JP2008164282A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of restraining permanently slime from being generated in a drain pan. <P>SOLUTION: A draining pump 12 is operated until a water level of the drain pan 22 for receiving drain water generated in a heat exchanger 16 comes to a water level incapable of pumping up by the draining pump 12, when operating the air conditioner, the operation of the draining pump 12 is stopped when coming to the water level, the draining pump 12 is operated after stopping the air conditioner, the drain water is pumped up to an electrolytic unit 30, and an electrode of the electrolytic unit 30 is electrified therein. The drain water treated in the electrolytic unit 30 is returned to the drain pan 22 in accompaniment to the stop of the drain pump to prevent the slime from being generated in the drain pan. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner including a drain pan that receives drain water.

  Generally, an air conditioner including a heat exchanger and a drain pan that receives drain water generated by the heat exchanger is known. In this type, slime is easily generated in the drain water stored in the drain pan, which causes clogging of the drain pan and drain hose.

In order to solve this problem, conventionally, a drain pan provided with a slime generation inhibitor has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-6-159710

  However, in the conventional configuration, since the chemical is mixed with drain water to suppress the generation of slime chemically, the effect is lost when there is no chemical soaked in, and eventually the durability, that is, the generation of slime is suppressed. There is a problem that there is difficulty in sustainability.

  Then, the objective of this invention is providing the air conditioner which eliminates the subject which the prior art mentioned above has, and can suppress permanently that slime generate | occur | produces in a drain pan.

  The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, a drain pan that receives drain water generated by the heat exchanger, a drain pump that pumps drain water accumulated in the drain pan, and drains the drain water to the outside via the drain hose, and the drain hose. Provided with an electrolysis unit for treating drain water by applying a voltage between the electrodes and a control means for controlling the operation of the drain pump, and this control means is used when the air conditioner is in operation. The drain pump is operated until the water level reaches a level that cannot be pumped by the drain pump, the drain pump is stopped when the water level is reached, and after the air conditioner is stopped, the drain pump is operated and the drain water is electrolyzed. While pumping up the unit, energizing the electrode of the electrolysis unit, drain water treated by the electrolysis unit, along with the operation stop of the drain pump, Back to serial drain pan, characterized by being possible to prevent the occurrence of slime in the drain pan.

In the present invention, when the water level reaches a level that cannot be pumped by the drain pump, the operation of the drain pump is stopped. Therefore, the drain water remaining in the drain hose rising portion and the electrolysis unit is returned to the drain pan.
Then, the drain water returned to the drain pan is pumped up to the electrolysis unit by operating the drain pump after the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, and at this time, the electrode of the electrolysis unit is energized to treat the drain water. Therefore, a small amount of drain water is processed in a short time by energizing the electrode, and this drain water is returned to the drain pan by its own weight when the drain pump is stopped. Generation of slime in the drain pan can be suppressed.

In this case, the electrolysis unit is provided with a water level sensor for detecting the level of drain water, and when the control means operates a drain pump and the water level sensor detects a predetermined water level, the electrolysis unit is energized. May be.
The electrolysis unit is provided with a water level sensor that detects the level of drain water, and when the control means stops the operation of the drain pump and the water level sensor detects a drop in the water level, energization of the electrode of the electrolysis unit is terminated. May be.
After stopping the operation of the air conditioner, the drain pump may be operated intermittently and control for energizing the electrodes of the electrolysis unit may be executed.

The electrodes may be arranged in pairs in the electrolysis unit substantially vertically.
The electrolysis unit may be provided with a vertically long electrolytic cell, a drain water inlet may be provided at a lower part of the electrolytic cell, and a drain water outlet may be provided at an upper part of the electrolytic cell.
The electrolysis unit includes a vertically long electrolytic cell. Electrodes are arranged in pairs in a substantially vertical manner, an drain water inlet is provided at the lower part of the electrolytic cell, and an drain water outlet is provided at the upper part of the electrolytic cell. It may be done.
In the present invention, since the electrolytic cell is vertically long, the water level in the electrolytic cell is high even with a small amount of drain water as compared with the case where the electrolytic cell is horizontally long. Therefore, the electrode is easily immersed in the accumulated drain water, and the electrolytic effect is quickly exhibited.

