JP7646191B2 - Gas supply mechanism and decontamination gas circulation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas supply mechanism and a decontamination gas circulation device for supplying and circulating a gas, such as a decontamination gas, into a space.

Conventionally, devices are known that supply gas to a space to be decontaminated to perform decontamination (i.e., disinfection or sterilization, etc.), as described in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. In the spatial disinfection and deodorization system described in Patent Document 1, a chlorine-based gas supply device is connected to multiple rooms by a duct and a distribution duct. An adjustment valve and a control means provided in the duct adjust the amount of chlorine-based gas distributed. In the sterilization device described in Patent Document 2, liquid nitrogen oxide is supplied to an injection device by a metering pump. The injection device vaporizes the nitrogen oxide and injects it into the space.

JP 2019-115454 A JP 2013-236928 A

In the conventional systems or devices described above, decontamination gas is supplied to the space, but there has been insufficient consideration given to how to efficiently diffuse or circulate the decontamination gas within the space. For example, there are problems such as the decontamination taking a long time or requiring large equipment and power because the gas diffusion efficiency and circulation efficiency are insufficient.

The present invention aims to provide a gas supply mechanism and a decontamination gas circulation device that can efficiently supply and circulate gases, such as decontamination gas, within a space.

The present invention is a gas supply mechanism that is installed in a space and supplies gas to the surroundings, and includes a blower configured to blow gas upward or to the side, a gas supply housing that houses the blower and has an upper end opening that opens upward, and a top plate attached to the gas supply housing so as to close the upper end opening of the gas supply housing, and an annular gap is formed between the top plate and the upper end of the gas supply housing, and gas blown from the blower is released in all directions in the circumferential direction through the gap.

With this gas supply mechanism, the gas sent out from the blower is released in all circumferential directions through a gap formed between the peripheral edge of the top plate and the upper end of the gas supply housing. This allows the gas to be efficiently supplied into the space. The gas can also be efficiently circulated by drawing in air from within the room through the lower part of the gas supply mechanism.

The gas supply housing has a flange portion that protrudes laterally at the upper end, and a gap is formed between the upper plate and the flange portion, and the upper plate and/or the flange portion may be configured to generate a Coanda effect by the released gas. The Coanda effect has the effect of drawing in air from above and below the flange portion and sending it out in the circumferential direction. This makes it possible to obtain a large amount of air circulation, i.e., a large amount of gas circulation, based on the limited power of the blower device.

The upper plate is positioned higher than the flange portion, the diameter of the upper plate is larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion, the peripheral portion of the upper plate protrudes radially outward from the flange portion, and the peripheral portion may be provided with a Coanda structure that generates the Coanda effect. With this configuration, the Coanda effect can generate an upflow convection current from below to above.

The upper plate is positioned higher than the flange portion, the outer diameter of the flange portion is larger than the diameter of the upper plate, the flange portion protrudes radially outward from the upper plate, and the flange portion may be provided with a Coanda structure that generates the Coanda effect. With this configuration, downflow convection from above to below can be generated by the Coanda effect.

As another aspect of the present invention, a decontamination gas circulation device may be provided, which is installed vertically in a space and includes a gas generator that generates a decontamination gas as a type of gas, and any one of the above-mentioned gas supply mechanisms attached to the upper part of the gas generator, and is configured so that the decontamination gas generated by the gas generator is taken in from below the gas supply housing and guided to the intake port of the blower. According to this decontamination gas circulation device, the decontamination gas generated by the gas generator is taken in the gas supply housing of the gas supply mechanism and released in all circumferential directions. Thus, the decontamination gas can be efficiently supplied and circulated within the space.

The gas generator has a raw material vaporizer that vaporizes the gas raw material, and a reaction section that is disposed above the raw material vaporizer and generates a decontamination gas, and an air supply port for supplying air to the gas generator may be formed between the raw material vaporizer and the reaction section. With this configuration, the supplied air is efficiently sent toward the gas supply mechanism.

When the gas supply mechanism is attached to the gas generator, the gap of the gas supply mechanism may be located at a height of 1.0 m or more from the installation surface of the gas generator. With this configuration, for example, by simply installing the decontamination gas circulation device on the floor surface between beds in a hospital room, it is possible to circulate the decontamination gas in the space above the beds, and decontamination work can be carried out reliably and quickly.

According to the present invention, gases such as decontamination gases can be efficiently supplied and circulated within a space.

