JP3781038B2 - Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus having functions such as prevention of microbial growth and deodorization.

  FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional microbial growth prevention apparatus described in, for example, the Tech company catalog. In the figure, 1 is air or oxygen, 50 is an electrode plate coated with silicon coating, and 3 is a high voltage (approximately 12,000V).

Next, the operation will be described.
A high voltage is applied to the electrode plate 50 coated with silicon to cause a discharge in the space of the electrode plate 50. At that time, oxygen 1 (in the air) is changed (30 ₂ → 20 ₃ ) by the energy of countless discharge (corona discharge) generated in the discharge space, and ozone is generated. As shown in FIG. 26, by supplying a gas containing ozone to food stored in the refrigerator, the propagation of microorganisms generated in the food is prevented.
In the figure, 7 is a refrigerator, 8 is food stored in the refrigerator 7, 9 is a cooler of the refrigerator 7, 10 is a gas in the refrigerator 7, 11 is a fan that takes in the gas 10, and 12 generates ozone by discharge. An ozone generator 13 is an ozone sterilization / deodorization chamber that sterilizes and deodorizes microorganisms such as bacteria and sputum contained in the gas 10 and malodorous components with ozone, and 15 is a clean gas that has been sterilized and deodorized.

Next, the operation will be described.
The inside of the refrigerator 7 is cooled by the cooler 9 provided in the refrigerator 7, and the food 8 is stored. On the other hand, the ozone generator 12 injects ozone into the gas 10 containing soot, bacteria, or malodorous components taken in by the fan 11 so that the ozone concentration in the gas 10 is several ppm to several tens of ppm. . The gas 10 into which ozone has been injected in this way is guided to the ozone sterilization / deodorization chamber 13, and soot, bacteria, or malodorous components contained in the gas 10 are sterilized or deodorized.

  However, since the gas 10 in the ozone sterilization / deodorization chamber 13 contains several ppm to several tens of ppm of ozone, it is harmful to the human body if released as it is, and equipment such as a heat exchanger and a fan 11 is used. There is a risk of corrosion (specifically, if the ozone concentration in the refrigerator 7 is increased to 0.1 ppm or more, the color changes or changes in quality depending on the type of food, the heat exchanger 9 of the cooler 9, the fan 11, etc. The equipment will corrode).

  When preventing the growth of microorganisms using ozone, the ozone concentration of the gas 10 must be suppressed to 0.1 ppm or less in consideration of adverse effects on the human body, etc., and this ozone concentration cannot sufficiently prevent the growth of microorganisms. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The first object of the present invention is to prevent the growth of microorganisms by supplying ions that do not adversely affect the human body or to improve the purification capacity of the air-conditioned space. High refrigeration and air conditioning equipment is obtained.
The second object is to obtain a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus capable of controlling the amount of generated ions in order to more effectively prevent the propagation of the microorganisms by ions or to purify the air-conditioned space. Is.

  The third object is to change the amount of ions in the space when the absolute humidity of the space for storing microbial breeding objects such as food or the air-conditioned space changes. Thus, a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus capable of maintaining the ability of preventing the growth of microorganisms and purifying the air-conditioned space by controlling the amount of ions to a predetermined value is obtained.

  The fourth purpose is to control the amount of ozone generated within a predetermined range to suppress the disadvantages caused by ozone, and to further improve the action of preventing the growth of microorganisms and purifying the air-conditioned space by the synergistic effect of ozone and ions. To obtain a freezing and air conditioning system.

  Furthermore, the fifth object is to obtain a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus that can easily recognize the catalyst life when the ozonolysis chamber is composed of an ozonolysis catalyst.

  The refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention includes a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium and the heat exchange air, a blower that supplies the heat exchange air to the heat exchanger, and an air passage that passes through the heat exchanger. It is located on the downstream side of the blower and ionizes electrons to the passing air to ionize the gas in the air, and decomposes ozone contained in the air ionized in the ionization chamber It was equipped with a microorganism propagation prevention device composed of an ozonolysis chamber to be removed, and the ozonolysis chamber could be driven and stopped independently of the ionization chamber.

  Further, the ozonolysis chamber is driven when a person is present in the space to be treated, and is stopped when no person is present.

  Furthermore, the ozonolysis chamber has a grid-like heating resistor and a current supply unit that supplies and stops current to the heating resistor.

  Further, the ozonolysis chamber includes a supply current control unit having a timer function unit, and issues a current supply / stop command to the current supply unit by a signal from the timer function unit.

  In this way, since the microbial growth prevention device is provided on the downstream side of the blower that supplies the heat exchange air to the heat exchanger, the ions generated in the microbial growth prevention device do not pass through the blower, and hence the disappearance of the ions. Can be supplied to the storage space for microbial breeding objects or the like, or the air-conditioned space, and the propagation of microorganisms can be efficiently prevented or the air-conditioned space can be cleaned. Moreover, since the heat exchange blower can share the microbial growth prevention blower, it is possible to obtain a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus that is low in price and has high microbial growth prevention performance and cleaning performance as described above.

  Furthermore, by arranging a heat exchanger upstream of the air flow of the microbial growth prevention device, it is possible to prevent the generated ions from disappearing in the blower or heat exchanger, and to further prevent microbial growth more efficiently. A refrigeration / air conditioner having performance or cleaning performance of the air-conditioned space can be obtained.

  In addition, the heat exchanger, the microbial growth prevention device, and the blower are arranged in this order from the upstream side of the air flow in the outer box, and the blower blades are formed of an electrically insulating material, so that the ions generated in the microbial growth prevention device are blown to the blower. The disappearance at the time of passing can be suppressed, and the components can be configured in a unit accommodated in the outer box, so that installation and transportation are easy, and the construction cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, by disposing a filter on the upstream side of the air flow of the microbial growth prevention device, it is possible to prevent dust and foreign matter from entering the microbial growth prevention device and prevent the performance of the device from deteriorating.