  In this invention, generation | occurrence | production of the slime to a drain pan can be suppressed permanently.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an air conditioner body and a decorative panel, and FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the air conditioner body.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an air conditioner, and this air conditioner 1 is combined with an outdoor unit (not shown) and includes a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and the like, as shown in FIG. Thus, it is suspended and fixed in the ceiling space 41 of the building 40. 1 and 2 is an example of a four-way ceiling cassette type air conditioner 1, which has an air conditioner body 2 and a decorative panel 3, and a suction port 4 is provided at the center of the decorative panel 3. An air outlet 5 is opened around the suction port 4 of the decorative panel 3. Four bolts 42 are set vertically downward from the building 40, and these four bolts 42 are respectively fixed to the hanging metal fittings 43 of the air conditioner body 2.

  In the air conditioner body 2, control devices such as a fan motor 6, an indoor fan 7 (turbo fan), a partition plate 8, a drain pump 12, a drain outlet 13, a refrigerant pipe 14, a drain pump control means, and a control means are provided. The electrical box 15 and the heat exchanger 16 that are provided are arranged.

  The indoor fan 7 is arranged corresponding to the fan nozzle 17. The heat exchanger 16 is bent into a substantially rectangular shape and is disposed near the four air outlets 5 so as to surround the indoor fan 7. The partition plate 8 connects the tube plates 21 and 21 of the heat exchanger 16, and a drain pump 12, a drain discharge port 13, an indoor mechanical valve is provided in a space 20 outside the heat exchanger 16 partitioned by the partition plate 8. 18 etc. are accommodated. The partition plate 8 prevents air from the indoor fan 7 from leaking out during operation, and the presence of the partition plate 8 ensures that the heat exchanged air from the four outlets 5 is blown into the room R. It has become so.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram of a drain pan. In FIG. 3, a drain pan 22 is provided below the heat exchanger 16. At the bottom of the drain pan 22, a drain reservoir 22A that is lowered by one step is formed, and the drain pump 12 is disposed in the drain reservoir 22A. For example, a drain pump drive unit 23 such as a DC motor is connected to the drain pump 12, and a drain pump control unit 24 that can control the rotation speed is connected to the drain pump drive unit 23.

The drain pump control means 24 includes an indoor fan operation stop detection means 26 (hereinafter simply referred to as fan operation detection means) for detecting whether the indoor fan 7 is operating, and a rotation speed setting means for setting the rotation speed of the drain pump 12. 27.
The rotation speed setting means 27 sets the drain pump 12 to the maximum rotation speed and outputs it to the drain pump drive means 23 when the fan operation detection means 26 detects that the indoor fan 7 is operating. After the fan operation detection means 26 detects the stop of the indoor fan 7, the minimum rotation speed that can be drained is output to the drain pump drive means 23. Then, the drain pump drive unit 23 operates the drain pump 12 at the rotation number output from the rotation number setting unit 27.

  Further, a drain hose 19 for draining drain water to the outside of the machine is connected to the drain port 13 of the drain pump 12. The drain hose 19 includes a rising portion 19A extending upward, and the drain water remaining in the rising portion 19A is returned to the drain pan 22 when the operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped. Yes.

In the present embodiment, the electrolysis unit 30 is disposed on the rising portion 19 </ b> A of the drain hose 19. The electrolysis unit 30 includes a vertically long electrolytic cell 31 having a diameter larger than that of the drain hose 21 and a pair of electrodes 32 and 33 disposed substantially perpendicular to the vertically long electrolytic cell 31, and is applied to the electrodes 32 and 33. By doing so, drain water is treated.
These electrodes 32 and 33 are connected to the control means 34. When voltage is applied to the electrodes 32 and 33 under the control of the control means 34, the drain water flowing into the electrolytic cell 31 is electrolyzed to react with the active oxygen species. (For example, ozone) is generated.
A drain water inlet is provided in the lower part 31 </ b> A of the vertically long electrolytic tank 31, and a drain water outlet is provided in the upper part 31 </ b> B of the electrolytic tank 31. In this embodiment, since the electrolytic cell 31 is vertically long, the water level in the electrolytic cell 31 becomes high even with a small amount of drain water, compared to the case where it is horizontally long. Therefore, the electrodes 32 and 33 are easily immersed in the accumulated drain water, and the electrolytic effect in the electrolytic cell 31 is quickly exhibited.

  Here, the reactive oxygen species are oxygen molecules having an oxidation activity higher than that of normal oxygen and related substances, and so-called narrow definition such as superoxide anion, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, or hydrogen peroxide. These active oxygens include so-called broadly active oxygens such as ozone and hypohalogen acids.