1 is a diagram showing a decontamination system including a decontamination gas circulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a decontamination gas circulation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the decontamination gas circulation apparatus of FIG. 2. 3 is a front cross-sectional view showing a gas supply mechanism provided in the decontamination gas circulation apparatus of FIG. 2. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining the Coanda effect occurring in a gas supply mechanism. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the decontamination gas circulating device installed in a hospital room and in operation. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the decontamination gas circulating device is installed in a hospital room and in operation. FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a decontamination gas circulation device according to a modified embodiment. 9A and 9B are cross-sectional views showing modified examples of the gas supply mechanism. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing other modified examples of the gas supply mechanism. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing still another modified example of the gas supply mechanism. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing still another modified example of the gas supply mechanism.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that in the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

The decontamination gas circulation device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 6. The decontamination gas circulation device 1 of this embodiment is installed in, for example, a patient room A of a medical institution (hospital, etc.) and is an apparatus for decontaminating the space S in the patient room A. The decontamination gas circulation device 1 can be used for all kinds of decontamination, for example, for sterilization or virus inactivation in the patient room A. According to the decontamination gas circulation device 1, as shown in Figure 6, for example, by simply installing the decontamination gas circulation device 1 on the floor surface (installation surface) F of the patient room A and operating it for several hours to half a day, it is possible to completely inactivate the virus, and the patient room A can be started to be used within about one day (for example, the next day) after the installation of the decontamination gas circulation device 1. Naturally, the number, type (when multiple types are prepared according to the processing capacity, etc.) and operating time of the decontamination gas circulation device 1 are appropriately set based on the size (volume) of the space S in the patient room A and the capacity of the decontamination gas circulation device 1. Multiple decontamination gas circulation devices 1 may be installed in the hospital room A. One or multiple decontamination gas circulation devices 1 may be installed, and auxiliary circulators, etc. may be installed as necessary.

The decontamination gas circulation device 1 has a unique configuration described below, and thus has superior performance compared to conventional decontamination devices. The decontamination gas circulation device 1 circulates the air in the room at least a predetermined number of times. The decontamination gas circulation device 1 is superior to conventional decontamination devices in terms of decontamination gas circulation performance, safety, compactness, and power saving/total energy. The decontamination gas circulation device 1 is not limited to use in the space S in the hospital room A, and may be used in spaces other than the hospital room A.

1 and 2, the decontamination gas circulation device 1 is incorporated in the decontamination system 200 as a part of the decontamination system 200. The decontamination system 200 supplies decontamination gas into the space S. The decontamination system 200 includes the decontamination gas circulation device 1 equipped with the gas generator 10, a temperature sensor 41, a humidity sensor 42, a gas sensor 43, and an oxygen sensor 44 installed at appropriate locations in the hospital room A, and a controller 50 that performs upward communication of actual measurements and control values between the decontamination gas circulation device 1 and these sensors, and controls each part of the decontamination gas circulation device 1. The controller 50 including a CPU for control may be installed outside the decontamination gas circulation device 1 and in the hospital room A, or may be installed inside the decontamination gas circulation device 1. Alternatively, the controller 50 may be installed in any room of the medical institution, or may be incorporated in a computer such as a PC. The decontamination system 200 may include a remote monitoring device (control unit) connected to the Internet, separate from the controller 50.

The decontamination gas circulation apparatus 1 is a vertical type decontamination apparatus. The decontamination gas circulation apparatus 1 includes a gas generator 10 installed vertically in a space S, and a gas supply mechanism 100 attached to the upper part of the gas generator 10. The gas generator 10 generates decontamination gas according to the purpose. Four casters 19 are attached to the lower end of the gas generator 10, making it easy to move the decontamination gas circulation apparatus 1 on the floor surface F. The gas supply mechanism 100 of this embodiment releases the decontamination gas generated by the gas generator 10 in all directions around the horizontal direction. The configuration of the gas supply mechanism 100 will be described in detail later.

The gas generator 10 generates a decontamination gas, for example, by a spontaneous methanol oxidation reaction. The decontamination gas generated by the gas generator 10 enables decontamination in a space contaminated by, for example, COVID-19. The decontamination gas inactivates a virus by disrupting the base sequence in the nucleic acid (RNA or DNA) in the virus. The gas generator 10 has a methanol vaporizer (raw material vaporizer) 12 and a reactor (reaction section) 13 that constitute a decontamination gas generation section. The methanol vaporizer 12 vaporizes methanol stored in a methanol tank 21 as a raw material for the decontamination gas. The reactor 13 is disposed above the methanol vaporizer 12. The reactor 13 and the methanol vaporizer 12 are separated by a predetermined distance, but are connected by a cylindrical section 15. The reactor 13 has a heater consisting of a thermocouple or the like, and generates a decontamination gas by heating the vaporized methanol to cause a predetermined reaction using, for example, a copper catalyst.