  Further, the amount of ions generated from the microbial growth prevention device is detected by the ion detection means, and the ion generation amount control means controls the ion detection amount so as to become the supply ion target value.

  Further, the ion detection amount is converged to the supply ion target value by controlling the number of rotations of the blower by utilizing the characteristic that the ion generation amount varies depending on the wind speed supplied to the microbial growth prevention apparatus.

  In addition, the amount of ion detection is supplied by controlling the voltage applied to the ion generation means of the ionization chamber that constitutes the microbial growth prevention device using the characteristic that the amount of ion generation changes according to the voltage applied to the ion generation means. It converges to the ion target value.

  Further, since the ion supply amount to the space changes depending on the absolute humidity in the space where the microbial propagation object is stored or in the air-conditioned space, the ion generation amount control means controls the ion generation amount based on this characteristic. .

  The ozonolysis chamber is composed of a heating element coated with an electrically insulating material.

  In addition, the supply current control unit controls the supply current to the heating element composed of an electrical resistor, and changes the ozone decomposing ability, thereby preventing the growth of microorganisms or maintaining the cleanliness of the air-conditioned space. In doing so, the ratio of the amount of ions to the amount of ozone can be controlled to an optimum ratio.

  In addition, since the ozone decomposition catalyst such as manganese dioxide changes color when it reaches the end of its life, it is possible to easily recognize the catalyst life by configuring the ozone decomposition chamber with a transparent member or a net-like member.

  Moreover, the maintenance inspection of the ozonolysis chamber can be facilitated by making the airway component with the ozonolysis chamber detachable from the airway. In addition, when an ozone decomposition catalyst such as manganese dioxide is used, it is easy to check and replace its life.

  In addition, by constructing the air path component with the ozonolysis chamber made of a transparent member, the replacement timing of the catalyst such as manganese dioxide easily filled from the outside through the transparent member of the ozonolysis chamber or the mesh member (Turns white when it reaches the end of its life).

In addition, ions and ozone generated by the microbial growth prevention device are supplied to a space for storing microbial propagation objects such as food or an air-conditioned space, and the ozone detection means detects the amount of ozone in the space. The ozone generation amount control means controls the ozone detection value so that it becomes a predetermined value.
As a result, a predetermined amount of ozone and ions can be constantly supplied to the space, and the effect of preventing the growth of microorganisms by the synergistic effect or the purification effect of the air-conditioned space can be further improved.

  As described above, in the refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention, the heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium and the heat exchange air, the blower that supplies the heat exchange air to the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger It is located in the air passage that passes through the air blower and is provided on the downstream side of the blower, and is electrically insulated from the ionization chamber that ionizes the gas in the air by ionizing electrons with respect to the air that passes through the air passage. By providing a microbial growth prevention device comprising an ozone decomposition chamber that decomposes and removes ozone contained in the gas ionized in the ionization chamber, the ionized gas does not pass through the blower and the like Since it can be supplied to microbial propagation objects, the disappearance of ions can be reduced, which is effective. Moreover, since the air exchanger for heat exchange can share the air blower for preventing microorganisms, it is possible to obtain a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus that is inexpensive and has a high ability to prevent the growth of microorganisms.

  Furthermore, by arranging the heat exchanger on the upstream side of the microbial growth prevention device, the generated ions do not pass through the heat exchanger, the blower, etc., and thus the disappearance of the ions is suppressed, and the microorganisms propagate directly. It can be supplied to an object, and the propagation of microorganisms can be prevented efficiently. Alternatively, the inside of the space can be kept clean by supplying air containing ions to the air-conditioned space.

  Further, the same effect can be obtained when a heat exchanger, a blower, and a microbial growth prevention device are arranged in this order from the upstream side of the air flow.

  Also, an outer box having an air suction port and an air outlet, and forming a wind path, a heat exchanger disposed in the outer box and exchanging heat between the heat medium and the heat exchange air, Air passing through a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus having a blower blade made of an electrically insulating material and provided on a downstream side of the heat exchanger and supplying a heat exchange air to the heat exchanger An ionization chamber that ionizes a gas in the air by ionizing electrons to the air, and an ozone decomposition chamber that decomposes and removes ozone contained in the ionized gas that is electrically insulated from the air path Is disposed in the air passage located between the heat exchanger and the blower, so that the microbial growth prevention device can be accommodated in the outer box without providing a microbial growth prevention device. One unit is compact and Sex improve, it is possible to reduce the construction cost, it can be supplied efficiently ions to an object microorganisms breed.

  Furthermore, by providing a filter in the upstream air passage of the microbial growth prevention device, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the microbial growth prevention device and to prevent a decrease in the amount of ions generated.

  Further, ion detection means for detecting the amount of ions generated from the microbial growth prevention device, comparison means for comparing the ion detection amount detected by the ion detection means with a preset supply ion target value, and the comparison means By providing an ion generation amount control means for controlling the amount of ions generated from the microorganism propagation prevention device based on the output signal from the object, the ion supply amount to the object where the microorganisms propagate or the air-conditioned space is always kept constant. Therefore, the growth of microorganisms can be minimized. Alternatively, the air-conditioned space can be kept clean. In addition, the amount of ions suitable for the type of object on which the microorganisms propagate or the amount of ions according to the requirements of the air-conditioned space can be supplied. The cleanliness can be improved effectively and a more comfortable air-conditioned space can be realized.

  The ion generation amount control means can control the ion generation amount by controlling the rotational speed of the blower, and can generate the same effect as described above.

  Further, the ion generation amount control means controls the ion generation amount by controlling the voltage applied to the ion generation means of the ionization chamber by the applied voltage control means, so that the heat exchange capability such as the rotation speed control of the blower is controlled. There is no influence at all and stable operation can be continued.

