HK1124652B - Blower apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Air supply device

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to an air blowing device, and more particularly to an air blowing device equipped with an electrostatic atomizer (atomizer).

Background

In order to remove odor components (odor components), allergens, and the like, various conventional air filter cleaners (filter air cleaners) have been provided. However, these cleaners cannot remove odor components and allergens stuck to interior parts such as an instrument panel (dashboard), a seat, an enclosure wall, a curtain, etc., in a closed space such as a vehicle cabin, an indoor space, etc.

Recently, attention has been paid to an electrostatic atomizer which generates mist of charged fine water particles having a nano size by electrostatic atomization of water. The mist includes radicals such as superoxy (superoxide) and hydroxyl (hydroxyl) and has various effects such as: deodorizing effect, virus and fungus eliminating (reducing) and inhibiting effect, allergen inactivating effect, etc. These atomizers thus remove odorous components that stick to the internal components and also inactivate allergens (e.g. pollen) that stick to people or clothing that are about to enter the enclosed space.

For example, japanese patent application publication No.2006-151046, published on 6/15/2006, discloses an air blowing device (air conditioning device) equipped with an electrostatic atomizer. The atomizer is located in the air duct of the air supply device. The atomizer has a discharge electrode and a counter electrode (counter electrode) exposed to air flowing in an air duct. A high voltage is applied between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode, and a very small amount of water (dew drops) is periodically supplied to the discharge electrode. Thus, mist made of charged fine water particles is generated by electrostatic atomization, and this mist is taken into the vehicle cabin by air flowing in the air duct.

However, since a very small amount of water supplied to the discharge electrode is exposed to the air flowing in the air duct, the water may be blown out by the air flow before the mist is generated by the electrostatic atomization. Therefore, the Taylor cone (Taylor cone) is prevented from being stably formed by water at a high voltage, so that the mist of charged fine water particles cannot be sprayed into the vehicle cabin.

Therefore, in the air blowing device of the vehicle or the central heating system, it is conceivable to dispose the electrostatic atomizer outside the air duct of the device, thereby generating mist of charged fine water particles to supply such mist into the air duct. However, since the air flow in the air duct is generated by the blower fan, the pressure of the air flowing in the air duct is higher than the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the atomizer disposed outside the air duct cannot supply the mist into the air duct.

Therefore, it is conceivable that the atomizer is further provided with a fan to supply the mist into the air duct. However, since the fan that can be equipped to the atomizer has a smaller blowing power than the blowing fan, the atomizer cannot supply mist into the air duct.

Therefore, it is thought that if a low pressure region (space) exists in the air duct, the atomizer is disposed in the low pressure region. However, this limits the arrangement flexibility of the atomizer. Further, when the operation of the blower fan is changed in order to adjust the flow rate of the blower fan, the pressure of the air flowing in the air duct is also changed. Therefore, the atomizer cannot supply the mist into the air duct under the same conditions. Further, when the operation of the blower fan is adjusted to the maximum, the air pressure of the air flowing in the air duct is increased, so that it is difficult to supply the mist into the air duct.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to generate mist composed of charged fine water particles by stable electrostatic atomization, supply the mist into an air duct by a simple structure without affecting an air flow flowing in the air duct and without restricting arrangement flexibility of an electrostatic atomizer; even if the arrangement of the atomizer and the pressure of the air flowing in the air duct are changed, the mist can be stably supplied into the air duct.

The air supply device comprises an air duct, an air supply fan and an electrostatic atomizer. The air duct has a suction port and a supply port. The blower fan is disposed in the air duct and generates an air flow from the suction port to the supply port. The electrostatic atomizer is configured to generate mist of charged fine water particles by electrostatic atomization to spray the mist into the air duct. In one aspect of the present invention, the electrostatic atomizer further includes a hollow body exposed to air in the air duct. The hollow body includes an electrostatic atomization chamber, a baffle, an inlet, and an outlet. An electrostatic atomization chamber is disposed within the hollow body, and a mist is generated in the electrostatic atomization chamber. The blocking member is disposed in the air path so that a part of the air flowing in the air path collides with a front portion of the blocking member, thereby obtaining pressurized air. An inlet is provided on the front side of the barrier so that pressurized air can enter the electrostatic atomization chamber via the inlet. All of the pressurized air from the electrostatically atomizing chamber, which is higher in pressure than the air pressure flowing in the air duct, flows out into the air duct through the outlet.