As shown in FIG. 1, the decontamination gas circulation device 1 has a methanol pump 22, such as an electromagnetic pump, a methanol temperature control controller 23 connected to the methanol vaporizer 12, and a heating controller 30 connected to the reactor 13. The decontamination gas circulation device 1 further has a compressor 24 that compresses and supplies air to the gas generator 10, an air filter 26 provided upstream of the compressor 24, a dehumidifier 27 containing silica gel and a flow rate control unit 28 that is a mass flow controller (MFC) provided downstream of the compressor 24, and a flow rate controller 29 connected to the flow rate control unit 28. The catalytic reaction is stabilized by installing the dehumidifier 27 to control the humidity range of the dry air. Calcium chloride may be used for the dehumidifier 27. The flow rate control unit 28 automatically stabilizes the mixture amount of methanol gas and air. The methanol temperature control controller 23, the heating controller 30, the compressor 24, and the flow rate controller 29 are each supplied with the required power. As shown in FIG. 2, all or part of these may be housed in a vertical cylindrical gas generation housing 11 of the gas generator 10. The arrangement and layout of these within the device may be changed as appropriate to increase or decrease the overall height of the device. For example, the external shape of the gas generator 10 (including the height-to-width ratio, etc.) may be designed as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 3, an operation panel 20 consisting of a tablet or the like is attached to the back side of the gas generation housing 11 of the decontamination gas circulation apparatus 1. The operation panel 20 allows an operator to operate the decontamination gas circulation apparatus 1 by operating a touch panel or the like with his/her finger. The operation panel 20 can also display the operating status of the decontamination gas circulation apparatus 1. The display on the operation panel 20 may include a graph display showing the gas concentration, temperature, humidity, reaction temperature, etc., and may include a display showing the operating status in addition to or instead of the graph display. The operation panel 20 is removable from the gas generation housing 11. The operator can remove the operation panel 20 from the gas generation housing 11 and remotely operate the decontamination gas circulation apparatus 1, for example, at a location away from the gas generation housing 11. The operation panel 20 may be fixed to the gas generation housing 11.

In the gas generation housing 11, an air supply port 14 is formed between the methanol vaporizer 12 and the reactor 13 to supply air to the decontamination gas circulation device 1. Compressed air from a compressor 24 is supplied to this air supply port 14 via piping (not shown). Methanol gas vaporized in the methanol vaporizer 12 is sprayed from a nozzle (not shown) provided at the top of the methanol vaporizer 12 and inserted into the lower end of the cylindrical portion 15, and is supplied into the cylindrical portion 15 from the bottom of the cylindrical portion 15. An air filter 14a may be attached to the air supply port 14.

In the gas generator 10, a method is adopted in which the liquid phase methanol is converted into a gas phase by heating and expanding the methanol, and then spraying it from a nozzle to evaporate it. The sprayed methanol gas is temporarily received by a plate-shaped part below the air supply port 14, and the force of the spray is stopped. For this reason, the distance between the nozzle spraying the methanol gas and the plate-shaped part is kept constant. The methanol gas that has lost its force is mixed with air flowing in from the air supply port 14, and natural convection is allowed to occur before it rises upward. Furthermore, the methanol gas mixed with the air is guided to the heated catalyst layer through a perforated baffle plate. In this way, in order to mix the liquid phase methanol with the air after vaporizing it, an air supply port 14 for supplying air from a compressor is provided above the methanol vaporizer 12. In addition, the cylindrical part 15 has a truncated cone shape with an inner diameter that decreases as it goes upward in order to weaken the force of the methanol gas, and may also function as a buffer tube.

A decontamination gas outlet 17 is attached to the top of the reactor 13, and a circular or rectangular opening 18 is formed around the decontamination gas outlet 17. Air is sucked in through the opening 18, and a filter housing 140 of the gas supply mechanism 100 is connected to the upper end surface 11a of the gas generation housing 11. The filter housing 140 is, for example, in the shape of a square tube.

2 and 4, the gas supply housing 110 of the gas supply mechanism 100 has an upper end opening 112 that opens upward. The gas supply housing 110 has a main body 115 in the shape of an inverted truncated cone whose inner diameter increases toward the top, and an annular flange portion 116 that extends horizontally from the upper end of the main body 115. A disk-shaped upper surface plate 120 is attached to close the upper end opening 112 at the upper end 111 of the main body 115. The upper surface plate 120 is installed, for example, so as to fit into the upper end opening 112. The upper surface plate 120 is installed at a position lower than the upper end opening 112, and may be contained within the main body 115 without protruding from the upper end opening 112. The upper surface 121 of the upper surface plate 120 is, for example, flat.