  In addition, a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the space for storing the object in which microorganisms propagate or the air-conditioned space, a humidity detection means for detecting the relative humidity in the space, and the temperature detector and the humidity detection means A calculation unit that calculates the absolute humidity in the space based on the detected humidity and relative humidity, and an ion generation amount control unit that controls the amount of ions generated from the microbial growth prevention apparatus according to the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit Even if the absolute humidity in the space fluctuates and the ion amount fluctuates, the ion generation amount control means responds to compensate for the fluctuation amount, so that the ion amount is held at a predetermined value. And stable microbial growth prevention action can be continued. Alternatively, the cleaning of the air-conditioned space can be stably continued.

  In addition, since the ozone decomposition chamber is composed of a heating element coated with an electrically insulating material, ozone decomposition / removal efficiency can be improved and ion disappearance can be minimized.

Furthermore, the heating element is configured by a heating resistor, and a supply current control unit that controls the supply of current to the heating resistor is provided, so that the mixing ratio of the ion amount and the ozone amount can be changed and supplied. Since it is possible to supply the mixed gas of the most suitable ratio according to the type of stored microbial propagation object and the degree of requirement of the air-conditioned space, it can prevent microbial growth or clean the air-conditioned space be able to.
In addition, since a mixture of ions and ozone, or only ions, can be supplied depending on the time of day, for example, a mixture of ions and ozone is used at night when there are no people, and only ions are used when there are people such as daytime. It is possible to maximize the effect of preventing the growth of microorganisms while taking into account the effects on the human body.

  Moreover, since the ozonolysis chamber containing the ozonolysis catalyst such as manganese dioxide is composed of a transparent member or a net-like member, it is possible to easily know the life due to discoloration, etc., and to know when to replace the catalyst. it can.

  Moreover, the maintenance inspection of the ozone decomposition chamber can be facilitated by making the air path constituent member attached with the ozone decomposition chamber detachable from the air path. In addition, when an ozone decomposition catalyst such as manganese dioxide is used, it is easy to check and replace its life.

  In addition, by constructing the air path component with the ozonolysis chamber made of a transparent member, the replacement timing of the catalyst such as manganese dioxide easily filled from the outside through the transparent member of the ozonolysis chamber or the mesh member (Turns white when it reaches the end of its life).

  In addition, a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium and the heat exchange air, a blower that supplies the heat exchange air to the heat exchanger, and an air passage that passes through the heat exchanger, the high voltage is A microbial growth prevention device having an ionization chamber that ionizes gas in the air by applying voltage and generates ozone; and an ozone detection means for detecting the amount of ozone in a space to store an object in which microorganisms propagate, or an air-conditioned space; By providing an ozone generation amount control means for controlling the ozone generation amount so that the ozone detection value detected by the ozone detection means becomes a predetermined value, a space for storing an object in which microorganisms propagate, or air-conditioned More than the case where ions and ozone of a predetermined low concentration are supplied to the space, the synergistic effect with ozone suppresses the growth of microorganisms more effectively, or the air-conditioned space becomes more effective. It can be purified.

Example 1.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a cooling apparatus which is an embodiment of a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a microbial growth prevention apparatus. In these drawings, reference numeral 65 denotes a cooler as a heat exchanger, which exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the heat exchange air (in this embodiment, internal air). 67 is a blower that supplies the heat exchange air to the cooler 65, 67a is a blower blade, and 67b is a drive motor that drives the blower blade 67a. 68 is a fan cover provided with an air outlet, 66 is a drain pan that receives and drains condensed water generated in the cooler 65, 70 is the cooler 65, blower 67, fan cover 68, drain pan 66, outer box. The cooling unit is composed of 75 and the like, and is suspended from the ceiling 71 a of the refrigerator 71 via the mounting plate 69.
Reference numeral 22 denotes an air passage constituting member that forms an air passage 22b that guides the air cooled by the cooler 65 to an ionization chamber 23 and an ozone decomposition chamber 28 described later. Reference numeral 2 denotes a plurality of fine metal wires (for example, a diameter of 0.2 mm or less) or electrodes made of metal needles, and 25 denotes a mesh shape (for example, about 10 mesh) arranged facing the metal needle (or fine metal wire) side electrode 2. The metal ground electrode 4 is a high voltage generator that generates a corona discharge from the metal needle side electrode 2 by applying a high voltage between the metal needle side electrode 2 and the metal ground electrode 25. A bushing 24 made of an insulating material is attached to the air passage component member 22. As described above, in this embodiment, the ionization chamber 23 is constituted by the metal needle side electrode 2, the metal ground electrode 25, the bushing 24, and the air passage constituting member 22 that also serves as the casing.

  27 is an ionized gas in the ionization chamber 23 as described later, 28 is an ozone decomposition chamber that is installed in the air passage 22b and decomposes / removes ozone contained in the gas 27 ionized in the ionization chamber 23; Packed with ozone decomposition catalyst such as manganese dioxide, activated carbon, activated alumina. Reference numeral 29 denotes an insulator that electrically insulates the ozonolysis chamber 28 from the air path constituent member 22. In this embodiment, a part of the air path constituent member 22, that is, a portion where the ozonolysis chamber 28 is installed and its peripheral portion. Only an insulating material, for example, an organic insulating material such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylic resin, or an inorganic insulating material such as glass or quartz. A is a microbial growth prevention apparatus composed of the ionization chamber 23, the ozonolysis chamber 28, and the like. Reference numeral 31 denotes a support member attached to the air path constituting member 22 located between the ionization chamber 23 and the ozonolysis chamber 28, and suspends the microbial growth prevention device A from the ceiling 71a of the refrigerator 71. Reference numeral 30 denotes air blown out from the ozone decomposition chamber 28, which is air containing ionized gas not containing ozone. Reference numeral 8 denotes a microbial propagation object such as food stored in the refrigerator 71.

