize the mist spray amount, the sterilization degree, and the like. In the case where the amount of power used, the electricity rate, the amount of CO2 discharged, and the like are displayed by a graph such as a leaf mark, the graph may be divided into a plurality of parts, the color of the divided parts may be changed according to the number of the divided parts, and the mist spray amount, the sterilization degree, and the like may be displayed according to the number of the divided parts whose color is changed. Accordingly, the amount of mist spray, the degree of sterilization, and the like can be displayed together by using a graphic display such as the amount of power consumption, the electricity fee, and the amount of CO2 discharged, and therefore, the display portion becomes compact, and the liquid crystal and the like used for the display are small and easy to control, and thus, a display device and a refrigerator which are inexpensive and compact can be obtained. Further, by simply viewing the display portion in one place, the user can immediately visually recognize the amount of electricity used, the electricity fee, the discharge amount of CO2, the amount of mist sprayed, the degree of sterilization, and the like, and therefore, there is no need to observe a plurality of places, and the refrigerator 1 which is convenient for the user can be obtained.

Here, at least a part of the cover 300 may be formed of a transparent, translucent, thin resin material (for example, a thin resin such as white, yellow, blue, or green resin) or the like having a color capable of transmitting internal light, such as transparent, white, milky white, yellow, or watery color, or the like, or the cover 300 may be provided with at least 1 (preferably a plurality of) electrostatic atomizing device illuminations 600 inside the cover 300, so that the internal light can be visually recognized from the outside, and the entire cover 300 may be caused to emit light in a colored manner (for example, red, orange, blue, or violet) from inside the cover 300. Cover 300 may be caused to emit light by the color of cover 300, or cover 300 may be caused to emit light by the color of light emitted by electrostatic atomization device illumination 600. In this case, if the openings, slits, and the like are not provided in the front surface of the cover 300 so as not to leak light inside the cover 300, but the openings, slits, and the like are provided in the side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces, and the like of the cover 300 so as to allow cold air or nano mist to pass therethrough, by providing the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600 provided in the cover 300 as an LED or the like that emits light having a wavelength having a sterilization, antibacterial, and deodorization effect (for example, ultraviolet rays and the like of a degree that does not affect the human body), light is directly irradiated to the user without leaking light from the front surface of the cover 300, so that the influence on the human body is small, the sterilization and deodorization effect is obtained by the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600, and the sterilization and deodorization effect by the nano mist spray is improved.

If the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600 is provided in the cover 300 as described above, the cover 300 can emit light over a wide range (for example, the entire cover 300 or at least a part of the cover 300), and therefore even if a stored item such as a food is stored around the electrostatic atomization device 200 such as the front surface of the electrostatic atomization device 200, the cover 300 can be immediately confirmed to emit light by visual observation from between the stored item and the stored item. In addition, it may be directly indicated that the electrostatic atomization device 200 (mist spray device) is operating in the cover 300 as in the "mist spray operation".

(utilization of illumination in the library for display during operation of Electrostatic atomizing device)

Here, although the above description has been given of an example in which the electrostatic atomization device 200 is provided with the electrostatic atomization device illumination 600 and the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 is visually recognized, the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 may be visually recognized by the illumination device 900 in the storage room (interior) in the refrigerating room 2, for example, which is a storage room. That is, the lighting device 900 in the storage room may be used as well to indicate that the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is operating.

Fig. 21 is a schematic side sectional view showing a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment includes: a plurality of storage compartments including a refrigerating compartment 2 having a space for storing stored items (food items, etc.), an ice-making compartment 3 (not shown), a switching compartment 4, a vegetable compartment 5, and a freezing compartment 6. Further, the refrigerator includes a hinged refrigerator door 7, a drawer-type ice making door 8 (not shown), a switching door 9, a vegetable door 10, and a freezer door 11, which open/close a space between the inside and the outside of the refrigerator. In a refrigerating room 2 as a storage room provided in the uppermost part of the refrigerator 1, a plurality of in-house shelves 80 (placing shelves) are provided, and under the in-house shelf 80 provided in the lowermost stage, substantially closed containers 2X, 2Y are provided for use as a refrigerating room for temperature control in a refrigerating temperature band of about +3 ℃ to-3 ℃, or as a vegetable room or a vegetable storage container for temperature control in a vegetable room temperature band of about +3 ℃ to +5 ℃. Below refrigerating room 2, switching room 4 is provided, and below switching room 4, vegetable room 5 is provided. Further, a freezing chamber 6 is provided at the lowermost part of the refrigerator 1 and below the vegetable chamber 5. Hereinafter, the refrigerating chamber 2 including the refrigerating chamber door 7, the storage compartment 80 (loading compartment), and the like will be described, but not limited thereto.

Here, as shown in fig. 21, the refrigerator 1 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a front surface on a near side of the door and a rear surface on a rear side of the front surface are set as front and rear surfaces, respectively, depending on the installation direction of the refrigerator 1. In fig. 21, the upper side (ceiling side) is defined as the upper surface, the lower side (floor side) is defined as the lower surface, and the other 2 surfaces are defined as the side surfaces (here, the left side is defined as the left side surface and the right side is defined as the right side surface when viewed from the front). In the refrigerating chamber 2 opened and closed by the refrigerating chamber door 7, a plurality of storage shelves 80 (loading shelves) for storing the stored items are arranged in parallel so as to be substantially parallel to the upper surface (or lower surface) of the refrigerating chamber 2, and the storage property of the stored items is improved by dividing the refrigerating chamber 2.

In the present embodiment, control device 30 is provided below the storage room (for example, freezing room 6) provided in the lowermost section of refrigerator 1 and on the bottom wall of refrigerator 1, and controls each unit constituting refrigerator 1. Of course, the control device 30 (control means) may be provided at the upper portion of the back surface of the storage room (for example, the refrigerating room 2) provided at the uppermost stage of the refrigerator 1. The control device 30 mainly performs control of the plurality of LEDs 910 (LEDs 910a, LEDs 910b, LEDs 910c, LEDs 910d, LEDs 910e, and LEDs 910 f) included in the lighting device 900 for lighting the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2.

Fig. 22 is a schematic side sectional view showing a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 22, a side portion of the inner wall of refrigerating compartment 2 (hereinafter, referred to as inner wall 2P) is provided with an illumination device 900 having, as a light source, a plurality of LEDs 910 that emit visible light such as white light for allowing a user to visually recognize stored items. In the present embodiment, the lighting device 900 is provided on the inner wall 2P at a position forward of the front edge of the storage compartment 80 (near the refrigerating compartment door 7), and even when the storage is stored in the storage compartment 80, the light emitted by the LED910 of the lighting device 900 is not blocked by the storage. In the vertical direction, the plurality of LEDs 910 included in the lighting apparatus 900 are arranged so as to be positioned substantially in the middle between 2 adjacent interior shelves 80 of the plurality of interior shelves 80, so that the light emitted by the LEDs 910 of the lighting apparatus 900 is less likely to be affected by the interior shelves 80.

Fig. 23 is a graph showing the light emission characteristics of a general LED 910. As shown, LED910 is generally highly directional with respect to light emission. Therefore, the light intensity is highest in the direction of the optical axis 915 perpendicular to the light emitting surface of the LED910, and decreases as the distance from the optical axis 915 increases. Here, for example, a range in which light is emitted with a light intensity of 50% or more with respect to the light intensity on the optical axis 915 is set as the effective emission range α of the LED910 (however, it does not mean that the light emitted from the LED910 cannot be emitted at all to a portion outside the effective emission range α, but means that the light emitted from the LED910 does not obtain a predetermined light intensity in a range outside the effective emission range α). In the figure, a case where α =100 degrees (± about 50 degrees) is included in the effective irradiation range α when the direction of the optical axis 915 is set to 0 °. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the following description will be given with respect to the direction of light associated with light emission of the LED910, assuming a direction in a plane parallel to the housing 80 (the light in the vertical direction is not particularly limited).

In the present embodiment, at least 1 of the plurality of LEDs 910 (the LED910a, the LED910b, the LED910c, the LED910d, the LED910e, and the LED910 f) is used as the electrostatic atomizing device illumination 600 for the electrostatic atomizing device 200. For example, when the refrigerating chamber door 7 is opened and all of the LEDs 910 of the lighting device 900 are used as interior lighting, for example, the LEDs may be turned on to white, and when the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is operated while the refrigerating chamber door 7 is opened, at least 1 LED (for example, 910 a) of the LEDs 900 in the interior may be turned on or off.

Of course, the color of the LED (e.g., blue, red, orange, yellow, etc.) that is lit during operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 and the color of the LED (e.g., white) that is lit for interior illumination may be different colors and may be easily perceived by the user visually. Further, the LED used for interior lighting may be changed in color and then blinked. Further, a plurality of LEDs that are turned on during the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 may be provided, and the colors of the plurality of LEDs may be changed, or LEDs of different colors may be alternately turned on and turned off to be immediately known to the user.

Here, when the color of the LED that is turned on during the operation of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is set to a color different from the color of the LED for interior illumination, the LED that is turned on during the operation of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 may be turned on only when the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is in operation, and may be turned off when the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is not in operation. Further, if LEDs capable of emitting light of 2 colors (1 st color and 2 nd color) are used, for example, white as the 1 st color may be lit when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is not operating, and the 2 nd color (for example, red, blue, green, yellow, orange, or the like as a color different from the 1 st color) may be lit when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating. Accordingly, even when the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is not operating, the LED which is turned on during the operation of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 can be used as the interior illumination, and therefore, when the refrigerating chamber door 7 of the refrigerating chamber 2 is opened, all of the plurality of LEDs of the illumination apparatus 900 can be used as the interior illumination, and the interior does not become dark. Further, since the electrostatic atomization device 200 can be turned on by a color (2 nd color: for example, red, blue, green, yellow, orange, etc.) different from the color (1 st color: for example, white) used as the interior illumination when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating, it can be confirmed by visual observation that the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating, and the design is also improved.