It is desirable to perform curved surface processing (R processing, etc.) on the boundary portion between the flange portion 116 and the main body portion 115, i.e., the corner portion (connection portion), so as to favorably exert the Coanda effect described later. The mounting height (fixing height) of the upper plate 120 is not limited to the above and may be changed as appropriate. The gap between the corner portion of the gas supply housing 110 and the upper plate 120 is adjusted by changing the mounting height of the upper plate 120. The peripheral portion 120a of the upper plate 120 is not limited to extending flat (horizontally), but may be curved upward or downward. When the peripheral portion 120a is curved upward, the outer edge of the upper plate 120 may be positioned higher than the outer end of the flange portion 116. When the peripheral portion 120a is curved downward, the outer edge of the upper plate 120 may be positioned lower than the outer end of the flange portion 116.

The flange portion 116 protrudes laterally from the upper end of the main body portion 115, but the shape of the flange portion 116 and the direction in which the flange portion 116 extends may be changed as appropriate. The flange portion 116 is not limited to protruding horizontally from the upper end of the main body portion 115. The flange portion 116 may protrude from the upper end of the main body portion 115 in a direction having an elevation angle.

The curved shape of the corners, the shape of the peripheral portion 120a, and the shape of the flange portion 116 described above can be set according to the injection direction of the mixed gas and the flow (convection) that is generated. For example, injection with a down blow is achieved by applying an R-machining to the corners and forming the flange portion 116 facing downward. Conversely, injection with an up blow is achieved by applying an R-machining to the corners and forming the flange portion 116 facing upward.

The lower surface 122 of the upper plate 120 is flat. A fan (blower) 130 configured to blow decontamination gas upward is fixed to the lower surface 122 of the upper plate 120. The type of fan 130 is not particularly limited, but for example, a centrifugal fan, a sirocco fan, or an axial fan is used. Note that the fan 130 is not limited to being attached to the upper plate 120, and may be fixed to another part within the main body 115.

The lower end of the filter housing 140 is connected to the upper end surface 11a of the gas generation housing 11 so that the decontamination gas generated by the gas generator 10 is taken in from below the gas supply housing 110 and guided to the suction port of the fan 130. In addition, the gas supply housing 110 is attached to the filter housing 140 so that the upper end opening 140a of the filter housing 140 is aligned with the lower end opening 110b of the gas supply housing 110. A prefilter 141 and a high-performance filter 142 arranged on the prefilter 141 are built into the filter housing 140. The high-performance filter 142 is a ULPA filter with a filtration pore size of 0.1 to 0.15 μm, and effectively captures aerosols present in the air. The high-performance filter 142 may be a HEPA filter, or a filter may be selected appropriately depending on the purpose of collection. In addition, in the case of decontamination that does not require the collection of pathogens or viruses, it is not necessary to use the high-performance filter 142, and the circulating air volume can be increased to shorten the time of the decontamination process.

The lower part of the filter housing 140 has a cylindrical structure that maintains airtightness, except for the opening 18. A sealed cylindrical body may or may not be provided in the space below the high-performance filter 142. A configuration that reliably introduces the mixed gas and passes it through the high-performance filter 142 is desirable. Note that if the high-performance filter 142 itself has a housing such as an outer cylinder, the filter housing 140 can be omitted.

2, 4, and 5, an annular gap G is formed between the peripheral portion 120a of the top plate 120 and the upper end portion 111 of the gas supply housing 110. More specifically, a gap G having a predetermined width in the radial direction is formed between the top plate 120 and the flange portion 116. The positions and shapes of the top plate 120 and the flange portion 116 are configured to generate a Coanda effect by the released decontamination gas (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The width of the gap G is, for example, about 1 to 5 mm. In the decontamination gas circulation device 1 equipped with the gas supply mechanism 100 in this manner, the decontamination gas sent out from the fan 130 is sprayed through the gap G, blown out along the flat (flat) top surface 116a, and released in all directions of the main direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the gas supply mechanism 100 allows the decontamination gas to be diffused in all directions 360°.

In the decontamination gas circulation apparatus 1 having the above configuration, when the gas supply mechanism 100 is attached to the gas generator 10, the gap G of the gas supply mechanism 100 is located at a height of, for example, 1.0 m or more from the floor surface F. For example, the discharge height H (see FIG. 6) may be within a range of 1.2 m to 2.0 m. This can reduce the effect of obstacles on the circulation of gas.