Next, the operation will be described.
First, the blower 67 of the cooling unit 70 supplies the internal air 72 to the cooler 65 to cool it, and sends it out from the fan cover 68 that forms the outlet. The delivered air 1 is taken in from the supply port 22a of the microbial growth prevention apparatus A and guided into the ionization chamber 23 through the air passage 22b.
The distance between the metal thin wire (for example, the diameter is 0.2 mm or less) or the metal needle electrode 2 in the ionization chamber 23 and the mesh-like (for example, about 10 mesh) metal ground electrode 25 disposed facing the electrode 2 When (gap length) is set to about 10 to 20 mm and a negative current voltage of 5 to 10 kV is applied, a high electric field is applied in the vicinity of the tip of the metal needle side electrode 2 to cause discharge of electrons.
Therefore, when the gas 1 is introduced into the ionization chamber 23 during discharge, the oxygen molecules and the like contained in the gas 1 collide with each other and the oxygen molecules and the like are ionized, and the gas 1 contains negative ions. .

  At this time, ozone is generated at the same time as negative ions are generated, and the negatively ionized gas 27 contains ozone. Since ozone is strongly oxygenated and harmful when the ozone concentration exceeds a certain value, the gas 27 containing negative ions and ozone is led to the ozone decomposition chamber 28, and ozone is decomposed and removed by the ozone decomposition catalyst. The negatively ionized gas 30 that does not contain is discharged into the space in the refrigerator 71. When ozone is decomposed by the ozone decomposing catalyst 28, active oxygen having strong oxidizing power is generated, and ethylene generated from vegetables, flowers, fruits, etc. stored in the refrigerator 71 is decomposed by this active oxygen. Is done. The odorous substance contained in the gas 1 is also decomposed by this active species of oxygen.

  Therefore, a large amount of the negatively ionized gas 30 can be released into a space where an object or the like in which microorganisms propagate is present, and the propagation of microorganisms in the object or the like can be suppressed (negatively ionized gas 30). There is an experimental example demonstrating that the propagation of microorganisms can be suppressed by this, and the explanation of this experimental example will be described later.)

Here, an example carried out in order to demonstrate that the negative ions generated in the microbial growth prevention apparatus in Example 1 hardly decrease in the ozonolysis chamber 28 will be described.

In this embodiment, three tungsten thin wire electrodes 2 having a diameter of 0.18 mm are arranged at intervals of 20 mm, the gap length between the metal needle electrode 2 and the metal ground electrode 25 (10 mesh stainless steel) is 10 mm, both electrodes The portion of the insulator 29 in which the DC voltage applied between them is 5 kV, the wind speed of the air passing between both electrodes is about 2 m / s, and the ozonization chamber 28 is sealed by the insulating material 22 such as acrylic resin. The temperature of the supplied air is 5 ° C. and the humidity is 95%.

As a result of generating negative ions under such conditions and measuring the ion concentration of the ionized gas 27 using an ion concentration meter, the negative ion concentration at the outlet of the ionization chamber 23 is about 10 ⁶ ions / cm 3.
^3. The negative ion concentration of the ionized gas 30 immediately after passing through the ozonolysis chamber 28 was about 10 ⁵ ions / cm ³ .

In this way, when the ozone decomposition chamber 28 is installed in a portion where the air passage constituting member 22 is made of the insulator 29, the concentration of negative ions passing through the ozone decomposition chamber 28 is reduced to about 1/10, but the ionized gas The ion concentration contained in 30 is 100 times higher than the ion concentration (800 to 1000 / cm ³ ) contained in normal air, and the ozonolysis chamber 28 is made of a metal such as stainless steel like the conventional one. It was several tens of times higher than the case where it was directly installed in the air passage 22b made of material.

On the other hand, ozone generated simultaneously by discharge was contained in the ionized gas 27 upstream of the ozone decomposition chamber 28 by about 0.2 to 0.4 ppm. The ozone concentration of the gas 30 was 0.01 ppm or less (below the detection limit of the JIS standard potassium iodide method).
From the above, it can be seen that according to the first embodiment, ozone can be removed while sufficiently maintaining the ion concentration of the negatively ionized gas 30.

In the above embodiment, the number of fine wires of the metal fine wire electrode 2 is three. However, if the number is further increased, the amount of ions generated can be increased. However, since the amount of ozone generated increases at the same time, it is necessary to increase the thickness (weight) of the ozone decomposition catalyst in the ozone decomposition chamber 28.
Moreover, in the said Example, although direct-current applied voltage was 5 kV, if an applied voltage is further raised like FIG. 3, an ion generation amount can be increased, but an ozone generation amount will also increase simultaneously. When the gap length was 10 mm, the amount of generated ions increased as the applied voltage increased in the voltage range of several kV to 10 kV.
In this experiment, a DC negative voltage was applied to the metal thin wire electrode 2. However, it is desirable to apply a pulsed DC negative voltage of a commercial frequency or higher because the generation amount of ozone is suppressed and the generation efficiency of negative ions is improved.

As for the gap length, when the voltage was 5 kV, a short circuit occurred when the voltage was several mm or less. Therefore, at least 7-8 mm or more is necessary.
In this embodiment, air with a wind speed of 2 m / s was passed between the electrodes. As shown in FIG. 4, the amount of negative ions generated increases as the wind speed increases. Therefore, it is desirable that the cross-sectional area of the air passage 22 in which the ionization chamber 23 of the microbial growth prevention apparatus A is installed be as small as possible to increase the flow velocity within a range in which the ventilation pressure loss is allowed.
In the above embodiment, an insulating material made of acrylic resin is used as the insulator 29. However, the same effect can be obtained by using an insulating material such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, glass or quartz glass.

Next, an experimental example demonstrating that microorganisms can be prevented from breeding by the ionized gas 30 is shown.
The inside of the refrigerator 71 is cooled to about 0 ° C. to 5 ° C. by the cooling unit 70. When the blower 67 is operated in this state, the negatively ionized gas 30 not containing ozone is generated from the ozone decomposition chamber 28 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. 71 is supplied to a storage space for food and the like in 71. As a result, the ion concentration in the refrigerator 71 gradually increases, but some of the generated negative ions are consumed in contact with the wall surface of the refrigerator 71, the cooler 65, etc., so the negative ion concentration in the refrigerator 71 is almost equal. Maintained at a constant value.
Accordingly, since negative ions are continuously supplied to the storage 8 such as food stored in the refrigerator 71, it is possible to suppress the propagation of microorganisms in the food and the like.