Fig. 24 is a view showing the refrigerating chamber 2 of the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. As described above, the refrigerating chamber door 7 is provided in the front face of the refrigerating chamber 2. In the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, a front surface of the refrigerating compartment 2 includes a refrigerating compartment left door 7A and a refrigerating compartment right door 7B which are coupled to a main body of the refrigerator 1 by hinges (not shown) and open/close a space of the refrigerating compartment 2 to the outside by so-called side-by-side opening/closing. Here, in the refrigerator 1, the right door is referred to as a refrigerating room right door 7B, and the left door is referred to as a refrigerating room left door 7A (in a case where no particular distinction is required, the door is described as a refrigerating room door 7).

The refrigerating chamber door 7 has a door pocket 72 for accommodating food therein. The lighting device 900 is configured to include a plurality of LEDs 910 on a printed circuit board 913 that constitutes an electric circuit. In this case, the printed board 913 is partially exposed in the refrigerating chamber 2 to improve the appearance and to suppress the reduction of the internal volume.

In the present embodiment, if the distance (length) between the approximate center of the LED910 and the front edge of the inner shelf 80 placed in the storage room (e.g., refrigerating room 2) is set to L1, the distance (length) between the lateral width (between the inner side wall 2P and the inner side wall 2P) of the storage room (e.g., refrigerating room 2) of the refrigerator 1 is set to L2, the distance (length) between the approximate center of the LED910 and the inner side wall 2P of the storage room (e.g., refrigerating room 2) is set to L3, and the distance from the front edge of the placed inner shelf 80 to the rear wall of the storage room (e.g., refrigerating room 2) is set to L4, as shown in fig. 21, the angle θ formed by the optical axis of the LED910 with respect to the inner side wall 2P is made to Tan 4, in the present embodiment 915 ^－1（（L2+L3）/L1））<θ<The 90 ° arrangement allows the LED910 and the optical axis 915 of the LED910 to be arranged in a direction in which light in the direction of the optical axis 915 of the LED910 does not directly enter the storage shelf 80 (particularly, the front edge portion) (for example, in a direction in which the optical axis 915 of the LED915 does not directly fall on the front edge portion of the storage shelf 80) without causing glare to a user. Here, Tan^－1The arctan is indicated.

Here, since L2>>L3 (L2 is sufficiently larger than L3), L2+ L3 ≈ L2 (L2 + L3 is substantially equal to L2), so Tan may be used^－1((L2 + L3)/L1) is considered to be Tan^－1(L2/L1) and the optical axis 915 of the LED 910. Therefore, when considered as described above, the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P may be Tan^－1（L2/L1）<θ<90 deg. without light in the direction of the optical axis 915 of the LED910 directly striking the vault 8The LED910 and the optical axis 915 of the LED910 are arranged in a direction (for example, a direction in which the optical axis 915 of the LED915 does not directly fall on the front edge portion of the storage shelf 80) of 0 (particularly, the front edge portion).

In fig. 24 (a), the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P is set to be a ratio Tan^－1The lighting device 900 is attached so that the angle (L2 + L3)/L1) is large, for example, θ is larger than 70 degrees, and the light directed toward the optical axis 915 of the LED910 (the optical axis 915 of the LED910 is not directly incident on the front edge of the storage shelf 80 (particularly, the front edge portion) (for example, the optical axis 915 of the LED915 is not directly incident on the front edge portion of the storage shelf 80), and thus the light is not directly irradiated on the front edge of the storage shelf 80 and the reflected light is not glaring to the user.

By making the ratio Tan^－1When the angle θ is larger than 70 degrees, for example, a large angle of ((L2 + L3)/L1) is used, the entire booth 80 in the warehouse can be irradiated with light in a well-balanced manner by eliminating speckles. Here, for example, even if the angle θ is made larger than 70 degrees, in the case where the light in the direction of the optical axis 915 enters the storage interior 80, if the reflected light does not cause glare to the user, it is preferable to set the direction in which the light in the direction of the optical axis 915 does not substantially enter the storage interior 80. The upper limit of the angle θ is not limited, but the inside of the refrigerating compartment 2 is mainly illuminated, and therefore, even if the angle θ is 90 ° or more, the optical axis 915 does not face the inside of the refrigerator 1 but the outside of the refrigerator, and therefore, the light may not be irradiated into the refrigerator, and therefore, the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED with respect to the inner wall 2P is preferably smaller than 90 ° and faces the inside of the refrigerator. That is, the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED with respect to the inner side wall 2P is preferably greater than 70 ° and smaller than 90 ° (i.e., preferably 70 °)<θ<90 deg.) of the substrate. However, since the inside of the bank can be illuminated within the range of the effective irradiation range α, if the effective irradiation range α is set to, for example, α =100 degrees (± 50 degrees with respect to the optical axis 915), if the setting angle θ of the optical axis 915 is Tan ^－1（（L2+L3）/L1））<θ<In the range of 90 DEG + alpha/2, the illumination in the library can be performedAnd does not cause dazzling of the user, so that it is preferable.

However, in the case where the mounting position of the inner wall 2P to the lighting device 900 is provided further toward the inside of the storage than the front edge of the storage compartment 80 (for example, in the case where L3 is negative), even if the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED with respect to the inner wall 2P is Tan^－1(L2 + L3)/L1), for example, if θ is 70 degrees or less, the light in the direction of the optical axis 915 does not directly fall on the front edge of the booth 80, and therefore the light of the attached lighting device 900 does not shine on the front edge of the booth 80, and the reflected light does not dazzle the user. Therefore, in this case, if the optical axis 915 is set to θ = about 70 degrees and the effective irradiation range α of the LED910 is set to, for example, about 100 degrees (± about 50 degrees), the irradiation range of the LED910 of the illumination device 900 becomes — α/2+ θ with respect to the inner side wall 2P<Irradiation range<θ + α/2, the irradiation range is 20 ° to 120 °, and substantially all the regions in the bank can be uniformly irradiated.

In addition, a case where the lighting device 900 is mounted on the front side of the front edge of the ceiling 80 with respect to the inner wall 2P (for example, a case where L3 is positive) and the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED with respect to the inner wall 2P is Tan will be described ^－1(L2 + L3)/L1) or less, for example, 70 degrees or less. Fig. 25 is a plan view of the refrigerating compartment 2 of another refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the refrigerator 1, an angle θ formed by an optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P is Tan^－1(L2 + L3)/L1) or less, the light in the direction of the optical axis 915 of the LED is directed toward the direction of the booth 80. In the refrigerator 1 shown in the figure, the angle θ of the LED910 with respect to the inner side wall 2P is Tan^－1(L2 + L3)/L1) or less, and the light in the direction of the optical axis 915 of the LED is directed toward the direction of the storage compartment 80, so that the light is easily irradiated to the rear side (rear side) of the refrigerating compartment 2 in a concentrated manner. Therefore, the inside of the refrigerating compartment 2 can be brightly illuminated, but the light in the optical axis 915 direction generated by the LED910 is directly incident on the storage interior 80, so that the reflected light reflected by the front edge of the storage interior 80 may be strongly incident on the eyes of the user of the refrigerator 1 to make the user feel dazzling.

In this case, a material that is not easily reflected by light may be used for the front edge of the storage shelf 80, and a coating process or a shape (for example, a shape in which the front surface is not coated with gloss, a color that is not easily reflected is coated with color, or a surface is processed to have unevenness so that the reflected light is directed not toward the direction of the front surface in the storage but toward the side surface) that is not easily reflected by light may be used, and the glare may not be felt even if light is reflected. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the refrigerator 1, the angle θ of the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P is Tan ^－1(L2 + L3)/L1) or less (e.g., 70 degrees or less), and even if light emitted in the direction of the optical axis 915 of the LED910 is directly incident on the refrigerator interior 80, glare due to reflection can be reduced, substantially all the area in the refrigerator can be brightly illuminated without omission, and the eye-protected refrigerator 1 in which the influence on the eyes of the user is small and the stored goods in the refrigerator can be immediately confirmed even at night can be provided.

Here, as described above, the directivity of the LED910 as the light source of the illumination apparatus 900 is strong, and the irradiation of light in the effective irradiation range α around the optical axis 915 is strong. Here, if the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 direction of the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P is changed, the effective irradiation range α is also changed in conjunction therewith. In the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 25, an angle θ of the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P is Tan^－1(L2 + L3)/L1) or less (for example, 70 ° or less) is intensively irradiated into the refrigerating chamber 2, and therefore, there is a possibility that the inside of the opened refrigerating chamber door 7, which is opened by substantially 90 degrees from the closed state of the refrigerating chamber door 7, is not included in the effective irradiation range α of the LED910, and therefore, there is a possibility that the light irradiation by the LED910 becomes less and becomes dark in the door pocket 72 provided inside the refrigerating chamber door 7. Since the door pocket 72 is a storage space that is very convenient for storing or taking out beverages, small articles, and the like, it is preferable to be able to illuminate the door pocket 72 in a state where the refrigerating chamber door 7 is opened by substantially 90 degrees, particularly if convenience of a user such as a case where the surroundings of the refrigerator 1 are dark at night is taken into consideration, and therefore, the installation angle of the optical axis 915 may be set in consideration of the effective irradiation range α.

In addition, the angle θ of the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner sidewall 2P is made larger than Tan in consideration of the effective irradiation range α of the LED^－1The angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED910 may be set to a degree that the door pocket 72 in a state where the refrigerator door 7 is opened by substantially 90 degrees with respect to the closed state can be illuminated, such as ((L2 + L3)/L1) (for example, 70 degrees).