According to the gas supply mechanism 100 of this embodiment, the decontamination gas sent out from the fan 130 hits the upper plate 120. The decontamination gas is then released in all directions in the circumferential direction through the gap G formed between the peripheral portion 120a of the upper plate 120 and the upper end portion 111 of the gas supply housing 110. Therefore, the decontamination gas is efficiently supplied into the space S. The decontamination gas can also be efficiently circulated by sucking in indoor air from the gas generator 10 below the gas supply mechanism 100. The release of the decontamination gas in 360° directions generates air convection, which stirs the indoor air while transporting the decontamination gas evenly throughout the room.

The decontamination gas circulation device 1 can also be used when fine particles such as microparticles (particle diameter of about 20 μm or less) are used as the decontamination gas. Furthermore, it can also be used with only the gas supply mechanism 100. When the gas supply mechanism 100 (circulation device) is used alone, the following effects can be expected.
1) When operated alone indoors, it functions as an air purifier (if a filter is installed).
2) When used alone in a room filled with decontamination gas, it can provide the function of capturing and decontaminating (inactivating) pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.
In addition, depending on the efficacy of the decontamination gas, it is possible to break down nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), making it applicable to sites where decontamination at the nucleic acid level is required, such as nucleic acid decontamination of areas where nucleic acids have been dispersed.

Pathogens such as viruses sucked into the high-performance filter 142 are captured, and the pathogens come into contact with the decontamination gas inside the filter unit, purifying the pathogens. The decontamination gas is circulated through the high-performance filter 142 and into the room via gap G (injection port). The high-performance filter 142 is located at the top, ensuring contact time with the decontamination residue. Generally, the outside of the filter is an effective collection surface, but the high-performance filter 142 allows air to pass through its interior, making it possible to capture the pathogens on the inside. Pathogens are inactivated by contact with the high-performance filter 142 and the decontamination gas before and after it.

The top plate 120 and the flange portion 116 are configured to generate a Coanda effect by the released decontamination gas. The Coanda effect has the effect of drawing (sucking) air from inside the room from above and below the flange portion 116 and sending it out in the circumferential direction. The Coanda effect can double the amount of gas circulation compared to a normal gas supply mechanism using an equivalent fan. This makes it possible to obtain a large amount of air circulation, i.e., a large amount of decontamination gas circulation, based on the limited power of the fan 130.

The gas supply housing 110, which has an inverted truncated cone-shaped main body 115, allows the decontamination gas to be supplied into the space S more efficiently. The decontamination gas is effectively released in all circumferential directions with little resistance.

The fan 130 is attached to the underside 122 of the top plate 120. The fan 130 is housed in the gas supply housing 110 while integrated into the top plate 120. This allows for a simple configuration and makes the gas supply mechanism 100 more compact.

In addition, according to the decontamination gas circulation device 1 of this embodiment, the decontamination gas generated by the gas generator 10 is taken into the gas supply housing 110 of the gas supply mechanism 100 and released in all circumferential directions. Therefore, the decontamination gas can be efficiently supplied and circulated in the space S. The installation area of the decontamination gas circulation device 1 is very small, and the floor area is reduced compared to conventional gas circulation devices.

Between the methanol vaporizer 12 and the reactor 13, an air supply port 14 is formed to supply air to the gas generator 10. With this configuration, the supplied compressed air becomes a decontamination gas and is efficiently sent to the gas supply mechanism 100.

The gap G of the gas supply mechanism 100 is located at a height of, for example, 1.0 m or more from the installation surface of the gas generator 10. For example, by simply installing the decontamination gas circulation device 1 on the floor surface F between beds B in hospital room A, the decontamination gas can be circulated in the space above bed B, and decontamination work can be carried out reliably and quickly.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the upper surface 121 of the upper plate 120 may be located at the same height as the upper end opening 112.

Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the gas supply mechanism 100A may employ a gas supply housing 110A having a main body 115A that is cylindrical (having a constant inner diameter) rather than an inverted truncated cone. In that case, the gas supply mechanism 100A may have an upper plate 120 that is positioned higher than the flange portion 116. The upper plate 120 is installed at a higher position than the upper end opening 112. The decontamination gas circulation device 1A equipped with the gas supply mechanism 100A also forms an annular gap G, thereby achieving the same action and effect as the decontamination gas circulation device 1 described above.