The appropriate negative ion concentration in the refrigerator 71 varies depending on the type of food or the conditions such as temperature and humidity in the refrigerator 71, but according to the experimental results, the negative ion concentration normally present in the air (several tens to hundreds). The effect of preventing the growth of microorganisms is observed even at a concentration as low as several times as ^{high as} / cm ³ . However, the negative ion concentration of 10 to 1,000 times, that is, 10 ³ to 10 ⁵ ions / cm ³ is preferably effective and economical.
Hereinafter, it will be described using experimental examples that the propagation of microorganisms is suppressed by negative ions.
FIG. 5 shows an experimental result of this experimental example. In the experiment, a sashimi was used as the storage 8 such as food, and this was stored in the refrigerator 71 at a temperature of 5 ° C. and a humidity of 80 to 95% for 3 days. It is stored and continuously treated with negative ions generated in the ozonolysis chamber 28.
Incidentally, by applying a voltage of 3~5kV between the electrodes of the ionization chamber 23, ion concentration in the refrigerator 71 was maintained at about 10 ³ to 10 ⁴ / cm ^3.
Moreover, in order to clarify the effect of the invention, the difference in effect between the case of no treatment and the case of treatment by contacting ozone with food 8 without contacting negative ions is compared.
In the ozone treatment, the ozone concentration in the refrigerator 71 was maintained at about 1.0 ppm, and the sample sashimi was extracted indiscriminately from each of 5 slices of sashimi. The sampling of general bacteria on the surface of the food 8 is performed by the stamp method, and the medium is a standard agar medium.

As shown in FIG. 5, the results of the experiment show that when no treatment is performed (when negative ions and ozone are not supplied), the sashimi starts to appear dark on the third day of storage, decreases in freshness, and decays. Odor was generated. At this time, the number of general bacteria on the surface of the sashimi grew to about 200 / cm ² .

Moreover, when it processed continuously by the ion atmosphere of a very low density | concentration of 10 < ⁴ > pieces / cm < ³ >, the sashimi was able to maintain the initial freshness completely for 3 days. Further, there was no rot odor, and the number of viable bacteria on the surface after 3 days was about 20 / cm ² as shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, when it processed continuously with the ozone of the density | concentration of about 1 ppm, there was no spoilage smell like the negative ion treatment, and the number of viable bacteria on the surface was substantially the same as the negative ion treatment. However, the appearance of the sashimi has a problem that the color is changed to red and black due to the strong oxidizing action of ozone, and the quality is remarkably deteriorated.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a petri dish holding bacteria artificially planted on an agar medium instead of food 8 (microorganism collected from dust attached to an air conditioner fan and Pseudomonas genus bacterium) in the refrigerator 71. The effect of negative ion treatment was investigated. Here, the ion concentration of the atmosphere in the refrigerator 71 in which the petri dish is installed is 10 ³ to 10.
⁴ pieces / cm ³ , and the temperature and humidity conditions were 25 ° C. and 50 to 70%, respectively. The petri dish was allowed to stand for 3 days under these conditions, and a standard agar medium was used as the medium. Furthermore, the voltage applied between the electrodes of the ionization chamber 23 was 3 to 5 kV, and negative ions were generated.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the case of no treatment, the bacterial colonies grew to about 370 cells / dish after 3 days, and in the case of ion treatment, the growth was remarkably suppressed to about 14 cells / dish after 3 days. was gotten. In addition, in the case of ozone treatment at a concentration of 0.01 ppm (about 3 × 10 ¹¹ cells / cm ³ ) (about 10 ⁷ times higher than the ion concentration), the effect of preventing the growth of bacteria was not observed, and the case of no treatment Almost the same after 3 days, the cells grew to about 350 cells / petri dish.

Bacteria planted on an agar medium in this way can be prevented from breeding by treatment with a very low concentration of negative ions. According to the above experimental results, the ability to prevent the growth of microorganisms by negative ions is about 10 ⁷ times higher than that of ozone. Conceivable.
In FIG. 6, the effect of negative ions was shown using bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, but the same effect can be obtained with other bacteria such as mold, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella.

Further, if a cooler 65 as a heat exchanger is arranged on the upstream side of the air flow of the microbial growth prevention apparatus A, the disappearance of ions due to contact with the cooler 65 can be suppressed, and efficiently supplied to the storage 8 such as food. can do.
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the cooler 65, the blower 67, the ionization chamber 23, and the ozone decomposition chamber 28 are arranged in this order from the upstream side of the air passage, or the blower 67, the cooler 65, and the ionization as shown in FIG. Immediately after the ions generated in the ionization chamber 23 are disposed in the order of the chamber 23 and the ozone decomposition chamber 28, the mixed ozone is decomposed and removed in the ozone decomposition chamber 28 without passing through the cooler 65 and the blower 67. It can be supplied to a storage 8 such as food. As a result, the disappearance of ions due to contact with the metal members constituting the cooler 65 and the blower 67 can be prevented, and the growth of microorganisms in a stored product such as food can be efficiently suppressed.