Therefore, in the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 24, the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P is set to be a ratio Tan^－1((L2 + L3)/L1) is at a large angle (for example, about 75 degrees), and the door bag 72 in a state where the refrigerating chamber door 7 is opened by substantially 90 degrees with respect to the closed state is included in (on the extension of) the effective irradiation range α. Therefore, the LED910 can illuminate the refrigerator door pocket 72 while illuminating the inside of the refrigerating compartment 2, and the refrigerator 1 which is convenient for the user to use can be obtained in which both the inside illumination and the door pocket illumination are obtained even at night. Further, by lighting and blinking the LED910 of the lighting device 900 during the operation of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200, the user can also recognize immediately.

Here, an angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner sidewall 2P is Tan^－1(L2 + L3)/(L1 + L4)) and θ is substantially 60 degrees in a general refrigerator, the optical axis 915 is directed toward the corner position 2R (the back corner position and the back corner position in the storage room) where the inner wall 2P facing the LED910 and the back wall intersect, so that when θ is substantially 60 degrees, the entire area in the storage room can be irradiated with the highest efficiency. Thus, Tan at θ ^－1(L2 + L3)/(L1 + L4)) may be (for example, about 60 degrees) from the viewpoint of in-house lighting.

Here, since L4>>L1 (L4 is sufficiently larger than L1), L1+ L4 ≈ L4 (L1 + L4 is substantially equal to L1), so Tan may be used^－1((L2 + L3)/(L1 + L4)) is considered Tan^－1(L2/L4), and the optical axis 915 of the LED910 is arranged. At theta is Tan^－1（（L2+L3）/(L1 + L4)) as described above, there is a possibility that light emitted from the LED910 is reflected to the front edge of the storage interior 80 to be glaring to the user, but if θ is about 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less, the direction of reflection is not a direction which glares to the user who stands on the front surface side of the refrigerator 1 and visually recognizes the storage, and therefore, there is a low possibility that the user is glaring and difficult to use. In addition, when there is a possibility of dazzling the user, a member made of a material for softening the reflected light, a member for absorbing light to weaken the reflected light, or the like may be provided at the front edge of the booth 80.

Here, if the effective irradiation range α of the LED910 is considered, the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner sidewall 2P is preferably Tan ^－1(L2 + L3)/(L1 + L4)). However, if the angle θ is Tan^－1(L2 + L3)/(L1 + L4)) or so, since there is a possibility that light is reflected at the front edge of the storage compartment 80 and the user will feel dazzling, and the door pocket 72 in a state where the refrigerating compartment door 7 is opened by substantially 90 degrees with respect to the closed state may be hard to be irradiated, it is preferable to set θ to Tan^－1(L2 + L3)/(L1 + L4)) or so<θ<If θ is close to 90 degrees, the effective irradiation range α is considered to be approximately 90 degrees and 100 degrees (± 50 degrees with respect to the optical axis 915), for example, the irradiation range is 40 to 150 degrees, and the irradiation range is 150 degrees, which may cause dazzling of the user (user), so θ is set to be about ((L2 + L3)/(L1 + L4))<θ<In the range of (L2 + L3)/L1), it is preferable to illuminate a wide range in the library without dazzling the user in consideration of the effective illumination range α.

As described above, according to embodiment 1, since the LED910 is used for the interior lighting, the refrigerator 1 which generates less heat and consumes less power and is energy-saving can be obtained. Further, since at least 1 of the plurality of LEDs 910 used for interior lighting can be caused to blink during operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 or can be turned on in another color different from the color used for lighting, it is not necessary to separately provide an illumination device for the electrostatic atomization device 200, and the design is improved by turning on in another color, so that the user can immediately visually confirm that the electrostatic atomization device 200 is in operation.

When the LEDs 910 are used for illumination, the illumination device 900 in which a plurality of LEDs 910 are arranged in the vertical direction is provided in the right and left inner side walls 2P in the refrigerating compartment 2 of the refrigerator 1 at a position forward (toward the refrigerating compartment door 7) of the front edge of the inner shelf 80, and the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of light emitted from each LED910 and the inner side wall 2P is made larger than Tan^{－ 1}(L2 + L3)/L1) is about (for example, about 70 °) and less than about 90 degrees, and light in the direction of the optical axis 915 is not directly incident on the storage interior 80, so that light in the direction of the optical axis 915 of the LED910 is not directly incident on the front edge of the storage interior 80, glare of a user can be reduced, and high visibility in the refrigerating compartment 2 can be ensured. The angle theta between the optical axis 915 of the light emitted from each LED910 and the inner wall 2P is set to be larger than Tan^－1(L2 + L3)/L1) is provided at about (e.g., approximately 70 °) without excessively inclining the illumination device 900 to the rear (back side) in the refrigerating compartment 2, the compartment pocket 72 provided in the refrigerating compartment door 7 can be irradiated even when the refrigerating compartment door 7 is opened, which is the front side of the refrigerating compartment 2, and therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated illumination device for illuminating the compartment pocket 72, for example, and it is possible to contribute to cost reduction and energy saving.

In addition, even when the angle θ formed by the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P is Tan^－1(L2 + L3)/L1) or so (e.g., approximately 70 °) that light emitted in the direction of the optical axis 915 of the LED910 is directly incident on the storage shelf 80, the incident angle of light incident on the front edge of the storage shelf 80 is shallow, so that the reflected light is not directly incident on the user in front of the refrigerator 1, and the user is less likely to be affected by glareTo provide a refrigerator 1 capable of protecting eyes, which has little influence on eyes of a user and can immediately confirm stored articles in a refrigerator even at night.

Even when the user feels dazzling due to the direct incidence of light emitted in the direction of the optical axis 915 of the LED910 on the refrigerator interior 80, if a material that does not easily reflect light, a coating process that does not easily reflect light, or a shape (for example, a shape in which a gloss is not applied, a color that does not easily reflect light is applied, or a surface is processed to have a concave-convex shape such that the reflected light is directed not in the front direction of the refrigerator but in the side direction) is used for the front edge of the refrigerator interior 80, the dazzling due to reflection can be similarly reduced, substantially all the area in the refrigerator can be brightly illuminated without omission, and the refrigerator 1 that can protect the eyes of the user with little influence on the eyes of the user and can immediately confirm the stored goods in the refrigerator even at night can be provided.

Here, when the open/close door (e.g., the refrigerating chamber door 7) of the storage chamber (e.g., the refrigerating chamber 2) is opened, the plurality of LEDs (e.g., the LEDs 910a to 910 f) of the lighting device 900 in the storage chamber are turned on, but when at least 1 (e.g., the LED910 a) of the plurality of LEDs 910 (e.g., the LEDs 910a to 910 f) is used for display during the operation of the electrostatic atomizing device 200 at this time, at least 1, e.g., the LED910a may be turned on or off when the open/close door (e.g., the refrigerating chamber door 7) of the storage chamber (e.g., the refrigerating chamber 2) is opened. Alternatively, at least 1 LED (e.g., LED910 a) may be configured by 2 or more LEDs (e.g., white and orange) of different colors, and may be lit with the same color (e.g., white) as the lighting color of the in-house illumination device 900 when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is not operating, and lit with a color (e.g., different color, e.g., orange) different from the lighting color of the in-house illumination device 900 when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating.

In addition, when 2 or more LEDs (e.g., LED910a and LED910 b) are turned on during operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200, these 2 or more LEDs (e.g., LED910a and LED910 b) may be colored in a color (e.g., blue, orange, red, etc.) different from the lighting color (e.g., white) of the in-house illumination device 900, and when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is not operated, at least 2 or more LEDs (e.g., LED910a and LED910 b) may be turned on in the same color (e.g., white) as the lighting color of the in-house illumination device 900, and when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operated, the LEDs may be turned on in a color (e.g., non-same color, e.g., blue, orange, red, etc.) different from the lighting color of the in-house illumination device 900.

These at least 2 or more LEDs may be different colors or the same color. In addition, at least 2 or more LEDs may be alternately turned on and off when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operated. This improves the design, enables the user to immediately recognize that the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is operating, and also enables the user to use the apparatus as interior lighting, thereby obtaining a low-cost refrigerator 1. Further, a multicolor light-emitting LED that can emit light in 2 or more colors different from each other by at least 1 or more LEDs (for example, the LED910a and the LED910 b) may be used. At least 1 of the plurality of LEDs 910 (for example, the LED910 f) of the in-house lighting device 900 may be used as a dedicated LED for showing the operation of the electrostatic atomizing device 200. In this case, when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is not operating, the light may be turned on in a color (for example, orange) different from the lighting color (for example, white) of the interior illumination device 900 only when the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating.

In addition, when the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is often not operated when the opening/closing door (e.g., the refrigerating chamber door 7) of the storage chamber (e.g., the refrigerating chamber 2) is opened, the lighting control indicating that the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is in operation may be performed when the opening/closing door (e.g., the refrigerating chamber door 7) is operated within a predetermined time (e.g., 60 minutes) after being opened. Thus, even if the electrostatic atomization device 200 does not operate when the refrigeration compartment door 7 is opened, the user can recognize that the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating. Note that, instead of displaying only that the electrostatic atomization device 200 is operating on the operation panel 60, the operation result and the operation schedule (for example, whether the operation is performed a few minutes before, and then a few minutes after) of the electrostatic atomization device 200 may be displayed. Thus, even if the user is not in the vicinity of the refrigerator 1 during the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200, the user can visually recognize the operation state of the electrostatic atomization device 200.