This active oxygen species prevents generation of slime and makes it difficult for slime to be generated in the drain pan 22 and the drain hose 19. The electrode material is preferably one that can generate active oxygen species by electrolyzing drain water (one that does not contain chlorine, such as tap water), such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide, radicals, etc. Specifically, platinum, lead oxide, platinum tantalum and the like are suitable. Among these, a platinum tantalum electrode is most preferable in this respect because ozone can be stably generated with high efficiency by electrolysis even from drain water having a small ion species. At this time, in the cathode electrode,
4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ + (4OH ⁻ ) → 2H ₂ + (4OH ⁻ )
And the anode electrode
2H ₂ O → 4H ⁺ + O ₂ + 4e ⁻
At the same time as
3H ₂ O → O ₃ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻
2H ₂ O → O ₃ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻
Reaction occurs.
Thus, ozone (O ₃ ) generated at the anode electrode is quickly dissolved in the drain water, and the slime prevention effect is exhibited by the drain water in which the ozone is dissolved (hereinafter referred to as ozone water). Specifically, since the ozone water is returned onto the drain pan 22 as the drain pump 12 is stopped, generation of slime in the drain pan 22 is prevented. Further, the ozone water discharged to the outside through the drain hose 19 prevents slime from being generated in the drain hose 19.

In addition, a heat storage material 35 is disposed inside the electrolytic cell 31 of the electrolytic unit 30. The heat storage material 35 stores the cold heat of the drain water generated during the cooling operation. Here, the reason for providing the heat storage material 35 will be described.
In general, as shown in FIG. 4, it is known that ozone has higher solubility in water as the water temperature is lower. For this reason, at the time of electrolysis of drain water, it is desirable to create ozone water having a high ozone concentration by keeping the temperature of the drain water low.

  However, the drain water stored on the drain pan 22 is warmed by the ambient temperature over time. For this reason, in this structure, by providing the heat storage material 35 in the electrolytic cell 31, at the time of the electrolysis immediately after the cooling operation, the cold heat of the drain water discharged to the outside is stored in the heat storage material 35, and the subsequent electrolysis is performed. In some cases, ozone water having a high ozone concentration can be easily generated by cooling the drain water supplied to the electrolytic bath 31 with the cold heat.

  Further, the electrolysis unit 30 includes a stirring blade (stirring means) 36 for stirring the drain water flowing into the electrolytic cell 31. The stirring blade 36 is connected to stirring blade driving means (hereinafter simply referred to as blade driving means) 37 such as a DC motor. The blade driving means 37 operates the stirring blade 36 during electrolysis under the control of the control means 34, thereby stirring the drain water in the electrolytic cell 31 and efficiently performing the electrolysis. As described above, the DC motor is taken as an example of the stirring blade driving means 37, but the stirring blade 36 may be controlled using the flow of drain water as a driving source.

Next, the operation of the drain pump control means 24 will be described.
When the cooling operation of the air conditioner 1 is started, the compressor and the indoor fan 7 start the operation. When the indoor fan 7 starts operation, the fan operation detection means 26 of the drain pump control means 24 detects that the indoor fan 7 is in operation, and the rotation speed setting means 27 sets the drain pump 12 to the maximum rotation speed. Then, the drain pump drive means 23 operates the drain pump 12 at the maximum rotation speed. When the drain pump 12 is operated, the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22 is pumped up and drained outside the apparatus.

  When the cooling operation is stopped and the compressor and the indoor fan 7 stop operating, the fan operation detecting means 26 detects the stop of the operation of the indoor fan 7. When the indoor fan 7 is stopped, the rotation speed setting means 27 sets the rotation speed of the drain pump drive means 23 to the minimum rotation speed that can be drained, and the drain pump drive means 23 operates the drain pump 12 at this rotation speed. . By operating the drain pump 12 at the minimum number of rotations capable of draining, the noise of the drain pump 12 such as watering noise is minimized, and it adheres to the heat exchanger 16 and flows down after the compressor and the indoor fan 7 are stopped. The drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22 is drained.

  Next, when the water level of the drain pan 22 falls below a certain value, the drain pump 12 cannot drain, and the operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped. The timing of stopping the drain pump 12 may be set to stop after the indoor fan 7 has stopped, for example, after being operated for about 20 minutes, and a water level sensor or the like (not shown) is provided in the drain pan 22. A sensor may be provided and the operation of the drain pump 12 may be stopped when the water level of the drain pan 22 reaches a minimum water level that can be drained.