  Here, an embodiment of the refrigeration / air conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. 7 will be described. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the air blower 67 supplies heat exchange air in the cabinet to the cooler 65 to exchange heat, and blows it from the fan cover 68 of the cooling unit 70, and the microbial growth prevention device downstream thereof. Although A is arranged, as shown in FIG. 7, it has an air suction port 82a corresponding to the blower 67 and the blower blade 67a, and is cooled by an outer box 82 in which a drain pan 82b is integrally formed, a cooler 65, and the like. A unit 70 is configured such that the air 86 blown out through the cooler 65 is guided to the air passage 22b of the microbial growth prevention apparatus A, and the heat exchange air 72 in the warehouse is air suction. The air is sucked in by the blower 67 located in the mouth portion 82a, supplied to the cooler 65, cooled, and further, the microorganism propagation prevention apparatus A (by the ionization chamber 23 and the ozone decomposition chamber 28) through the air passage 22b. Dispatched configured) to be ionized. As a result, the ionized gas is immediately supplied to the storage 8 such as food, so that the ions are not lost by the cooler 65 and the blower 67, and the propagation of microorganisms is efficiently prevented.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views showing duct materials. The cooling unit 70 in this embodiment is installed at the upper part of the refrigerator 71, and the heat exchange air in the cabinet is supplied to the cooler 65 through the ceiling opening 71 b of the refrigerator 71 by the operation of the cooling unit 70. To be cooled. Further, the air passes through the air passage 22b composed of the duct materials 110 and 111 and is supplied to the internal space where the microbial propagation object 8 such as food is stored.
An ionization chamber 23 and an ozonolysis chamber 28 are attached to the duct 111, and cold air 30 containing ionized gas is sent to the interior space to prevent the growth of microorganisms in food or the like.
The ducts 110 and 111 are made of an insulating material, and since the microbial growth prevention apparatus A can be incorporated into the duct 111, the installation work to the ceiling portion 71a is easy.

Example 2
In the first embodiment, the microbial growth preventing apparatus A is provided on the air blowing side of the cooling unit 70. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the outer box has the air suction port 75a and the air blowing port 75b and forms the air passage 22b. The microbial growth prevention apparatus A is disposed between the cooler 65 and the blower 67 disposed in the 75.
This microbial growth prevention apparatus A is configured in the same manner as in Example 1, and includes an ionization chamber 23 and an ozonolysis chamber 28, which generates negative ions in the ionization chamber 23, and in the negative ions in the ozonolysis chamber 28. Decomposes and removes ozone.
67 is a blower disposed at the air outlet 75b of the outer box 75. The blower blade 67a is made of an insulating material so that it does not recombine even when the generated negative ions come into contact. Reference numeral 66 denotes a drain pan that receives the condensed water generated in the cooler 65, and reference numeral 68 denotes a fan cover in which an air outlet corresponding to the blower blade 67a is formed. Reference numeral 69 denotes a mounting plate, which suspends the cooling unit 70 configured as described above from the ceiling portion 71a of the refrigerator.

  In the cooling device configured as described above, even if the generated negative ions come into contact with the blower blade 67a, recombination (ions are not neutralized) can be reduced, so that the reduction of the generated negative ions can be reduced. The same effect can be obtained. Further, since the microbial growth prevention apparatus A is built in the cooling unit 70, the microbial growth prevention apparatus A is compact, and it is not necessary to install the microbial growth prevention apparatus A again, thereby reducing the construction cost.

Example 3
When dust or the like enters the microbial growth prevention apparatus A, the amount of negative ions generated decreases, so the filter 80 shown in FIG. 11 is connected to the cooler 65 on the upstream side of the microbial growth prevention apparatus A as shown in FIG. If it arrange | positions at a suction inlet, the fall of the negative ion generation amount can be prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the same effect can be obtained even if the filter 80 is arranged at the air outlet of the cooler on the upstream side of the air flow of the microbial growth preventing apparatus A.

  13 and 14, if the filter 80 for removing dust is arranged at the outlet of the cooler 65 on the upstream side of the air flow of the microbial growth prevention device A, the same effect as the cooling device shown in FIG. 12 can be obtained. It is done.

Example 4
FIG. 15 shows a cooling apparatus which is an embodiment of the refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 90 denotes a negative ion supplied to the space for storing food or the like from the microbial growth prevention apparatus A. A negative ion collecting electrode 91, which is a collecting device 91 for converting the amount of negative ions generated into a current, constitutes an ion detecting means 90a with the negative ion collecting electrode 90 and the converting device 91. 92 is a comparison means for comparing the ion detection amount detected by the ion detection means 90a with a preset supply ion target position (set by the setting device 92a), and 93 is based on an output signal from the comparison means 92. This is an ion generation amount control means for controlling the amount of ions generated from the microorganism propagation prevention apparatus A. In this embodiment, the ion generation amount is controlled by controlling the number of revolutions of the blower 67.

Next, the operation will be described.
Negative ions contained in a certain volume are collected on the collection electrode 90 by the action of an electric field, and converted into a current value by the conversion device 91. Then, the comparison means 92 compares the value converted by the converter 91 with a preset supply ion target value (target current value), and based on the output signal from the comparison means 92, the target negative ion generation amount is obtained. Thus, the number of rotations of the blower 67 is controlled by the ion generation amount control means 93. As shown in FIG. 4, if the number of rotations of the blower 67 is changed and the wind speed is changed, the amount of negative ions generated also changes, so that the amount of negative ions in the refrigerator 71 can be kept substantially constant.
Since the heat exchange capacity of the cooler 65 also varies by controlling the rotation speed of the blower 67, a bypass path is provided in parallel with the cooler 65, and an air volume adjusting device is provided in the bypass path, so that the cooler 65 It is good to make it the structure interlock | cooperated with the rotation speed control of the said air blower 67 so that the supply air volume to a fan may not fluctuate. A damper type device that controls opening and closing of the bypass passage may be used as the air volume adjusting device, or an air volume adjusting blower may be provided to control the rotation speed of the blower.