As described above, if the LED910 is used in the lighting device 900 in the storage room, the distance between the approximate center of the LED910 and the front edge of the interior shelf 80 placed in the storage room (for example, the refrigerating room 2) is set to L1, the distance between the inner side wall surfaces (inner side wall 2P) of the storage room is set to L2, the distance between the approximate center of the LED910 and the inner side wall 2P of the LED in which the storage room is provided is set to L3, and the distance between the front edge of the interior shelf 80 and the back surface wall of the storage room is set to L4, if the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner side wall 2P in which the LED910 is provided is set to (L2 + L3)/(L1 + 4)) is set to a range of about < θ < ((L2 + L3)/L1), the wide range in the interior can be irradiated, so that the interior can be easily observed, and if at least 1 of the lighting devices 900 in the storage room (interior) is used as the electrostatic atomization lighting device 600, it is possible to immediately visually confirm whether or not the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 (mist sprayer) is operating by the lighting apparatus 900 in the storage room (in the warehouse). In addition, if the effective irradiation range α is considered, the box door pocket 72 can be irradiated even when the door is opened, so that the stored material in the box door pocket 72 can be visually recognized even at night.

Even if the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P of the LED910 is set to be in the range of (L2 + L3)/(L1 + L4) < θ < substantially 90 degrees, the user is not dazzled, and if the effective irradiation range α is considered, a wide range in the storage can be irradiated, so that the interior can be easily observed, and if at least 1 of the lighting devices 900 in the storage room (interior) is used as the electrostatic atomizing device lighting 600, it is possible to immediately visually confirm whether or not the electrostatic atomizing device 200 (mist atomizing device) is in operation by the lighting device 900 in the storage room (interior). Further, since the door pocket 72 can be irradiated even when the door is opened, the stored material in the door pocket 72 can be visually recognized even at night.

Further, if the angle θ formed by the optical axis 915 of the LED910 with respect to the inner wall 2P of the LED910 is set to be in the range of (L2 + L3)/L1) of about < θ < substantially 90 degrees, the optical axis 915 of the LED910 does not directly fall on the front edge of the booth 80 in the booth, and thus does not cause glare to the user, and if the effective irradiation range α is taken into consideration, the light can be irradiated over a wide range in the booth, and thus the booth can be easily observed, and if at least 1 of the lighting devices 900 in the booth (booth) is used as the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600, it is possible to visually recognize immediately whether the electrostatic atomization device 200 (mist atomization device) is operating or not by the lighting device 900 in the booth (booth). Further, since the door pocket 72 can be irradiated even when the door is opened, the stored material in the door pocket 72 can be visually recognized even at night.

(other utilization of Lighting of Electrostatic atomizing device)

Further, if an LED (for example, LED910 a) that indicates the operation of the electrostatic atomization apparatus illumination 600, the illumination apparatus 900 in the storage room (in the refrigerator), or the electrostatic atomization apparatus 200 is, for example, an LED (for example, LED910 a) that emits blue or purple light having a wavelength in the range of 360nm to 400nm with 375nm in the UV-a wavelength region as a peak is used, and the refrigerator 1 is turned on, for example, for a predetermined time while the door is closed, the vitamin such as vegetables can be increased without affecting the human body. Further, if a warm orange LED emitting a high luminance with a wavelength in the range of 550nm to 620nm with a peak of 590nm is used as the LED (for example, LED910 a) indicating the operation of the electrostatic atomization device illumination 600, the illumination device 900 in the storage room (in the refrigerator), and the electrostatic atomization device 200, and the refrigerator 1 is lighted for a predetermined time while the door is closed, the LED can be used as a warm interior lamp without affecting the human body, can be mainly used for stimulating the self-defense function of green and yellow vegetables to promote the biosynthesis of polyphenols, and can promote the biosynthesis of vitamin C by the optical synthesis. Therefore, even if the effect is obtained in refrigerating room 2, switching room 4, and the like, a more preferable effect is obtained if the effect is applied to vegetable room 5.

Plants grow basically by optical synthesis, but in addition to this, they undergo optical morphological formation which is a substantial change of plants, such as seed germination, flower bud differentiation, flowering, development of cotyledons, chlorophyll synthesis, and elongation between tendons, and the nutrients accumulated at this time are used as an energy source. Among them, blue light around 470nm and red light around 660nm tend to promote optical morphology formation such as germination and flowering which is not suitable for vegetable preservation. Since the light emitted from the LED of the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600 and the LED910 of the lighting device 900 in the storage room (in the warehouse) is in the wavelength range of 320 to 400nm that stimulates the self-defense function of the green and yellow vegetables and promotes the biosynthesis of polyphenol, the vegetable storage stability is not reduced. In addition, regarding anthocyanins such as blueberry and prune, nutrients are increased by the LED910 which is a light source having a wavelength such as yellow-green.

Polyphenols are a generic term for compounds having a plurality of hydrogen groups or methoxy groups substituted in the benzene ring, and are included in crops such as vegetables, fruits, and tea. Flavonoids among polyphenols are contained in parts of plants to which sunlight is well irradiated. It is a self-defense of plants against ultraviolet rays contained in sunlight, and therefore, flavonoids having strong and great absorption in the ultraviolet region are synthesized. The main physiological actions of polyphenols are antioxidant action and protein function regulating action. Therefore, in addition to aging inhibition by antioxidation, cancer, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, circulatory diseases, alzheimer's disease, parkinson's disease, amyloidosis, hepatitis, cataract, and the like are also alleviated.

The ultraviolet light is generally divided into a UV-A wavelength region (near ultraviolet, 320-400 nm), a UV-B wavelength region (middle ultraviolet, 280-320 nm), and a UV-C wavelength region (far ultraviolet, 100-280 nm). The shorter the wavelength, the more harmful the human body, and in the region of wavelengths below 320nm, i.e., UV-B and UV-C, genetic disorders may be caused. Therefore, it is desirable to use an LED having a wavelength as long as possible in the UV-a wavelength region, that is, the wavelength of near ultraviolet rays, in a household refrigerator which is not used by many people. Of course, the safety is improved by 2 to 3 weight such as an irradiation dose not affecting a human body or a structural leakage from an opened door.

That is, the arrangement in the refrigerator 1 does not require a separate light source from the other light sources, and the safety is improved with a simple structure. Of course, it is also possible to use a wavelength such as an ultraviolet region, and to structurally prevent radiation leakage in the door direction by radiating only when the refrigerator door is closed, for example. In this case, although light of a wavelength that stimulates the self-defense function of the plant can be freely selected, it is necessary to specially arrange and construct only the light source independently of other light sources. The LED of the electrostatic atomization device lighting 600 and the LED910 of the lighting device 900 in the storage room (in the warehouse) stimulate the self-defense function of the green and yellow vegetables to promote the biosynthesis of polyphenol. As for the LED of the electrostatic atomizer lighting 600 and the LED910 of the lighting device 900 in the storage room (in the warehouse), a high-luminance LED that emits a wavelength in the range of 550nm to 620nm with, for example, 590nm as a peak is used as an in-warehouse lamp, and is also used for promoting the biosynthesis of vitamin C by the optical synthesis. Light of these wavelengths may be used alone or in combination with light of other wavelength regions.

(application to Return air route of Electrostatic atomizing device)

While the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is provided in the storage compartment and mist is sprayed by condensation on the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 provided in the storage compartment due to the temperature difference between the storage compartment and the cooling air passage, in the case where cold air that cools the inside of another storage compartment (e.g., the refrigerating compartment 2) is cooled via the return air passage with respect to the cooling in the storage compartment (e.g., the vegetable compartment 5), the electrostatic atomizing device 200 may not be provided in the storage compartment (e.g., the vegetable compartment 5) but may be provided in the return air passage from another storage compartment (e.g., the refrigerating compartment 2). In this case, if the temperature of the return cold air flowing in the return air passage is increased by cooling the other storage compartments, and if the temperature is higher than the temperature of the cold air in the cooling air passage, the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 is provided in the return air passage, and the heat-radiating sheet portion 212 is provided in the cooling air passage, the temperature difference can be utilized in the cooling plate 210, so that dew condensation water can be generated in the heat-absorbing sheet portion 211, and mist can be generated in the return air passage. Therefore, the atomized nano mist generated in the return air passage flows through the return air passage to reach the storage compartment (for example, vegetable compartment 5), and the mist can be uniformly sprayed in the storage compartment.

This eliminates the need to provide the electrostatic atomizing device 200 in the storage room, and therefore, the internal volume in the storage room can be increased. In addition, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 may be maintained from the front side of the refrigerator 1. In the storage compartments (for example, switch compartment 4, vegetable compartment 5, etc.) in which the return air passage from another storage compartment (for example, refrigerating compartment 2) to the storage compartment (for example, vegetable compartment 5) is provided on the back side of the back surface wall, at least a part of partition wall 51 (heat insulating wall) on the back surface of the storage compartment (for example, switch compartment 4, vegetable compartment 5, etc.) in the location where electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is provided may be removed from the inside of the storage compartment, and maintenance of electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 may be performed. Even in this case, if the electrostatic atomization device 200 is configured as a kit 512 and is installed in the return air passage, maintenance and component replacement of the electrostatic atomization device 200 become easy. Further, since the catalyst can be recovered separately during recycling and decomposition, the recycling property is improved.

(use of Peltier element)

In addition, when it is difficult to provide the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 and the heat dissipating sheet portion 212 of the cooling plate 210 in the storage room and the return air passage as described above, if, for example, a peltier element (a plate-shaped semiconductor element using a peltier effect in which a current flows between 2 metal joint portions and metal heat is transferred from one metal to the other metal, and if a direct current flows, one surface absorbs heat and heat is generated in the opposite surface to generate a temperature difference between the one surface and the opposite surface) is provided between the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat dissipating sheet portion 212 instead of the heat conducting portion 213, the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 absorbs heat and the heat dissipating sheet portion 212 dissipates heat, and therefore both the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat dissipating sheet portion 212 may be provided in the storage room and the return air passage, and the structure becomes simple and the mounting is performed, Maintenance and the like become easy. Further, since the temperature difference between the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat radiating sheet portion 212 can be adjusted by the magnitude of the current, the necessary dew condensation water can be set in accordance with the temperature in the storage room, and thus the refrigerator 1 can avoid the shortage of dew condensation water and can stably spray mist.