In the present invention, mist made of charged fine water particles is generated in the electrostatic atomization chamber without being exposed to the air flow (e.g., fast air flow) in the air duct. Therefore, when water is supplied into the electrostatically atomizing chamber, the water can be prevented from being blown off by the air flowing in the air passage. Pressurized air having a pressure higher than that of air flowing in the air duct flows out from the outlet of the hollow body into the air duct. Therefore, the atomizer can smoothly supply the mist generated in the electrostatic atomizing chamber to be carried by the pressurized air into the air duct. Also, the pressure of the air supplied from the outlet into the air duct can be made higher than the air flowing in the air duct by the simple structure of the hollow body having the electrostatic atomizing chamber, the barrier, the inlet, and the outlet. Further, the pressurized air flows out into the air duct by a pressure difference between the pressurized air and the air pressure flowing in the air duct. Thus, the mist can be supplied from the outlet into the air duct by a pressure difference (e.g., a slow air flow). Thus, even if the arrangement of the atomizer and the pressure of the air flowing in the air duct are changed, the atomizer can stably supply the mist to the air duct. If the air supply device is used in a vehicle or a central heating system, the atomizer may spray mist onto internal components, such as an instrument panel, a seat, an enclosure, a curtain, etc., within an enclosed space, such as a vehicle cabin, an indoor space, etc. In this case, the atomizer may remove or decompose the odor components stuck to the inner member, and may also inactivate allergens stuck to a person or laundry to enter the enclosed space.

Preferably, the electrostatic atomizer includes an electrostatic atomizing electrode, a water supply device, and a high voltage generator. The electrostatic atomization electrode is disposed in the electrostatic atomization chamber. The water supply device is configured to supply water to the electrostatic atomizing electrode. The high voltage generator is configured to apply a high voltage to the electrostatic atomization electrode, thereby applying the high voltage to the water to generate the mist.

Preferably, the outlet is provided at the rear side of the barrier.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air supply arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an air delivery device in one embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 3 is a schematic view of an air blowing device in one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an air supply arrangement 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The air blowing device 1 is used for, for example, a vehicle air conditioner.

The air blowing device 1 in the vehicle air conditioner has an air duct 17, a blowing fan 18, a heat exchanger 19, and an electrostatic atomizer 10.

The air duct 17 has a suction port 171 and a supply port 172. The blowing fan 18 is provided in the air duct 17 and generates an air flow (a) from the suction port 171 to the supply port 172. The blower fan 18 is also positioned close to the suction port 171. The heat exchanger 19 is disposed downstream of the blower fan 18, and is also configured to cool, heat, or dry air from the blower fan 18. For example, an evaporator and a heater are used for the heat exchanger 19. The blower fan 18 and the heat exchanger 19 are operated together with the vehicle air conditioner. In short, the fan 18 sucks outdoor air or indoor air (vehicle cabin air) through the suction port 171, and then supplies the conditioned or heated air from the heat exchanger 19 into the vehicle cabin via the supply port 172.

The electrostatic atomizer 10 is configured to generate a mist of charged fine water particles by electrostatic atomization, and to spray (discharge) the mist into the air duct 17. For example, the atomizer 10 is formed of a hollow body 11, a vent pipe 12, a cooling fan 13, a high-pressure device 14, a cooling device 15, and a controller (not shown).

The hollow body 11 is integrated with the vent tube 12 such that a lower portion of the hollow body 11 is disposed in the vent tube 12 made of an insulating material. The hollow body 11 may be made of an insulating material. A cooling fan 13 is provided in the ventilation duct 12 and generates an air flow. The hollow body 11 is located close to the outlet 122 of the ventilation tube 12 and the cooling fan 13 is located close to the inlet 121 of the ventilation tube 12. When the upper portion of the hollow body 11 (the core of the electrostatic atomizer 10) is inserted into a hole 173 formed at any position between, for example, the heat exchanger 19 and the supply port 172, the ventilation pipe 12 is connected to the outside of the ventilation duct 17.

The high voltage device 14 is formed of an I-shaped electrostatically atomizing electrode 141, an annular counter electrode 142 and a high voltage generator (not shown). The electrodes 141 and 142 are disposed opposite to each other in the hollow body 11. In this embodiment, the electrode 141 is connected to a hole at the bottom of the hollow body 11, and the electrode 142 is fixed to the inside of the hollow body 11 via an insulator (not shown). The high voltage generator is connected to a power source (not shown) including a vehicle battery, and is also configured to be actuated (activated) with a controller so as to apply a high voltage between the electrodes 141 and 142.

The cooling device (water supply device) 15 is connected to a power supply, and is also configured to cool the electrode 141 to generate condensed water (dew drops) on the electrode 141. For example, the cooling device 15 is formed of a peltier unit (peltier unit), a cooling member 152, and a heat sink 153.