In the above embodiment, the rotational speed of the blower 67 is changed so that the negative ion generation amount becomes the target value. However, the high pressure generator 4 for generating negative ions by the ion generation amount control means 73 as shown in FIG. The same effect can be obtained by controlling the applied voltage. The relationship between the applied voltage and the negative ion generation amount is as shown in FIG. Further, the same effect can be obtained by detecting the negative ion generation amount and intermittently applying the applied voltage of the high voltage generator 4.
By adopting a configuration that can be controlled as described above, it is possible to control the optimal supply ion target value according to the type of the microbial breeding object 8 or the like stored, so that the microbial propagation inhibiting action, or, The purifying action of the air-conditioned space can be maintained under optimum conditions.
In the above embodiment, the ion detection means 90a detects the amount of generated ions and controls the amount of generated ions to be a target value. However, the space for storing the microbial propagation object 8 such as food. Similar effects can be obtained by detecting the ion concentration such as by the ion concentration detection means and controlling the ion generation amount control means 93 so that the ion concentration becomes a predetermined value.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
17 and 19 are block diagrams showing a cooling device which is a refrigeration / air-conditioning device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1, 4, 8, 22, 22a, 23, 25, 28-31, 65-72, 67a, 71a is the same as that shown in the first embodiment, 50 is a temperature detecting means for detecting the internal temperature in the refrigerator 71, 51 is a humidity detecting means for detecting relative humidity, and 52 is the temperature detecting means 50. And a calculation unit 93 that calculates absolute humidity from the humidity detection unit 51, and an ion generation amount control unit that performs correction control so that the ion generation amount returns to the target value when the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 52 fluctuates. In this embodiment, the ion generation amount is controlled to the target value by correcting and controlling the rotational speed of the blower 67.

As shown in FIG. 16, the amount of negative ions generated (number / sec) varies according to the absolute humidity, and accordingly, the ion concentration in the space storing the microbial propagation object 8 such as food also varies. In order to correct this variation and maintain the optimum ion concentration (pieces / cm ³ ), the characteristic line shown in FIG.
Based on (Ion generation amount (pieces / sec) −Wind speed (cm / sec)), the wind speed and therefore the rotational speed of the blower 67 are corrected and controlled so that the ion generation amount becomes a target value.
Note that there is a certain relationship between the ion concentration in the storage space and the amount of ion generation in a stable state, and in this embodiment, it is obtained in advance experimentally or empirically according to the type of object to be stored. Correction control is performed to an ion generation target value that provides the optimum ion concentration.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although ion generation amount was controlled to the target value by carrying out correction | amendment control of the rotation speed of the air blower 67, based on the characteristic line [negative ion generation amount (number / sec) -applied voltage] shown in FIG. Thus, the fluctuation amount of the negative ion generation amount due to the humidity fluctuation may be compensated by correction control of the applied voltage.

Example 6
In the first embodiment, the ozone decomposition chamber 28 is filled with a decomposition catalyst such as manganese dioxide, activated carbon, activated alumina, etc., but FIGS. 20 (a), (b), FIGS. 21 (a), (b). As shown in FIG. 3, the ozone decomposition chamber 28 is composed of a grid-like heating resistor 32 covered with an organic insulating material such as Teflon (R) resin or acrylic resin, or an inorganic insulating material such as a ceramic material, to thermally decompose ozone. It is good also as composition to do. Reference numeral 33 denotes a current supply unit that supplies current to the grid-like heating resistor 32 or stops it.

Next, the operation will be described.
When ozone is decomposed by passing through the lattice heating element 32, only negative ions are generated. When energization of the lattice heating element is stopped, both ozone and negative ions are generated. Therefore, it is possible to supply a mixture of negative ions and negative ions, so that only negative ions can be supplied, so that a cooling device can be obtained that can be controlled appropriately for food and other contained items.

  As shown in FIG. 20B, the grid heating element 32 of the sixth embodiment is provided with a current supply unit 33 for supplying and stopping current and a supply current control unit 34 having a timer function unit. Thus, a command is issued to the current supply unit 33.

Next, the operation will be described.
The supply current control unit 34 having a timer function can supply current to the grid heating element 32 (only negative ions are generated) and stop the current (generate ozone and negative ions). Since negative ions are generated (the sterilizing power increases when the ozone concentration is increased), and only negative ions can be generated when there is a person such as during the daytime, control according to the time zone or control suitable for the containment is possible. A cooling device can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the structure in which the supply of current to the grid heating element 32 is ON / OFF controlled is shown. However, the current value to the grid heating element 32 is controlled to adjust the ozone decomposition ability, It is also possible to supply the mixing ratio of ozone and ozone as an optimal mixing ratio according to the type of microorganism-generated object such as food.
Moreover, although the heat generating body in the said Example showed the thing by an electrical resistance, it may comprise with a pipe or an airtight container, and may supply a high temperature heat medium. The high-temperature heat medium may be high-temperature refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor, steam, or high-temperature water. Even when the heating element is constituted by a pipe or an airtight container as described above, it is covered with an organic insulating material or an inorganic insulating material as described above.

Example 7
FIG. 22 (a) is a block diagram showing the main part of the refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 22 (b) is a perspective view showing the ozonolysis chamber, where 1, 2, 4, 22, 22a Reference numerals 22b, 23, 25, 27, and 30 are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 28 denotes an ozonolysis chamber, and reference numeral 28a denotes an outer frame of the ozonolysis chamber 28, which is composed of a transparent member such as an acrylic resin or a net material that can be seen through. Reference numeral 28b denotes a portion where the inside of the outer frame 28a is partitioned and a large number of ventilation paths are formed, and accommodates an ozone decomposition catalyst such as manganese dioxide.
In the ozone decomposition chamber 28 configured as described above, ozone contained in the ionized gas 27 supplied from the ionization chamber 23 is decomposed / removed and ionized by the catalyst while passing through the ventilation path 28b. Only the gas is discharged from the ozonolysis chamber 28.
When the operating time elapses and the ozonolysis catalyst reaches the end of its life, for example, manganese dioxide turns white. Therefore, if the inspection window 22f is attached to the air passage component 22 to which the ozonolysis chamber 28 is attached, it can be easily passed through the outer frame 28a. It is possible to know the replacement time.

Reference numeral 35 denotes an air path constituent member to which the ozonolysis chamber 28 is attached, and is detachably attached to the air path 22b.
In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape is formed in a U-shape and is attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the ozonolysis chamber 28, respectively, and includes flange portions 35a projecting outward from both ends of the U-shape portion. ing.

