JP7774196B2 - Space Purification System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air purification system that atomizes water, inhales air containing the atomized water and then blows it out, and also releases the atomized water containing purifying ingredients.

A known example of a conventional space purification device is an air conditioning system that sterilizes a space by bringing the air supplied indoors into contact with a gas-liquid contact member containing a purifying component and then releasing it (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In these conventional space purification devices, in addition to releasing atomized water, the water stored in the device (water containing purifying components) is generally vaporized during the atomization process, and the water containing some of the purifying components and the purifying components are then released into the space.

JP 2009-133521 A

However, with conventional space purification devices, when the amount of humidification required in an indoor space is low, such as during the Japanese summer (especially the rainy season) when air with a high relative humidity (e.g., 12°C, 95%) dehumidified by an air conditioner or other device is ventilated, the water (hypochlorous acid water) containing the micronized purifying ingredients is difficult to vaporize, preventing the purifying ingredients (hypochlorous acid) from vaporizing and resulting in the purifying ingredients being released into the indoor space. On the other hand, when the amount of humidification required is high, such as during the Japanese winter when heated air with a low relative humidity (e.g., 20°C, 30%) is ventilated, the water containing the micronized purifying ingredients is easy to vaporize, resulting in a large amount of the purifying ingredients being released into the indoor space. In other words, conventional space purification devices have the problem of not being able to easily adjust the amount of purifying ingredients released into the indoor space (air).

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide technology that makes it easier to adjust the amount of purification components released into the air.

To achieve this objective, the space purification system of the present invention comprises a hypochlorous acid water generation unit that generates hypochlorous acid water, a hypochlorous acid water supply unit that supplies hypochlorous acid water from the hypochlorous acid water generation unit to a mixing tank, a water supply unit that supplies water to the mixing tank, a water level sensor that detects the water level in the mixing tank, a humidification purification unit that atomizes the mixed water of hypochlorous acid water and water stored in the mixing tank and releases it into the air, and a control unit that controls the supply process in the hypochlorous acid water supply unit and the water supply unit, and the drainage process of the mixed water stored in the mixing tank. The control unit executes, as a supply process, a first control in which the hypochlorous acid water supply unit supplies hypochlorous acid water at predetermined time intervals, and a second control in which the water supply unit supplies water based on information about the water level in the mixing tank from the water level sensor, and, as a drainage process , executes a third control in which the mixed water stored in the mixing tank is drained if the second control has not been executed for a predetermined period since the water supply unit supplied water, the predetermined period being at least a predetermined time or more , thereby achieving the intended purpose.

The space purification system of the present invention makes it easy to adjust the amount of purification components released into the air.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a space purification system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the changes over time in the amount of water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water, and the concentration of hypochlorous acid in the space purification system (winter: first example). FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the change over time in the amount of water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water, and the concentration of hypochlorous acid in the space purification system (summer: second example). FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the changes over time in the amount of water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water, and the concentration of hypochlorous acid in the space purification system (summer: third example).

The space purification system of the present invention includes a hypochlorous acid water generation unit that generates hypochlorous acid water, a hypochlorous acid water supply unit that supplies hypochlorous acid water from the hypochlorous acid water generation unit to a mixing tank, a water supply unit that supplies water to the mixing tank, a water level sensor that detects the water level in the mixing tank, a humidification purification unit that atomizes the mixture of hypochlorous acid water and water stored in the mixing tank and releases it into the air, and a control unit that controls the supply process in the hypochlorous acid water supply unit and the water supply unit, as well as the drainage process of the mixed water stored in the mixing tank. The control unit executes, as the supply process, a first control that supplies hypochlorous acid water from the hypochlorous acid water supply unit at predetermined time intervals, and a second control that supplies water from the water supply unit based on information regarding the water level in the mixing tank from the water level sensor, and, as the drainage process, a third control that drains the mixed water stored in the mixing tank if the second control has not been executed for a predetermined period since the water supply unit supplied water.

By doing so, when air with high relative humidity is ventilated, such as in the Japanese summer, the amount of mixed water stored in the mixing tank is low, so the frequency of supplying hypochlorous acid water to the mixing tank (the number of times the first control is performed) increases. The mixed water is atomized and released into the air at a high hypochlorous acid concentration in the mixing tank. In this case, if the second control has not been performed for a predetermined period since the water supply unit supplied water, the third control is performed, discharging the mixed water stored in the mixing tank, and resetting the mixed water in the mixing tank, thereby preventing the hypochlorous acid concentration in the mixing tank from rising too high. As a result, even in situations where the atomized hypochlorous acid water is difficult to vaporize, hypochlorous acid at a predetermined concentration can be absorbed into the air and released into the indoor space. On the other hand, when air with low relative humidity is ventilated, such as in the Japanese winter, the amount of mixed water stored in the mixing tank is high, so the frequency of supplying water to the mixing tank (the number of times the second control is performed) increases. The mixed water is atomized and released into the air at a low hypochlorous acid concentration in the mixing tank. As a result, even in situations where the finely divided hypochlorous acid water is prone to vaporization, hypochlorous acid diluted to a predetermined concentration can be absorbed into the air and released into indoor spaces. In other words, the space purification system makes it easy to adjust the amount of hypochlorous acid released into the air.