The peltier unit 151 includes two peltier circuit boards and a plurality of bismuth telluride (BiTe) thermoelectric elements. Each peltier circuit board has an insulating plate made of a high thermal conductive material such as alumina or aluminum nitride, and a circuit formed on one side of the insulating plate. The peltier circuit boards are also oppositely disposed so that the circuits face each other. The thermoelectric elements are arranged between peltier circuit boards, and the circuits of the circuit boards connect adjacent thermoelectric elements. The thermoelectric element is energized (energized) through the peltier input lead, thereby moving thermal energy from one peltier circuit board (cooling portion) to the other peltier circuit board (heat dissipation portion). The cooling portion is connected to the cooling member 152, and the heat radiating portion is connected to the heat sink 153. In the present embodiment, the heat sink 153 is a fin unit. The cooling member 152 is connected to the base of the electrode 141. To control the electrostatic atomization, the controller controls the cooling fan 13, the high-voltage generator of the high-voltage device 14, and the peltier unit 151 of the cooling device 15. The electrode 141, the peltier unit 151, and the like constitute a core of the electrostatic atomizer.

A cooling device 15 is connected to the bottom outside of the hollow body 11 and is arranged in the ventilation pipe 12. Therefore, the heat sink 153 is cooled by the cooling fan 13. A controller, a high-pressure generator, and the like are provided in a storage space in the ventilation pipe 12 divided by a partition (not shown).

The hollow body 11 has an electrostatic atomization chamber 111, a barrier 112, an inlet 113, and an outlet 114. The electrostatic atomization chamber 111 is provided in the hollow body 11. The electrodes 141 and 142 are provided in the electrostatic atomization chamber 111, and a mist of charged fine water particles is generated in the electrostatic atomization chamber 111. The blocking member 112 is provided in the air duct 17 so that a part of the air flowing in the air duct 17 collides with the front portion of the blocking member 112 to obtain (generate) pressurized air (P2). The inlet 113 is provided on the front side of the barrier 112 so that pressurized air (P2) can enter the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 via the inlet 113. The outlet 114 is provided on the rear side of the blocking member 112 so that all of the pressurized air from the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 having a higher air pressure than the air (P1) flowing in the air duct 17 can flow out into the air duct 17 via the outlet 114.

Specifically, the electrode 141 protrudes from the bottom of the hollow body 11 into the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 so that the protruding direction of the electrode 141 intersects the flow direction of the air (a) in the air duct 17 at a given angle (e.g., right angle). The blocking member 112 extends toward the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 via the inlet 113 such that the blocking member 112 is disposed parallel to the protruding direction of the electrode 141. Therefore, the interior of the hollow body 11 is divided into an inflow channel 115 and an outflow channel 116, and the inflow channel 115 and the outflow channel 116 are respectively disposed immediately in front of and behind the blocking member 112. Therefore, the inflow passage 115 connected to the inlet 113 is disposed in parallel to the outflow passage 116 connected to the outlet 114, and the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 is disposed between the passages 115 and 116. The opening directions of the inlet 113 and the outlet 114 are both parallel to the projecting direction of the electrode 141. Incidentally, the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 may include a region above the inner end portion of the baffle 112. In brief, the electrostatic atomization chamber of the present invention is disposed between an inlet and an outlet.

The operation of the electrostatic atomizer 10 will now be explained. When the atomizer 10 is operated, the peltier unit 151 is energized, and then the cooling member 152 is cooled by the peltier unit 151. Thereby, the electrode 141 is cooled by the cooling member 152, and then warm water vapor around the electrode 141 is cooled, so that condensed water (water droplets) is formed on the electrode 141. Then, in the case where water has been supplied to the electrode 141, a high voltage is applied between the electrodes 141 and 142, and then the high voltage is applied to the water supplied to the tip of the electrode 141, whereby the water supplied to the electrode 141 rises like a cone at the tip of the electrode 141 to form a taylor cone toward the electrode 142. Subsequently, the electric charges are concentrated on the tip of the taylor cone, whereby the taylor cone is further grown by the enhanced electric field at the tip of the taylor cone. Therefore, as the taylor cone grows, the charge density at the tip of the taylor cone further increases, thereby adding a large energy (repulsive force generated by the high density of charges) to the water at the tip of the taylor cone. When the repulsive force exceeds the surface tension of the taylor cone, Rayleigh splitting (splitting and scattering) occurs. Rayleigh breakup is repeated, thereby generating a large amount of mist composed of negatively charged fine water particles, which are nano-sized, in the electrostatic atomization chamber 111.