In the decontamination gas circulation device 1A in which the upper plate 120 is disposed at a higher position than the flange portion 116, for example, the outer diameter of the flange portion 116 is larger than the diameter of the upper plate 120. The flange portion 116 protrudes radially outward from the upper plate 120. The flange portion 116 is provided with a Coanda structure that generates the Coanda effect. Details of the Coanda structure will be described later. With this configuration, it is possible to generate an upflow convection current from below to above by the Coanda effect.

The Coanda effect causes a drop in air pressure, for example, by a Coanda structure provided on the flange portion 116. This allows convection from the surroundings to be drawn into the low-pressure area where the air pressure has dropped, inducing a convection flow that exceeds the actual amount of gas sprayed by the fan 130. This promotes mixing of the sprayed gas with the indoor air, and enables circulatory decontamination with a uniform gas concentration to be achieved.

The gas supply mechanism may be provided with a configuration that allows the width (clearance) of the gap G to be adjusted by a mechanism that allows the installation position (installation height) of the upper panel 120 to be changed.

The gas supply mechanism may be used not only in combination with the gas generator 10, but also alone as an air (or gas such as decontamination gas) circulation device in a room. The gas supply mechanism may be used as a dust collector, air purifier, or air circulator. A gas supply mechanism having a unique configuration that produces the Coanda effect enables efficient gas circulation with low power. The gas supply mechanism may be used in combination with devices other than the gas generator 10.

The configuration in which the upper plate 120 is positioned higher than the flange portion 116 may be applied to the configuration with the inverted truncated cone-shaped main body portion 115 shown in Figures 2 to 6. In that case, the diameter of the upper plate 120 may be larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 116, or the outer diameter of the flange portion 116 may be larger than the diameter of the upper plate 120. The diameter of the upper plate 120 may be equal to the outer diameter of the flange portion 116, and the outer edges 120b and 116b may be substantially aligned. A Coanda structure may be provided on the upper plate 120 and/or the flange portion 116. When the diameter of the upper plate 120 is equal to the outer diameter of the flange portion 116, the gas injection port (gap G) does not take into account the Coanda effect.

Next, a specific example of a configuration that produces the Coanda effect will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 12. Note that in each of Figures 9 to 12, the fan 130 and filter housing 140 described in the above embodiment are omitted.

In the gas supply mechanism 100B shown in FIG. 9(a), the upper plate 120 is disposed at a position higher than the flange portion 116, and the diameter of the upper plate 120 is larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 116. The peripheral portion 120a of the upper plate 120 faces the flange portion 116 at a predetermined interval and protrudes radially outward from the flange portion 116. The peripheral portion 120a of the upper plate 120 is provided with a Coanda structure 150 that generates the Coanda effect. The Coanda structure 150 is, for example, an annular shape and is attached to the lower surface 122 side of the upper plate 120. The Coanda structure 150 has, for example, a wing-shaped cross section. The cross-sectional shape of the Coanda structure 150 is constant no matter which part is cut in the circumferential direction. The Coanda structure 150 may be formed from the same material as the upper plate 120. The Coanda structure 150 may be a resin part (for example, a molded product). The outer edge 116b of the flange portion 116 is disposed inside (in front of) the top 155 of the Coanda structure 150. A gap G is formed between the airfoil surface 152 of the Coanda structure 150 and the outer edge 116b of the flange portion 116. The size of the gap G is, for example, about 1 mm to 5 mm. With this configuration, an upflow convection current can be generated from below to above by the Coanda effect. In the gas supply mechanism 100B, the main body 115A of the gas supply housing 110B may be replaced with a truncated cone-shaped main body 115 (see FIG. 5).

In the gas supply mechanism 100C shown in FIG. 9(b), the outer edge 116b of the flange portion 116 is disposed in a position close to (facing) the apex 155 of the Coanda structure 150. The apex 155 is a part of the airfoil surface 152, and is the part of the airfoil surface 152 that protrudes most from the lower surface 122 (the annular part). The description of the Coanda structure 150 is the same as the above description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9(a), so it will be omitted in the description of the following modified examples. A gap G is formed between the apex 155 of the Coanda structure 150 and the outer edge 116b of the flange portion 116. The size of the gap G is, for example, about 1 mm to 5 mm. With this configuration, the Coanda effect can also be used to generate an upflow convection from below to above. In the gas supply mechanism 100C, the main body 115A of the gas supply housing 110C may be replaced with a truncated cone-shaped main body 115 (see FIG. 5).