  By the way, when the operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped, the drain water remaining in the rising portion 19A of the drain hose 19 is returned to the drain pan 22 by its own weight. Is in a state. In the present embodiment, the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22 is pumped up to the electrolysis unit 30 by the drain pump 12, electrolyzed by the electrolysis unit 30, and then returned to the drain pan 22 again as ozone water, thereby preventing generation of slime. ing.

  Here, the electrolysis operation of the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, this electrolysis operation is performed intermittently (for example, every 3 hours) when the operation of the air conditioner is stopped.

  The drain pump control means 24 operates the drain pump 12 (step S1). In this case, the drain pump 12 is operated at the above-described minimum rotational speed, thereby minimizing noise such as watering noise of the drain pump 12.

  Subsequently, the control unit 34 determines whether or not the level of the drain water supplied into the electrolytic bath 31 of the electrolysis unit 30 has risen to a predetermined position (step S2). Specifically, this predetermined position is a position where the upper ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 arranged in the electrolytic cell 31 are submerged, and this position is detected by a water level sensor (not shown).

In this determination, when the drain water level rises to a predetermined position (step S2; Yes), the control means 34 starts energization of the electrodes 32 and 33 (step S3), and electrolyzes the drain water. Thus, ozone water in which ozone which is an active oxygen species is dissolved is generated. In this case, as the electrodes 32 and 33 are energized, the control unit 34 operates the blade driving unit 37 to operate the stirring blade 36.
Here, the heat storage means 35 stores the cool heat of the drain water supplied at the time of electrolysis immediately after the cooling operation, and gives this cool heat to the drain water supplied at the time of the next and subsequent electrolysis, so that the next time. The drain water supplied during the subsequent electrolysis is cooled. Thereby, ozone water with a high ozone concentration can be easily generated.

  Subsequently, the control means 34 determines whether or not a predetermined time (5 minutes in the present embodiment) has elapsed since the energization of the electrodes 32 and 33 (step S4), and the predetermined time has elapsed (step S4; Yes). ), The operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped via the drain pump control means 24 (step S5). In the present embodiment, when the operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped, the ozone water (drain water) in the electrolytic tank 31 of the electrolysis unit 30 and the rising portion 19 </ b> A of the drain hose 19 is returned to the drain pan 22.

  Next, the control means 34 determines whether or not the water level of the ozone water in the electrolytic cell 31 has fallen below the predetermined position (step S6). In this determination, when the ozone water level falls below a predetermined position (step S6; Yes), the energization to the electrodes 32 and 33 is stopped and the operation of the stirring blade 36 is stopped (step S7). As a result, it is possible to prevent the electrolysis tank 31 from being energized in a state where water is not supplied, so that the life of the electrodes 32 and 33 can be prolonged.

  According to the present embodiment, ozone water generated by electrolytic decomposition is returned to the drain pan 22, thereby preventing slime from being generated. In this configuration, slime is not permanently generated in the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22, and the drain pan 22 is purified and a deodorizing effect is exhibited. Further, by causing this drain water to flow down to the drain pipe 19, generation of slime in the drain pipe 19 is also permanently suppressed. From this point of view, maintenance-free operation of the drain pan 22 is achieved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, after the cooling operation is completed, the control unit 34 performs electrolysis of the drain water remaining in the start-up portion 19A of the drain hose 19, and thus generates high-concentration ozone water in a short time. It is possible to prevent slime from being generated in the drain pan 22 by the ozone water.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the electrolytic tank 31 of the electrolysis unit 30 is provided with the heat storage means 35 that stores the cold heat of the drain water and cools the drain water supplied during the subsequent electrolysis. The drain water temperature can be kept low during the subsequent electrolysis, and high-concentration ozone water can be generated. Moreover, in this embodiment, since the electrolysis unit 30 is equipped with the stirring blade 36 which stirs the drain water which flowed in the electrolytic vessel 31, it can perform electrolysis efficiently.

  The air conditioner incorporating the above electrode not only reduces troubles in the drainage system and facilitates maintenance, but also purifies the inside of the air conditioning equipment, contributing to more comfortable air conditioning. It is effective when installed in buildings where many unspecified people gather, such as schools, hospitals, and convenience stores.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on one Embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the electrolysis operation is performed every predetermined time. However, the ozone concentration on the drain pan is detected, and the electrolysis operation may be performed when the concentration falls below a predetermined value. .