Since the heat absorbing portion 211 absorbs heat and the heat dissipating portion 212 dissipates heat, for example, if a peltier element (a plate-shaped semiconductor element using a peltier effect in which a current flows between the junction portions of 2 kinds of metals to transfer metal heat from one metal to the other metal, and if a dc current flows, one surface absorbs heat and heat is generated in the opposite surface to generate a temperature difference between the one surface and the opposite surface) is provided between the heat absorbing portion 211 and the heat dissipating portion 212 instead of the heat conducting portion 213, the present invention can be used in an air conditioner, a home appliance, or the like that cannot use cold air or the like at a low temperature. In the case of the refrigerator 1, it is also possible to provide a portion where the thickness of the heat insulating wall is desired to be reduced as much as possible (ceiling surface, side wall surface, lower surface, etc.) without providing a cooling air passage according to the necessity of increasing the storage chamber internal volume of the storage chamber (e.g., the refrigerating chamber 2), a partition wall partitioning the storage chamber (between the storage chamber and the storage chamber), a shelf (e.g., a partition wall between the refrigerating chamber 2 and the switching chamber 4, a partition wall between the refrigerating chamber 2 and the substantially closed containers 2X and 2Y, a shelf, etc.), and the like, where the cooling air passage cannot be used. In this case, if the electrostatic atomization device 200 (mist spray device) is installed on the upper surface of the storage room (ceiling surface of the refrigerator 1) installed in the uppermost part of the refrigerator 1, the nano mist after being micronized can be efficiently sprayed to the entire area in the storage room. Further, the air conditioner, the home appliance, and the like, which do not have a cooling air path through which the necessary low-temperature cold air flows and cannot use the low-temperature cold air, can be shared with the electrostatic atomization device 200, and the refrigerator 1, the air conditioner, and the home appliance, which have antibacterial, deodorizing, and antifouling effects at low cost, can be obtained.

(application to refrigerator side wall)

Next, an example of a case where the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is applied to a side wall of the storage room of the refrigerator 1 will be described. Fig. 26 is a side sectional view showing refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, and fig. 27 is a front perspective view of refrigerating compartment 2 of refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in fig. 1 to 25, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, the electrostatic atomization device 200 provided in the inner wall 2P of the refrigerator 1 is housed in a recess provided in the inner wall 2P. As shown in fig. 6 to 11, the electrostatic atomizing device 200 includes an electrode holding portion 220, a discharge electrode 230 having a rectangular parallelepiped (prism) shape or a cylindrical shape, and a counter electrode 240 having a substantially circular opening 241 which is substantially similar in shape to the cross-sectional shape (substantially circular shape) of the tip of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230 and is larger than the cross-sectional shape (substantially circular shape) of the protruding portion 231. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 12 to 17, the discharge electrode assembly includes a discharge electrode 230 including a prismatic or cylindrical body portion 232 elongated in the axial direction and a pyramidal or conical protruding portion 231 protruding from the body portion 232 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction and tapering toward the counter electrode 240, an electrode holding portion 220 holding and housing the discharge electrode 230, an energizing member 280 for applying a voltage to the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240 having a substantially quadrangular or substantially circular opening 241 larger than the cross-sectional shape (substantially quadrangular or substantially circular) of the tip of the protruding portion 231 of the discharge electrode 230, and a fixing unit 260 (pressing member) for holding and fixing the discharge electrode 230 to the electrode holding portion 220 via the energizing member 280.

Here, as means for supplying dew condensation water and supplying water to the discharge electrode 230 and the electrode holding portion 220, there may be provided water supply means such as a cooling plate 210 for generating dew condensation water and a reservoir tank 270 for supplying water, and the water supply means may be provided directly above the discharge electrode 230 and attached to at least 1 of the inner wall 2P, the fixing means 260 (pressing means), and the electrode holding portion 220 so that dew condensation water generated in the cooling plate 210, a main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 provided directly below such as water droplets 275 (water supplied) from the reservoir tank 270, and the like, an inclined portion 264 of the fixing means 260 (pressing means), and the electrode holding portion 220 fall. In addition, in the case where the water tank 270 is used instead of the cooling plate 210, since the user does not need to supply water, the electrostatic atomization device 200 may be detachably provided in the inner wall 2P, the ceiling wall, or the partition wall, and in this case, the water tank 270 may be detachably provided in the fixing unit 260 (pressing unit) or the electrode holding portion 220 constituting the electrostatic atomization device 200 as shown in fig. 17.

The cold air blown from the cooler room 131 to the cooling air passage 53 provided in the back surface of the storage compartment passes through the electrostatic atomization device inlet cold air passage 830 such as a duct surrounded by the back surface wall branched laterally from the cooling air passage 53 provided in the back surface of the storage compartment and the periphery provided in the side wall heat insulator, reaches the electrostatic atomization device 200 provided in the concave portion of the inner side wall 2P of the storage compartment, passes through the electrostatic atomization device outlet cold air passage 820 such as a duct surrounded by the back surface wall and the periphery provided in the side wall heat insulator in a state of containing fine water droplets vaporized by the electrostatic atomization device 200, and reaches, for example, a mist spray chamber provided in the upper portion of the back surface wall of the storage compartment. The mist spray chamber is provided with a detachable mist spray cover 800, and cold air containing fine water droplets atomized by the electrostatic atomizer 200 is sprayed into the storage chamber from a mist spray outlet 810 formed in the mist spray cover 800.

In this way, the electrostatic atomization device 200 including at least the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 is disposed on the side wall of the storage room (for example, at a substantially central height position where the height position in the side wall of the refrigeration room 2 is the height position that can be reached by the hand of the user), and the mist generated in the electrostatic atomization device 200 is sprayed by the cold air operation in the cold air outlet passage 820 of the electrostatic atomization device, which surrounds the periphery of the cold air outlet passage 820 of the electrostatic atomization device (for example, the upper portion of the back wall of the refrigeration room 2, the other second storage room (for example, the switching room 4, the vegetable room 5, and the like) different from the storage room (for example, the refrigeration room 2) in which the electrostatic atomization device 200 is disposed, or the like) different from the place where the electrostatic atomization device 200 is disposed (for example, the substantially central height position where the height position in the side wall of the refrigeration room 2 is the height position that can be reached by the hand of the user, The degree of freedom in the arrangement position of the mist spray unit (for example, the mist spray outlet 810 formed in the mist spray cover 800 provided in the mist spray chamber) for spraying the mist generated by the electrostatic atomization device 200 into the storage chamber is increased, and the mist can be sprayed from a place where the mist is desired, so that the degree of freedom in design is improved. Further, the electrostatic atomizing device 200 including at least the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 and the mist spraying section for spraying the mist generated by the electrostatic atomizing device 200 into the storage compartment (for example, the mist spray opening 810 formed in the mist spray cover 800 provided in the mist spray compartment) can be separated into different components, so that the size and thickness of each component can be reduced, the inner wall of the storage compartment of the refrigerator 1 can be made thin, the inner volume of the storage compartment can be enlarged, and the refrigerator 1 at low cost can be obtained.

Here, in the arrangement position of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200, when the water tank 270 is provided, since the user needs to detach the water tank 270 and add additional water, a height position (a position lower than the sight line position without bending down in consideration of the height of the japanese woman) which the user can reach by the hand is preferable, and a height position from the waist to the shoulder position (a height of about 80cm to about 140 cm) and the near side of the storage room are preferable. The arrangement position of mist spray opening 810 is preferably the upper portion of the storage room, and is preferably a position where mist and cold air are mixed in the width direction (lateral direction) and can be sprayed without omission in the width direction (lateral direction) in the storage room in order to spray evenly by gravity from the upper portion to the lower portion in the height direction, and may be provided at 1 place or a plurality of places in the substantially central position in the width direction of refrigerator 1 in consideration of the position of the cold air outlet, or may be provided at 2 places in total or a plurality of places in 1 place in the substantially end position in the width direction or 1 place in each of the two end positions.

(application to air conditioners)

Here, a configuration in which the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is mounted on an indoor unit of an air conditioner will be described. The indoor unit of the air conditioner is the same as a known indoor unit of a general separation type air conditioner, and therefore, illustration thereof is omitted. The indoor unit main body (casing) includes: a heat exchanger in which a front-side heat exchanger provided on the front side and a rear-side heat exchanger provided above or behind are arranged in an inverted V shape; an air suction port provided in front of or above the front-face side heat exchanger of the heat exchanger; an air outlet provided in a lower portion of a front surface of the indoor unit; a filter arranged between the air suction inlet and the heat exchanger; a blower provided between the front-face side heat exchanger and the back-face heat exchanger of the reverse V-shaped heat exchanger and blowing out air, which has been heat-exchanged with air taken in from the air intake port via the filter and the heat exchanger, from the air outlet port; and a drain pan provided below at least one of the front-side heat exchanger and the back-side heat exchanger, and the electrostatic atomizing device 200 is provided downstream of the filter and above the drain pan, whereby dew condensation water or water falling from the water supply unit (the heat absorbing sheet portion 211, the water storage tank 270) in a state where the discharge electrode 230 is held in the electrode holding portion 220 is not accumulated in the discharge electrode 230 or the electrode holding portion 220 or the fixing unit 260 by providing a notch or an opening in the electrode holding portion 220 or the fixing unit 260, and even when electric discharge is not caused between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230 in a state where voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the opposite electrode 240, the water discharged from the notch or the opening can be discharged to the drain pan, and therefore it is not necessary to separately provide a water receiving portion in the electrode holding portion 220 or the fixing unit 260, which leads to a reduction in cost, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembling property can be improved.