In the gas supply mechanism 100D shown in FIG. 10(a), the upper plate 120 is disposed at a higher position than the flange portion 116, and the outer diameter of the flange portion 116 is larger than the diameter of the upper plate 120. The peripheral portion 120a of the upper plate 120 faces the flange portion 116 at a predetermined interval. The flange portion 116 protrudes radially outward from the upper plate 120. The flange portion 116 is provided with a Coanda structure 150 that generates the Coanda effect. The Coanda structure 150 is, for example, annular, and is attached to the upper surface 116a side of the flange portion 116. The outer edge 120b of the upper plate 120 is disposed inside (in front of) the top portion 155 of the Coanda structure 150. A gap G is formed between the airfoil surface 152 of the Coanda structure 150 and the outer edge 120b of the upper plate 120. The size of the gap G is, for example, about 1 mm to 5 mm. With this configuration, a downflow convection current from above to below can be generated by the Coanda effect. In the gas supply mechanism 100D, the main body 115A of the gas supply housing 110D may be replaced with a truncated cone-shaped main body 115 (see FIG. 5).

In the gas supply mechanism 100E shown in FIG. 10(b), the outer edge 120b of the upper plate 120 is disposed in a position close to (facing) the top 155 of the Coanda structure 150. A gap G is formed between the top 155 of the Coanda structure 150 and the outer edge 120b of the upper plate 120. The size of the gap G is, for example, about 1 mm to 5 mm. With this configuration, a downflow convection from above to below can be generated by the Coanda effect. In the gas supply mechanism 100E, the main body 115A of the gas supply housing 110E may be replaced with a truncated cone-shaped main body 115 (see FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 11, a gas supply mechanism 100F having a top plate 120F with a peripheral portion 120a warped upward and a gas supply housing 110F may be adopted. The size of the top plate 120F and the flange portion 116 may be the same as that of the gas supply mechanism 100B shown in FIG. 9(a) or the gas supply mechanism 100C shown in FIG. 9(b). A gap G is formed between the wing-shaped surface 152 of the Coanda structure portion 150 and the outer edge 116b of the flange portion 116. The size of the gap G is, for example, about 1 mm to 5 mm. In this way, even with the top plate 120F to which the elevation angle structure is added, it is possible to generate an upflow convection from below to above by the Coanda effect. In the gas supply mechanism 100F, the main body portion 115A of the gas supply housing 110F may be replaced with a truncated cone-shaped main body portion 115 (see FIG. 5). An elevation structure may be added to the flange portion 116. In the gas supply mechanism 100F, the main body portion 115A of the gas supply housing 110F may be replaced with a truncated cone-shaped main body portion 115 (see FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 12, a gas supply mechanism 100G having a top plate 120G with a peripheral portion 120a curved along the Coanda structure 150 and a gas supply housing 110G may be adopted. The size of the top plate 120G and the flange portion 116 may be the same as that of the gas supply mechanism 100D shown in FIG. 10(a) or the gas supply mechanism 100E shown in FIG. 10(b). A gap G is formed between the airfoil surface 152 of the Coanda structure 150 and the outer edge 116b of the flange portion 116. The peripheral portion 120a of the top plate 120G forms a certain gap G between the airfoil surface 152 of the Coanda structure 150. The outer edge 120b of the top plate 120 is located in a position close to (facing) the top 155 of the Coanda structure 150. The size of the gap G is, for example, about 1 mm to 5 mm. With this configuration, downflow convection from above to below can be generated by the Coanda effect. In the gas supply mechanism 100G, the main body 115A of the gas supply housing 110G may be replaced with a truncated cone-shaped main body 115 (see FIG. 5).

Since the pathogens captured in the area where the pre-filter 141 and the high-performance filter 142 are in contact with the decontamination gas, a mixed wind of the decontamination gas and air is generated and circulated within the unit and before and after it, promoting decontamination while capturing the pathogens in the filter, and the decontamination gas that passes through the high-performance filter 142 and is sprayed from the gap G is effective in inactivating airborne pathogens and attached pathogens. The arrangement of the pre-filter 141 and the high-performance filter 142 can be appropriately changed from the above embodiment. For example, the high-performance filter 142 may be provided at the opening 18. By shortening the size of the high-performance filter 142, the contact area between the contaminated air flowing in from the opening 18 and the pre-contaminated gas can be expanded. The air volume can be selected by selecting the size of the high-performance filter 142.

In addition, the pre-filter 141 and the high-performance filter 142 may be omitted from the gas supply mechanism 100. Even in a configuration that does not include the pre-filter 141 and the high-performance filter 142, the circulation function and the decontamination function can be achieved by mixing the gas and air by the intake of the fan 130. When the decontamination gas circulation device 1 is used without a filter, it is possible to obtain 2 to 5 times the air volume (air circulation volume) compared to when a filter is provided. This can improve the performance as an air purifier.