In the air duct 17, the blower fan 18 generates the air flow (a), and thus the pressure (P1) of the air flowing in the air duct 17 will increase to be greater than the atmospheric pressure. On the other hand, the protruding direction of the electrode 141 and the flow direction of the air (a) in the ventilation duct 17 intersect at a given angle (e.g., right angle), and the blocking member 112 is disposed parallel to the protruding direction. The opening direction of the inlet 113 is also parallel to the protruding direction of the electrode 141. Therefore, a part of the air flowing in the air duct 17 collides with the front portion of the stopper 112, thereby obtaining pressurized air (P2) compared with the air (P1) flowing in the air duct 17. Then, the pressurized air enters the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 via the inlet 113, and the pressure of the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 is the same as the pressure of the pressurized air. Therefore, since a pressure difference P2-P1(P2 > P1) is generated between the outlet 114 and the inside of the air duct 17, the air in the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 can flow out into the air duct 17 by the pressure difference. Thereby, the mist generated in the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 is carried by the airflow generated due to the pressure difference and sent into the air duct 17. In short, the pressure P2 in the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 serves as the pressure of the discharge air for discharging the air in the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 into the air duct 17.

Thus, the mist is carried by such an air flow (e.g., a slow air flow) in the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 without being exposed to the air flow (e.g., a fast air flow) in the air duct 17, and then sent out. Therefore, the water supplied to the electrode 141 can be prevented from being blown off by the air flowing in the air duct 17. Stable electrostatic atomization can be achieved, and the mist can be supplied into the air duct 17.

The core of the electrostatic atomizer 10 may be provided at any position of the air duct 17. Even if the pressure of the air flowing in the air duct 17 is changed by adjusting the blower fan 18, the mist can be sent into the air duct 17. In the same manner as the conventional art, the electrostatic atomizer 10 can spray the mist to the entire space (for example, a vehicle cabin), and has such advantages: deodorizing, inactivating allergen, sterilizing, and purifying (reducing).

In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, a flat guide 1121 projects forwardly from the outer end of the stop 112. In this case, the pressurized air (P2) can be efficiently introduced into the electrostatic atomization chamber 111 via the inlet 113.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the air blowing device 1 does not have the heat exchanger 19. In this case, the apparatus 1 supplies air only by the blower fan 18.

In one embodiment, the outlet 114 is positioned such that the outlet 114 opens toward the supply port 172. In this case, the opening direction of the outlet 114 and the flow direction of the air (a) in the air duct 17 may intersect, and the opening direction may also be parallel to the air flow direction.

In one embodiment, the air supply arrangement 1 is used in a central heating and air conditioning system of a building, or other air conditioning arrangement.

In one embodiment, all or a portion (preferably a portion of the outlet side) of the hollow body 11 made of a conductive material, grounded, and isolated from the electrode 141 may be used instead of the counter electrode 142. In this case, a taylor cone is formed toward the hollow body 11 due to a potential difference generated between the electrode 141 and the hollow body 11. Similarly, instead of the counter electrode 142, all or a part of the ventilation duct 17 (preferably a part in front of the electrode 141) made of a conductive material, grounded, and isolated from the electrode 141 may be used. In this case, a taylor cone is formed toward the air duct 17 due to a potential difference generated between the electrode 141 and the hollow body 11.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the basic spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (3)

1. An air supply arrangement comprising:

an air duct having a suction port and a supply port;

a blower fan disposed in the air duct and generating an air flow from the suction port to the supply port;

an electrostatic atomizer configured to generate a mist of charged fine water particles by electrostatic atomization, the mist being sprayed into the air duct;

wherein the electrostatic atomizer further comprises a hollow body exposed to the air in the air duct;

the hollow body includes:

an electrostatic atomization chamber which is disposed within the hollow body and in which a mist is generated;

a blocking member provided in the air duct so that a part of the air flowing in the air duct collides with a front portion of the blocking member to obtain pressurized air;

an inlet provided at a front side of the blocking member so that the pressurized air can enter the electrostatic atomization chamber through the inlet; and

an outlet through which all of the pressurized air from the electrostatically atomizing chamber, which is higher in pressure than the air pressure flowing in the air duct, can flow out into the air duct.

2. The air supply device of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic atomizer comprises:

an electrostatic atomization electrode disposed in the electrostatic atomization chamber;

a water supply device configured to supply water to the electrostatic atomizing electrode; and

a high voltage generator configured to apply a high voltage to the electrostatic atomization electrode, and further to apply a high voltage to the water to generate the mist.

3. The air supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outlet is provided on a rear side of the blocking member.