The heat absorbing sheet portion 211, the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, and the electrode holding portion 220 may be disposed near the outlet of the air conditioner and above the drain pan that receives the waste water, and the heat dissipating sheet portion 212 may be disposed near the inlet. Since the fin portion 212, the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, and the like are disposed near the air outlet, the mist is generated by applying a voltage to the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240, but the generated mist is blown out into the room together with the cooled cold air blown out from the air outlet, and sterilization and humidification of the room can be achieved. Even when water stored in the discharge electrode 230 overflows from the electrode holding portion 220, the water can be received and discharged to the outside through the drain pan without providing a special water receiving portion or the like, and thus, a low-cost air conditioner can be obtained.

The electrostatic atomizing device 200 may be disposed downstream of and in the vicinity of the air inlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and the mist atomizing port may be provided upstream of the air outlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner via an air passage such as a duct or a hose. Here, the curtain and the atomizing port may be used as the air outlet, or the mist may be sprayed from the air outlet into a room in which the opening of the air outlet is formed by providing the mist atomizing port so as to open into the air blowing path and the air outlet. In this way, the electrostatic atomizing device 200 having at least the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 is disposed downstream of and in the vicinity of the air inlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the mist generated by the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is sprayed via an air passage such as a duct surrounded around a place different from the place where the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is disposed (for example, a room in which an opening of an air outlet of an air conditioner indoor unit is formed, an air passage on an upstream side of the air outlet, and the like), therefore, the degree of freedom in the arrangement position of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 including at least the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 and the mist spray part (mist spray outlet) for spraying the mist generated by the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 into the room is increased, since mist spraying can be performed from a place where mist spraying is desired, the degree of freedom in design is improved.

Further, since the temperature difference between the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the heat dissipating sheet portion 212 can be adjusted by the magnitude of the current, it is possible to set a necessary dew condensation water in accordance with the indoor temperature, etc., and it is possible to avoid the shortage of dew condensation water and stably and uniformly spray the atomized nano mist. Further, since heat radiating fin portion 212 is disposed near the suction port, even if heat is generated by heat radiating fin portion 212 and the temperature rises slightly, the heat radiating fin portion is sucked into the suction port, and therefore, the temperature of the cool air blown out into the room is not affected, and an air conditioner, a home appliance, or the like, in which the temperature control is easy without affecting the temperature control in the room, can be provided.

(display)

Here, when the operation state of the electrostatic atomization device 200 (mist spray device) is displayed by the LED910 of the lighting device 900 in the refrigerator, the size of the mist spray amount in the storage room and the sterilization degree (sterilization intensity) are displayed by the operation intensity of the electrostatic atomization device 200 (for example, the size of the applied voltage, the spray amount of the mist spray, and the like), and the usage power amount, the power rate, the discharge amount of CO2, and the like are displayed by the graph such as the bar and the leaf mark, the point where the graph is divided into a plurality of parts and the color is changed according to the division number to display the mist spray amount, the sterilization degree, and the like is not limited to the refrigerator 1, and the same display may be performed by applying the graph to the air conditioner and the home electric appliance, and in the case of the air conditioner, the front design surface (for example, the front surface cover, and the like) of the indoor unit, In this case, as in the case of the refrigerator, the user can immediately determine the size of the mist spray amount and the sterilization degree (the intensity of sterilization) in the storage chamber by the operation state of the electrostatic atomization device (mist spray device) 200 and the intensity of the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200 (mist spray device) (for example, the size of the applied voltage, the spray amount of the mist spray, and the like).

In the home appliances such as the refrigerator 1 and the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the storage room, the part, the material name, and the like in which the electrostatic atomizing device 200 and the components constituting the electrostatic atomizing device 200 (for example, the cooling plate 210, the discharge electrode 230, the high-voltage power supply unit 250, and the like) are arranged can be easily recognized by visual observation at the time of recycling or the like, and the installation position of the mist atomizing device (electrostatic atomizing device 200) may be displayed by a graphic or the like in an overall view or the like.

Here, in the case of the refrigerator 1, in the rear surface and side surface of the refrigerator main body, the inner side of the opening and closing door, the control device, and the like, in the case of the refrigerator 1, the overall view, the storage room arrangement view, the perspective view, the partial display view, the development view, and the like of the refrigerator 1 are shown. In the case of an air conditioner, the overall view, the component arrangement view, the perspective view, the partial display view, the developed view, and the like of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are displayed on the back surface and the side surface of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the inner side of the design cover (front cover, and the like), the control device, and the like. In the overall drawings and the like, the arrangement position of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 (mist spray apparatus) can be visually confirmed immediately by a figure or the like. When the high-voltage power supply unit 250 is disposed at another location, the installation position of the high-voltage power supply unit 250 may be included, and the installation positions of other components useful for recirculation and the like may be displayed together.

Here, in the overall view and the like, information useful in the recycling and the decomposition is displayed so as to be immediately visually understood by a figure such as a black circle (●), a figure having a shape substantially similar to the shape of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 200, a list or the like showing the name of a material used in the electrostatic atomization apparatus 200, the weight of the material used, the possibility of recycling, the method of recycling, and the like. Therefore, since it is possible to immediately determine whether or not materials or the like affecting the human body at the time of recycling, reusable components at the time of recycling, the weight thereof, and the like are used, it is possible to decompose the materials at the time of decomposition without any problem, and to realize recycling, thereby obtaining home appliances such as a refrigerator 1, an air conditioner, and the like having excellent decomposability and improved recycling efficiency.

Here, in the case where the electric home appliance is the refrigerator 1, the standard usage period is determined for the refrigerator main body and the individual functional components (for example, the electrostatic atomizing device 200, the compressor 12, the defrosting heater 150, the cold air circulation fan 14, and the like), and displayed on the operation panel 60 of the refrigerator main body.

When the household electrical appliance is an air conditioner, an air cleaner, or the like, the standard usage period may be determined for the indoor unit, the outdoor unit, the appliance main body, and the functional components (for example, the electrostatic atomization device 200, the compressor, the blower, or the like), and may be displayed on a design panel, a remote controller, or the like on the front surface of the indoor unit main body. For example, the standard use period may be determined for the indoor unit main body and the outdoor unit main body including the functional components in the design panel on the front surface of the indoor unit main body, the remote controller for instructing the operation/stop of the device, and the like, or the standard use period may be determined for the functional components independently of the indoor unit main body and the outdoor unit main body, the standard use period (standard use time) may be displayed by the size, length, and number of the patterns such as the bar-shaped bar and the leaf, and the current use time may be displayed in an array by changing the color, the pattern, and the like, so that the user may be prompted to purchase the product by visually recognizing the current use time.

Here, for example, the standard use period for the device may be determined by further including a functional component in the display portion of the operation panel 60, the front panel, the remote controller, or the like, or the standard use period may be determined for each of the device main body of the refrigerator 1 and the functional component (the electrostatic atomization device 200, the compressor 12, or the like), the standard use period (standard use time) may be displayed by a graphic such as a bar, or the current use period (time) may be displayed by changing a color or a pattern, or the like, and the current use period may be displayed visually by arranging the graphic. In addition, standard performance data (compressor input, fan input, capability related to performance such as the amount of power used and the capacity of the entire device, and data of temporal changes such as input) which is obtained by experiments, calculations, and the like and changes with the age may be stored in the microcomputer 31 as a table together with the display of the actual usage period of the device, and the degree of degradation of the performance (capability, input, and the like) may be displayed by the length of the bar and the number of patterns. That is, the purchase may be initially set to 100%, and the current performance to be measured may be displayed at a performance degradation rate from the initial performance (for example, by the length of a bar, the number of graphics, or the like) to visually prompt the user to purchase the purchase.

That is, since the present usage period measured by the timer or the like with respect to the standard usage period stored in the storage means (microcomputer 31) is displayed in the display section of the apparatus main body (operation panel 60 of the refrigerator, display section of the front cover of the indoor unit, etc.) or the display section of the remote controller for instructing the operation/stop of the above-mentioned equipment by the size, length, number, etc. of the pattern such as the bar or leaf, the storage means (microcomputer 31) for storing the predetermined standard usage period of the equipment such as the electrostatic atomization device 200, the refrigerator 1, the air conditioner, the air cleaner, etc. is provided, it is possible to make the user visually recognize the usage period of the equipment and urge the user to purchase the equipment, the parts, the replacement of the parts, etc. by urging the user to purchase the equipment, the parts, etc.

In addition, the remaining period usable for the standard use period of the device may be displayed by a graphic such as a bar, a leaf mark, or the like. In this case, the size and number of the graphics such as the bar graph indicating the usable period decrease as the usable period increases, so that the user can be made aware of crisis and can be made aware of exchange before a trouble. Further, if a message for urging exchange or service is displayed when the remaining period is less than the predetermined period, the user can be made aware of the exchange before the trouble.

Further, if the magnitude of the applied voltage during the operation of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200, the amount of power used by the apparatus, the electricity fee, the amount of CO2 discharged, and the like are displayed on the apparatus main body, a remote controller for instructing the operation/stop of the apparatus, and the like, by the size, length, number, and the like of the patterns such as the bar and the leaf, it is possible to make the user more conscious of energy saving. Further, the relationship between the power used by the device, the amount of CO2 discharged, and the like can be grasped from the magnitude of the applied voltage during the operation of the electrostatic atomization device 200, thereby improving the awareness of energy saving for the user. Here, if the user can set the voltage level applied to the electrostatic atomization apparatus 200 by operating a button, a remote controller, or the like (for example, a plurality of step settings of strong, medium, and weak, or a change without a step setting), the weak mode or the like can be selected when energy saving is desired, and energy saving can be achieved.