The reaction section is not limited to a mechanism/device that generates decontamination gas by heating vaporized raw material and causing a specified reaction, but may also be a device such as an ultrasonic humidifier that generates fine particles of decontamination agent by spraying.

The upper plate 120 is not limited to a disk shape. The shape of the upper plate 120 can be changed as appropriate, and may be, for example, a rectangular plate with rounded corners. When the upper plate 120 is not circular, the diameter of the upper plate 120 may be the length of the longest line segment (line segments parallel to the upper plate 120) that may exist on the surface of the upper plate 120.

The main body 115 of the gas supply housing 110 may be formed with a constricted shape in which part of the cylinder protrudes inward. In this case, the mixing effect (homogenization effect) of the mixed gas is enhanced.

The fan 130 (blower) may be attached to the main body 115 instead of to the top panel 120. A centrifugal fan may be used as the blower. With a centrifugal fan, the mixed gas is sent out to the side (90° direction), hits the side (main body 115), and is sprayed from the gap G.

The Coanda structure 150 may have an arc-shaped surface rather than a wing shape.

In the various embodiments and modifications described above, the shape of the boundary portion, i.e., the corner portion (connection portion), of the flange portion 116 with the main body portion 115, the shape of the peripheral portion 120a, and the shape of the flange portion 116 may be set appropriately depending on the injection direction of the mixed gas and the flow (convection) that is generated.

The Coanda structure 150 is not limited to being a resin part (e.g., a molded product) prepared separately from the top plate 120 or the flange portion 116. For example, the Coanda structure 150 may be provided by forming the top plate 120 and/or the flange portion 116 into a curved shape (wing shape). If the top plate 120 and/or the flange portion 116 are made of metal, the Coanda structure 150 may be formed using sheet metal processing, drawing, or molding with a mold, or if the top plate 120 and/or the flange portion 116 are made of resin, the Coanda structure 150 may be formed using integral molding such as injection molding.

1...decontamination gas circulation device, 10...gas generator, 11...gas generation housing, 12...methanol vaporizer (raw material vaporizer), 13...reactor (reaction section), 14...air supply port, 100...gas supply mechanism, 110...gas supply housing, 111...upper end, 112...upper end opening, 115...main body, 116...flange, 120...upper plate, 120a...periphery, 122...lower surface, 130...fan (blower), 142...high-performance filter, 150...Coanda structure, A...hospital room, F...floor surface (installation surface), G...gap, H...release height, S...space.

Claims (6)

A gas supply mechanism that is installed in a space and supplies gas to the surroundings,
A blower configured to blow the gas upward or to the side;
a gas supply housing that houses the blower and has an upper end opening that is open upward;
a top plate attached to the gas supply housing so as to close the top opening of the gas supply housing,
an annular gap is formed between the upper plate and an upper end of the gas supply housing, and the gas sent out from the blower is discharged in all directions in the circumferential direction through the gap ;
the gas supply housing has a flange portion extending laterally at the upper end portion,
The gap is formed between the upper plate and the flange portion,
A gas supply mechanism, wherein the top plate and/or the flange portion are configured to generate a Coanda effect with released gas. The upper plate is disposed at a position higher than the flange portion,
A diameter of the upper plate is larger than an outer diameter of the flange portion, and a peripheral edge portion of the upper plate protrudes radially outward from the flange portion,
The gas supply mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral portion is provided with a Coanda structure that produces the Coanda effect. The upper plate is disposed at a position higher than the flange portion,
An outer diameter of the flange portion is larger than a diameter of the upper surface plate, and the flange portion protrudes radially outward from the upper surface plate,
The gas supply mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the flange portion is provided with a Coanda structure that produces the Coanda effect. a gas generator that is installed vertically in the space and generates a decontamination gas as one type of the gas;
The gas supply mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , which is attached to an upper portion of the gas generator;
A decontamination gas circulation device configured so that the decontamination gas generated by the gas generator is taken in from below the gas supply housing and guided to the suction port of the blower. The gas generator comprises:
a raw material vaporizer for vaporizing the gas raw material;
a reaction section disposed above the raw material vaporizer and generating the decontamination gas;
5. The decontamination gas circulation system according to claim 4 , further comprising an air supply port formed between said raw material vaporizer and said reaction section for supplying air to said gas generator. 6. The decontamination gas circulation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when the gas supply mechanism is attached to a gas generator, the gap of the gas supply mechanism is located at a height of 1.0 m or more from an installation surface of the gas generator.

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