  On the other hand, the cross section of the air passage 22b is formed in a square shape, and a notch portion is provided on the front surface, the upper surface, and the lower surface portion so that the ozone decomposition chamber 28 can be inserted. At the time of the insertion, the flange portion 35a is inserted and fixed to the top plate portion 22c and the bottom plate portion 22d of the air passage 22b using the elastic action of the U-shaped air passage constituting member 35, and the front portion is closed. Block with (not shown). In addition, when the ozone decomposition catalyst reaches the end of its life and the replacement time is reached, the closing plate is removed and the flange portion 35a is pushed and deformed inwardly by a procedure reverse to that for insertion, so that the top plate portion 22c and the bottom plate portion 22d. Remove from.

  Further, if the air passage constituting member 35 is formed of a transparent resin or the like, the ozone decomposition catalyst can be easily changed from the outside through the outer frame 28a of the ozone decomposition chamber 28 and the air passage constituting member 35 at any time. The state of discoloration can be grasped, and the replacement time of the catalyst is not missed.

Example 8 FIG.
In Example 4 described above, the ion generation amount control means 93 performs the rotation speed of the blower 67 or the ionization means provided with the ion generation means so that the amount of ions supplied to the space where the microbial propagation object such as food is stored becomes the target value. The voltage applied to the chamber 23 is controlled. In this embodiment, for example, the amount of ozone generated with the generation of ions is detected, and the amount of ozone detected by the blower 67 is set to a predetermined value. The number of rotations or the voltage applied to the ionization chamber 23 is controlled.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a cooling device which is a refrigeration / air-conditioning device according to the present invention. In the figure, B is a microbial growth prevention apparatus having an ionization chamber 23, which generates ozone together with ions in the cold air 1 supplied by the blower 67 and supplies it as a cold air 30 to the microbial propagation object 8 such as food.
61 is an ozone detecting means for detecting the amount of ozone contained in the cold air 30; 62 is an ozone detection value (ozone generation amount) detected by the ozone detecting means 61; The ozone generation amount control means is preferably controlled so as to be about 0.03 ppm. In this embodiment, the operation of the high voltage generator 4 or the generated voltage is controlled.

  As described above, the propagation of microorganisms by synergistic effects with ozone rather than supplying ions alone by supplying ions and a predetermined low concentration of ozone to a space for storing an object in which microorganisms propagate or to an air-conditioned space Can be suppressed more effectively, or the air-conditioned space can be more effectively cleaned, and the corrosion of the equipment constituting the apparatus and the adverse effect on the human body can be eliminated.

  In the above embodiment, the ozone generation amount control means 62 controls the operation of the high voltage generator 4 or the generated voltage to maintain the ozone generation amount at a predetermined value. In this embodiment, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation speed of the blower 67 is controlled so that the ozone detection value detected by the ozone detection means 61 becomes the predetermined value, and the same effect is produced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram of the freezing and air conditioning apparatus by Example 1 of this invention. It is detail drawing of the microbial propagation prevention apparatus of the freezing / air-conditioning apparatus of this invention. It is a characteristic diagram which shows the relationship between the applied voltage [kV] to an ionization chamber, and the amount of negative ion generation [units / sec]. It is a characteristic diagram which shows the relationship between the wind speed [cm / sec] supplied to an ionization chamber, and the amount of negative ion generation [piece / sec]. It is a table | surface figure which shows the experimental result which proves that the proliferation of microorganisms is suppressed by ion. It is a table | surface figure which shows the experimental result which proves that the reproduction of bacteria can be suppressed by ion. It is a block diagram of the other freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the further another freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the duct material of the freezing / air conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the filter of the freezing and air conditioning apparatus by Example 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the other freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the further another freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 4 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the other freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 4 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 5 of this invention. It is a characteristic diagram which shows the relationship between the absolute humidity [Kg / Kg] of the supplied air, and the negative ion generation amount [number / sec] of an ionization chamber. It is a block diagram of the other freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 5 of this invention. FIG. 20A is a configuration diagram of the microbial growth prevention apparatus of the refrigeration / air conditioning apparatus according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 20B shows the heating element. FIG. 21A is a configuration diagram of a microbial propagation preventing apparatus of another refrigeration / air conditioning apparatus according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 21B is a heating element control configuration diagram. FIG. 22A is a configuration diagram of the refrigeration / air conditioning apparatus according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 22B is a perspective view showing the ozonolysis chamber. It is a block diagram of the freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 8 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the other freezing and air-conditioning apparatus by Example 8 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the conventional microbial propagation prevention apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the conventional cooling device.

Explanation of symbols

22b Air path 23 Ionization chamber 28 Ozone decomposition chamber 32 Heating element 34 Supply current control unit 35 Air path component member 50 Temperature detection means 51 Humidity detection means 52 Calculation part 61 Ozone detection means 62 Ozone generation amount control means 65 Heat exchanger 67 Blower 67a Blower blades A and B Microorganism propagation prevention device 75 Outer box 75a Air inlet port portion 75b Air outlet port 80 Filter 90a Ion detection means 92 Comparison means 93 Ion generation amount control means

Claims (4)

A heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium and the heat exchange air, a blower that supplies the heat exchange air to the heat exchanger, and an air passage that passes through the heat exchanger, and on the downstream side of the blower An ionization chamber that ionizes electrons in the passing air and ionizes the gas in the air, and an ozone decomposition chamber that decomposes and removes ozone contained in the air ionized in the ionization chamber. A refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus, wherein the ozonolysis chamber can be driven and stopped independently of the ionization chamber. 2. The refrigeration / air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ozonolysis chamber is driven when a person is present in the space to be treated and is stopped when no person is present. 3. The refrigeration / air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ozonolysis chamber includes a grid-like heating resistor and a current supply unit that supplies and stops current to the heating resistor. 4. The refrigeration / air conditioning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the ozonolysis chamber includes a supply current control unit having a timer function unit, and issues a current supply / stop command to the current supply unit by a signal from the timer function unit. .

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