Further, the present invention may be configured to include a means for measuring the amount of electricity used by the device body and the functional components (for example, the electrostatic atomization device 200, the compressor 12, and the like) to measure the instantaneous amount of electricity used and the accumulated (for example, daily or monthly) amount of electricity used, and the instantaneous amount of electricity used and the accumulated (for example, daily or monthly) amount of electricity used may be graphically displayed by the number of bar-shaped bars and leaf marks on the operation panel 60 on the front surface of the refrigerator 1, the display unit of the air conditioner, the front surface of the air cleaner, the display unit of the upper surface panel, the display unit of the remote controller, and the like, thereby allowing the user of the household electrical appliance to visually recognize the energy saving.

In the display under the graph, when the actual use time exceeds a predetermined ratio of the standard use time (for example, 90% or 95% of the standard use time), the actual use time may be displayed together with a message or the like prompting the user to check or replace the main body or the functional component on the main body, the remote controller, or the like, and the user may be prompted to check, replace, or purchase the main body or the functional component. Further, when the actual use time exceeds the 1 st predetermined ratio of the standard use time (for example, 90% of the standard use time), the main body, the remote controller, or the like may display the actual use time by the graphic or the like, and when the actual use time exceeds the 2 nd predetermined ratio (for example, 95% of the standard use time) which is larger than the 1 st predetermined ratio of the standard use time, the actual use time may be displayed in a plurality of stages (for example, 2 stages) together with the passage of time for displaying a message or the like for urging the user to check or replace the main body or the functional component, so that the user may be visually urged to check, replace, or purchase the main body or the functional component. By displaying a graphic or message prompting the user to check, replace, or purchase a product when the standard usage period has elapsed in the main body, the remote controller, or the like in this manner, it is possible to suppress performance degradation due to aging degradation, a failure due to dust clogging, or the like, and ignition, and to obtain a refrigerator 1, an air conditioner, and a home appliance with high reliability. In particular, in the electrostatic atomizer 200 to which a high voltage is applied, it is possible to effectively prevent the electrostatic atomizer 200 from malfunctioning due to insufficient water supply to the electrostatic atomizer 200 caused by dust clogging to the electrode holding portion 220, dust clogging between the sheets, or the like, adhesion of dust, dirt, or the like to the electrodes, or ignition caused by deterioration of the electrodes, or the like.

As described above, the present invention includes: a discharge electrode 230 including a main body portion 232 formed of a metal foam such as a metal porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure, such as a titanium material, and a protruding portion 231 formed integrally with the main body portion 232 so as to protrude from the main body portion 232 and supplying water adhering to the surface of the main body portion 232 by capillary action; an electrode holding portion 220 for holding a discharge electrode 230; a counter electrode 240 provided in the electrode holding portion 220 and facing the protrusion 231; a water supply unit (cooling plate 210 or water tank 270) provided directly above the body 232 with a predetermined gap Z therebetween and supplying water to the discharge electrode 230 or the electrode holder 220; and a fixing unit 260 for fixing the discharge electrode 230 or the counter electrode 240 housed/held in the electrode holding unit 220 to the electrode holding unit 220, wherein the electrode holding unit 220, the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, and the fixing unit 260 are integrally formed, and a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 to generate mist, so that the pore diameter is larger than that in the case of using a ceramic material for the discharge electrode 230, the water supply amount and the capillary force are large, and the resistance against clogging due to foreign matters is particularly large.

The electrostatic atomizing device 200 may be disposed downstream of and in the vicinity of the air inlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and the mist atomizing port may be provided upstream of the air outlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner via an air passage such as a duct or a hose. Here, the atomizing port may be used also as the air outlet, or the mist atomizing port may be provided so as to be opened in the air blowing path or the air outlet, and the mist may be atomized from the air outlet into the room in which the air outlet is formed. In this way, the electrostatic atomizing device 200 having at least the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 is disposed downstream of and in the vicinity of the air inlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, mist generated by the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is sprayed through an air passage such as a duct surrounding the periphery at a location different from the location where the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is disposed (for example, in a room where an air outlet of an air conditioner indoor unit is formed, in an air blowing passage on the upstream side of the air outlet, or the like), therefore, the degree of freedom in the arrangement position of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 including at least the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 and the mist spray part (mist spray outlet) for spraying the mist generated by the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 into the room is increased, further, since mist spraying can be performed from a place where mist spraying is desired, the degree of freedom in design is improved.

Further, the degree of freedom in defining the setting range of the gap F and the setting range of the applied voltage can be increased, and the nano mist can be reliably and easily generated. Further, since the water supply unit is provided directly above the main body 232, compared to the case where the water supply unit is provided below the discharge electrode 230 and at a place away from the discharge electrode 230, the water supplied from the water supply unit directly falls down to the discharge electrode 230 (or the electrode holding portion 220, the fixing unit 260) directly below, and a transport portion for transporting the dew condensation water generated in the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 as the water supply unit and the water supplied from the water storage tank 270 to the electrode holding portion 220 (or the discharge electrode 230, the fixing unit 260) is not required, and the refrigerator 1 having a simple, compact and low cost structure can be obtained. That is, since the transport unit for transporting water is not required and the transport unit is not clogged with dust or the like and the dew condensation water cannot be supplied to the discharge electrode 230, the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 and the refrigerator 1 having a simple structure, low cost, and high reliability can be provided. Further, the degree of freedom in the shape and the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the water supply unit (e.g., the cooling plate 210, the water storage tank 270, etc.), the electrode holder, and the discharge electrode is increased, and the shape and the arrangement of the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, and the water supply unit (e.g., the cooling plate 210, the water storage tank 270, etc.) can be freely set in accordance with the structure of each home appliance such as the refrigerator 1, the air conditioner, and the air cleaner, and the electrostatic atomization apparatus 200 can be made compact and efficient in accordance with the home appliance.

In the case where the sizes (width, thickness, etc.) or sectional areas of the outer shapes of the main body 232 and the protruding portion 231 are substantially equal to each other, when the axial length of the main body 232 is in the range of 4 to 20 times the length of the protruding portion 231, workability is good, the amount of water supplied from the main body 232 to the protruding portion 231 is large, and the water supply time can be shortened.

Further, since a metal porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure such as a sponge is used as the metal foam such as titanium, the amount of water absorbed in the metal is about 2 to 5 times larger than that in the case of the metal foam, the capillary force is larger than that of the sintered metal, and the electric resistance is as low as (0.4 to 2). times.10^－7Since the material is made to be a conductor for efficiently applying electricity to water, it is compatible with ceramics having a large resistance (a resistance as large as about 10)¹²Ω · m) or the like, and the amount of mist generated can be increased by remarkably facilitating the conduction of electricity, and the setting of the applied voltage or the like can be facilitated, and the applied voltage can be reduced, and the generation of mist can be ensuredAnd (4) nano mist. In the present embodiment, the present invention includes: a discharge electrode including a main body portion 232 formed of a metal foam and a protruding portion 231 for supplying water attached to the surface of the main body portion 232 by capillary action; an electrode holding portion 220 for holding a discharge electrode 230; a counter electrode 240 provided on the electrode holding portion 220 and facing the protruding portion 231; a water supply unit (e.g., cooling plate 210, water storage tank 270, etc.) for supplying water to discharge electrode 230; and a high voltage power supply unit 250 for generating mist from the projection 231 by applying a voltage between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240, wherein a foamed metal having a three-dimensional mesh structure with a pore diameter of 10 to 800 μm (preferably 50 to 300 μm, more preferably 50 to 150 μm) and a porosity of 60 to 90% (preferably 70 to 80%) is used for the discharge electrode 230, and the pore diameter of the discharge electrode 230 is set to 10 to 800 μm, so that the power resistance against clogging due to foreign matter is particularly high, and water can be stably supplied from the main body 232 to the projection 231 for a long period of time. Further, since the metal foam having a three-dimensional mesh structure such as titanium having a porosity of 60% to 90%, more water can be retained in the metal foam than in the conventional ceramics, sintered metal, or the like. Therefore, the nano mist can be efficiently generated in a large amount.

Further, the discharge electrode 230 includes: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped or substantially cylindrical body portion 232 formed of a metal foam having a three-dimensional mesh structure and elongated in the axial direction; the projecting portion 231 of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a substantially cylindrical shape, a substantially pyramidal shape, or a substantially conical shape, which projects from the middle of the axial direction of the body portion 232 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the body portion 232 and is formed integrally with the body portion 232 in a shorter length than the axial direction of the body portion 232, and supplies water adhering to the surface of the body portion 232 by capillary phenomenon, and the axial direction length of the body portion 232 is in a range of 4 times to 20 times the length of the projecting portion 231, so that the body portion is divided into 2 (for example, the 1 st body portion 237 and the 2 nd body portion 238) at the projecting position of the projecting portion 231 in the axial direction with respect to the body portion 232, and therefore, water can be supplied to the projecting portion 231 by capillary phenomenon from 2 places (both sides of the projecting portion 231) of the 1 st body portion 237 and the 2 nd body portion 238, and therefore, a large amount of, the amount of mist spray can be increased and mist spray can be stably performed. Even if one of the 1 st body portion 237 and the 2 nd body portion 238 (for example, the 1 st body portion) loses its function due to clogging or the like, water can be supplied to the protruding portion 231 through the other (for example, the 2 nd body portion 238), so that the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 (mist atomizing apparatus) with high reliability can be obtained in which water can be stably supplied to the protruding portion 231 for a long period of time and mist can be stably atomized for a long period of time.