  In the above embodiment, the electrolysis operation is performed only when the cooling operation of the air conditioner 1 is stopped. However, when the drain pump is operating during the cooling operation, the electrode is energized to drain the drain water. It is good also as a structure which decomposes | disassembles. In this case, ozone water generated by electrolysis is discharged to the outside of the machine via the drain hose 19, but since the slime inside the drain hose 19 is removed by the ozone water, the drain hose 19 is cleaned. It becomes possible to keep. Further, when the drain pump is stopped, ozone water in the drain hose 19 and the electrolytic bath is returned to the drain pan, so that the generation of slime in the drain pan 22 is suppressed, and the drain pan 22 can be kept clean.

Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the structure which provides the thermal storage material 35 in the electrolytic vessel 31, it is good also as a structure which provides such a thermal storage material in the drain hose 19. FIG.
Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the structure which generate | occur | produces ozone as an active oxygen seed | species, it is good also as a structure which generate | occur | produces active oxygen seed | species other than ozone by changing an electrode to an appropriate thing.

  In addition, when scale is deposited on the electrode (cathode) due to electrolysis of drain water, electrical conductivity is lowered, and continuous electrolysis becomes difficult. In this case, it is effective to reverse the polarity of electrolysis (switch between positive and negative of the electrode). The scale deposited on the cathode electrode is removed by electrolysis using the cathode electrode as the anode electrode. In this polarity reversal control, for example, it may be reversed periodically using a timer, or may be reversed irregularly, such as reversed every time the operation is started. Further, an increase in electrolytic resistance (decrease in electrolysis current or increase in electrolysis voltage) may be detected, and the polarity may be reversed based on this result. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which performs the electrolysis of the drain water collected in the drain pan 22 not only in cooling operation but in the dehumidification operation in which drain water is generated.

It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the air conditioner of this invention. It is a bottom view similarly. It is a block diagram which shows electrode arrangement | positioning. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the water temperature at the time of electrolysis, and ozone water concentration. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of electrolysis operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner 16 Heat exchanger 12 Drain pump 22 Drain pan 30 Electrolytic unit 32, 33 Electrode 35 Heat storage means 36 Stirring blade (stirring means)
34 Control means

Claims (7)

A heat exchanger,
A drain pan that receives drain water generated by the heat exchanger;
A drain pump that pumps up drain water accumulated in the drain pan and drains it to the outside through a drain hose;
An electrolysis unit that is provided at a rising portion of the drain hose and applies drain voltage to treat drain water;
Control means for controlling the operation of the drain pump,
When this control means operates the air conditioner, it operates the drain pump until the water level reaches a water level that cannot be pumped by the drain pump, stops the operation of the drain pump after reaching the water level, and after the operation of the air conditioner stops , Operate the drain pump, pump the drain water to the electrolysis unit, energize the electrode of the electrolysis unit,
The air conditioner characterized in that the drain water treated by the electrolysis unit is returned to the drain pan when the drain pump is stopped to prevent generation of slime in the drain pan. The electrolysis unit includes a water level sensor that detects the level of drain water,
The control means is
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein when the drain pump is operated and the water level sensor detects a predetermined water level, the electrode of the electrolysis unit is energized. The electrolysis unit includes a water level sensor that detects the level of drain water,
The control means is
3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein when the operation of the drain pump is stopped and the water level sensor detects a drop in the water level, energization to the electrodes of the electrolysis unit is terminated.   The air according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein after the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, the drain pump is intermittently operated and control for energizing the electrodes of the electrolysis unit is executed. Harmony machine.   The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a pair substantially vertically in the electrolysis unit.   5. The electrolytic unit according to claim 1, wherein the electrolytic unit includes a vertically long electrolytic cell, and an inlet of drain water is provided at a lower part of the electrolytic cell, and an outlet of drain water is provided at an upper part of the electrolytic cell. An air conditioner according to any one of the above.   The electrolysis unit includes a vertically long electrolytic cell. Electrodes are arranged in pairs in a substantially vertical manner, an inlet for drain water is provided at the lower part of the electrolytic cell, and an outlet for drain water is provided at the upper part of the electrolytic cell. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air conditioner is provided.

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