Since the water supplied to the discharge electrode 230 or the electrode holding portion 220 or the fixing unit 260 by the water supply unit (for example, the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210, the water reservoir 270, or the like) provided directly above the discharge electrode 230 or the electrode holding portion 220 falls from the water supply unit to the discharge electrode 230, and the cover portion (the water supply unit cover portions 220X and 269) covering at least one of the water supply unit (the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210 or the water reservoir 270) or the electrode holding portion 220 or the fixing unit 260 (the water supply unit cover portions 220X and 269) is provided in the electrode holding portion 220 or the fixing unit 260 in the falling path of the water so as not to be affected by the flow of the air, the dropped water droplets 275 and dew condensation water are less likely to be affected by dust, mildew, or the like in the air around the water supply unit or the electrode holding portion 220 or the fixing unit 260 (the pressing unit) provided, Due to the influence of foreign matters such as dust, water droplets adhering to the discharge electrode 230 and water droplets in the electrode holding portion 220 are less likely to be contaminated, and clogging of the discharge electrode 230 can be suppressed, so that the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is highly reliable, clean, and sanitary.

Since the electrode holder 220 or the fixing means 260 is provided with the notch or the opening so that the discharge electrode 230 is held by the electrode holder 220, dew condensation water or water falling from the water supply means (the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 or the water storage tank 270) does not accumulate in the discharge electrode 230 or the electrode holder 220 or the fixing means 260, and thus water droplets do not adhere to the surface of the main body portion 232 of the discharge electrode 230 or water is not accumulated in the electrode holder 220, even when a voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240, discharge does not occur between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 and the discharge electrode 230, and a safe electrostatic atomizing device 200 or an apparatus is obtained. Here, it is preferable that the holding portion of the discharge electrode 230 of the electrode holding portion 220 is configured not to store water (or, in order to be configured not to store water on the surface of the discharge electrode 230, the holding portion of the discharge electrode 230 is configured to be able to discharge water, or a water storage portion storing discharged water is separately provided at a position away from the discharge electrode 230 such as below, so that the water stored in the water storage portion does not contact the discharge electrode 230). Further, by setting the predetermined gap Z between the lower end surface 211Y of the heat sink 211 and the discharge electrode 230 to 4mm or more (preferably 6mm or more), even if water droplets adhere to the upper surface of the main body 232 of the discharge electrode 230, the safety is further improved as long as the heat sink 211 and the discharge electrode 230 ensure a distance that does not cause discharge.

Further, the apparatus comprises: a discharge electrode 230 including a main body portion 232 formed of a metal foam, and a protruding portion 231 formed to protrude from the main body portion 232 integrally with the main body portion 232 and supplying water adhering to the surface of the main body portion 232 by capillary action; an electrode holding portion 220 for housing the discharge electrode 230; a counter electrode 240 provided on the electrode holding portion 220 and facing the protruding portion 231; water supply means (the heat absorbing sheet portion 211 of the cooling plate 210, the water supply tank 270) provided directly above the main body 232 with a predetermined gap Z therebetween and supplying water to the discharge electrode 230 or the electrode holding portion 220; an electrostatic atomization device 200 that includes at least a discharge electrode 230, a counter electrode 240, and an electrode holder 220, and generates mist by applying a voltage between the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240; and a spray opening provided at a position distant from the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 and connected to the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 via an air blowing path, and the nano mist generated by the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 is sprayed from the spray opening provided at the position distant from the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 into a room such as a storage room or a room where the spray opening is formed, so that the degree of freedom of the arrangement position of the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 including at least the discharge electrode 230 and the counter electrode 240 and the mist spray part (mist spray opening) for spraying the mist generated by the electrostatic atomizing apparatus 200 into the room is increased, and the mist can be sprayed from a place where the mist spray is desired, so that the design can be made in conformity with the structure of each household appliance such as the refrigerator 1, the air conditioner, and the air cleaner, and the degree of freedom of design is improved. Further, since the water supply unit is provided directly above the main body 232 with the predetermined gap Z interposed therebetween, the degree of freedom in the shape and arrangement of the water supply unit (the cooling plate 210 or the water storage tank 270) or the discharge electrode 230, which is the water supply unit, is increased, and the shape and arrangement of the discharge electrode 230, the counter electrode 240, the cooling plate 210, and the water storage tank 270 can be freely set in accordance with the structure of each household appliance such as the refrigerator 1, the air conditioner, and the air cleaner, and a compact and efficient electrostatic atomization apparatus can be obtained in accordance with the household appliance.

Claims (30)

1. A refrigerator is provided with:

a refrigerating chamber in which a plurality of shelves are provided in a storage article storage space for storing storage articles;

a cooler that generates cold air for cooling the refrigerating chamber;

a water storage container;

an atomizing device having a discharge electrode, and generating mist by applying a voltage to the discharge electrode; and

a water-carrying part for carrying water in a water tank,

the refrigerator is characterized in that it is provided with,

in the refrigerating chamber, a substantially closed container is arranged below the lowest-stage placing shed,

the cooler is disposed in a cooler chamber provided on the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber,

the water storage container is disposed in the cooler chamber, receives and stores the defrosting water generated and dropped in the cooler,

the atomization device is arranged on a partition wall on the back of the refrigerating chamber and is provided with an electrode holding part for holding the discharge electrode,

the water transport unit supplies water in the water storage container to the discharge electrode by using a capillary phenomenon,

the atomizing device is provided behind a back surface of the substantially closed container, and supplies mist into the substantially closed container from the back surface of the substantially closed container.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

In the substantially closed container, a notch or an opening is provided in a rear surface, and mist is supplied into the substantially closed container from the notch or the opening.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the substantially closed container is a cold room for cooling a temperature zone.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

a high voltage power supply unit for applying a voltage to the discharge electrode,

the high-voltage power supply portion is formed integrally with the electrode holding portion.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the cooler is a cooler for a refrigerating chamber provided near a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber and provided independently of the cooler for the freezing chamber.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

a defrosting water discharge port provided below the cooler and discharging defrosting water generated in the cooler,

the water storage container is disposed above the defrosting water outlet, and when water overflows from the water storage container, the overflowing water can be discharged from the defrosting water outlet.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

The mist supplying device is provided with an air passage for supplying mist generated by the atomizing device, and mist is supplied to a storage room different from the refrigerating room in which the atomizing device is disposed through the air passage.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the mist sprayer is provided with an air passage for supplying mist generated by the atomizer, and the mist is supplied to the storage product accommodating space through the air passage.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7 or 8, wherein:

the air path is a duct surrounded by the air path.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

at least a part of the partition wall on which the atomizing device is provided is detachable from the refrigerating chamber side.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein:

the atomizing device is provided with a cover having a mist supply port for supplying mist,

the notch or the opening is sized to an extent that at least a portion of the cover can be inserted.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein:

the atomizing device is provided with a cover having a mist supply port for supplying mist,

a gap is arranged between the notch or the opening and the cover.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the atomizing device is provided with a cover having a mist supply port, and the atomizing device is formed integrally with the cover.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 11 or 12, wherein:

the cover is provided with a cold air outlet.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

at least a part or all of the atomizing means is received in a recess provided in a back wall of the refrigerating chamber,

the cold air blown from the cooler compartment to the recess is supplied to the refrigerating compartment or to a storage compartment different from the refrigerating compartment via an air passage for supplying the mist generated by the atomizing device in a state where the cold air contains the mist generated by the atomizing device.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein:

the concave portion has a cold air intake port, mist generated by the atomizing device at least partially accommodated in the concave portion and cold air taken in from the cold air intake port are mixed in the concave portion, and the cold air containing the mist is supplied to the storage chamber.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

The discharge electrode includes a main body portion and a protruding portion to which water is supplied from the main body portion,

the main body portion is provided to be elongated and to be small in thickness in the longitudinal direction.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the periphery of the water conveyance member is insulated, or the water conveyance member is disposed in a partition wall.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

and a heating unit for heating the water storage container is arranged.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a defrosting heater provided below the cooler; and

a heater top plate provided between the cooler and the defrosting heater,

the water storage container is arranged on the heater top plate.

21. The refrigerator according to claim 19, further comprising:

an opening/closing door provided to cover a front surface opening of the refrigerating chamber; and

an operation panel arranged on the front surface of the opening and closing door,

the operation panel is provided with a mist spray switch for operating the atomizing device,

the heating unit is operated for a predetermined time or a time set by a user when the mist spray switch is operated.

22. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein:

an opening/closing door provided to cover a front opening of the refrigerating chamber,

the heating unit operates in conjunction with the opening or closing of the opening/closing door.

23. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:

an opening/closing door provided to cover a front surface opening of the refrigerating chamber; and

an operation panel arranged on the front surface of the opening and closing door,

the operation panel is provided with a mist spray switch for operating the atomizing device,

when the mist spray switch is operated, the atomizing device is operated for a predetermined time or a time set by a user.

24. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:

an opening/closing door provided to cover a front surface opening of the refrigerating chamber; and

an operation panel arranged on the front surface of the opening and closing door,

the atomization device operates when a switch provided on the operation panel is operated, or operates in conjunction with opening or closing of the opening/closing door.

25. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

An air volume adjusting unit for adjusting the amount of cold air blown into the refrigerating chamber,

the atomization device operates in conjunction with the opening of the air volume adjustment unit, or the atomization device stops in conjunction with the closing of the air volume adjustment unit.

26. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the refrigerating chamber includes a direct cooling air passage and an indirect cooling air passage, and the direct cooling air passage and the indirect cooling air passage are switched.

27. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a measuring unit that measures a current usage period; and

and a storage unit for storing a predetermined standard usage period.

28. The refrigerator according to claim 27, wherein:

determining a remaining usable usage period relative to the standard usage period from the current usage period measured by the measuring unit,

and displaying the remaining usage period, or displaying a message for urging purchase and service when the remaining usage period is less than a predetermined period.

29. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

one end of the water conveyance unit is disposed in the water storage container, and the other end is connected to the electrode holding unit.

30. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the atomizing device is provided with a compressor constituting a refrigeration cycle, and the atomizing device is operated or stopped in conjunction with the turning on or off of the compressor.