Furthermore, in the space purification system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the control unit executes the third control immediately before executing the first control. This prevents the space purification system from performing drainage under the third control immediately after hypochlorous acid is supplied to the mixing tank under the first control, making it possible to continue using the hypochlorous acid water supplied under the first control for as long as possible and reducing waste caused by drainage under the third control.

Furthermore, in the space purification system according to the present invention, the predetermined period is preferably set based on the concentration of hypochlorous acid water supplied by the first control. For example, in the space purification system, if the concentration of hypochlorous acid water supplied by the first control is high, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank will increase quickly if water supply by the second control is not performed. Therefore, by setting the predetermined period to a short period, it is possible to more reliably prevent the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank from increasing too much.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example of a specific embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, identical parts throughout the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations are omitted. Furthermore, to avoid duplication, explanations of details of parts not directly related to the present invention are omitted for each drawing.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a space purification system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The space purification system 100 is a device that, when circulating air in an indoor space 18, performs cooling (dehumidification) or heating treatment on air 8 (RA) from the indoor space 18 as needed, and also contains an air purification component (hereinafter simply referred to as an "air purification component") along with finely divided water in the air 8 circulating inside. The space purification system 100 sterilizes and deodorizes the indoor space 18 by supplying air 9 (SA) circulating inside to the indoor space 18. Here, hypochlorous acid is used as the air purification component, and the water containing the air purification component is hypochlorous acid water.

As shown in Figure 1, the space purification system 100 is primarily composed of a space purification device 10, an air conditioning device 15, and a hypochlorous acid water generator 30.

The space purification device 10 includes an air outlet 3, an air purification unit 11, and an air purification control unit 41. The air conditioning device 15 includes an air inlet 2, a blower 13, a refrigerant coil 14, and an air conditioning control unit 42. The space purification device 10 and the air conditioning device 15 each have a housing that forms the outer frame of the device, and the space purification device 10 and the air conditioning device 15 are connected by a duct 24. The air conditioning device 15 has an air inlet 2 on its side, and the space purification device 10 has an air outlet 3 on its side.

The air inlet 2 is an intake port that takes in air 8 from the indoor space 18 into the air conditioning unit 15. The air inlet 2 is connected to an indoor air inlet 16a provided on the ceiling or other part of the indoor space 18 via a duct 16. This allows the air inlet 2 to draw air from the indoor space 18 into the air conditioning unit 15 through the indoor air inlet 16a.

The air outlet 3 is an outlet that discharges air 9 (SA) that has circulated within the space purification device 10 into the indoor space 18. The air outlet 3 is connected to an indoor air outlet 17a provided on the ceiling or other part of the indoor space 18 via a duct 17. This allows the air outlet 3 to blow out the air 9 that has circulated within the space purification device 10 from the indoor air outlet 17a toward the indoor space 18.

In addition, inside the air conditioning unit 15 and the space purification device 10, air ducts (front air duct 4, middle air duct 5, rear air duct 6) are configured that connect the air inlet 2 and the air outlet 3 via a duct 24. The front air duct 4 is an air duct adjacent to the air inlet 2. A blower 13 and a refrigerant coil 14 are provided in the front air duct 4.

The middle air duct 5 is located adjacent to the front air duct 4 (duct 24) and is an air duct through which air 8 that has flowed through the front air duct 4 flows. An air purification unit 11 is provided within the middle air duct 5.

The rear air duct 6 is an air duct adjacent to the air outlet 3. In the rear air duct 6, the air 8 that has flowed through the middle air duct 5 flows through the air purification section 11 and becomes air 9 containing hypochlorous acid along with atomized water.

In the air conditioning device 15 and the space purification device 10, air 8 drawn in through the air inlet 2 flows through the front air duct 4, the middle air duct 5, and the rear air duct 6, and is blown out as air 9 from the air outlet 3.

The blower 13 of the air conditioning unit 15 is a device for transporting air 8 (RA) from the indoor space 18 into the air conditioning unit 15 from the air inlet 2. The blower 13 is installed upstream of the refrigerant coil 14 in the front air duct 4. The blower 13's operation is controlled to be on/off in accordance with air output information from the air conditioning control unit 42. When the blower 13 operates, the air 8 from the indoor space 18 is drawn into the air conditioning unit 15 and directed toward the refrigerant coil 14.

The refrigerant coil 14 is located downstream of the blower 13 in the front-stage air duct 4 and is a component for cooling or heating the introduced air 8. The refrigerant coil 14 changes its output state (cooling, heating, or off) in response to an output signal from the air conditioning control unit 42, adjusting the cooling capacity (amount of cooling) or heating capacity (amount of heating) for the introduced air 8. When the refrigerant coil 14 cools the introduced air 8, it dehumidifies the introduced air 8, so the cooling capacity (amount of cooling) for the air 8 can also be considered the dehumidification capacity (amount of dehumidification) for the air 8.

The refrigerant coil 14 functions as a heat absorber or radiator in a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a radiator, an expander, and a heat absorber, and is configured to absorb (cool) or radiate (heat) heat when refrigerant introduced from the outdoor unit 20 flows through it. More specifically, the refrigerant coil 14 is connected to the outdoor unit 20 via a refrigerant circuit 21 through which the refrigerant flows. The outdoor unit 20 is an outdoor unit installed in the outdoor space 19 and includes a compressor 20a, an expander 20b, an outdoor heat exchanger 20c, a blower fan 20d, and a four-way valve 20e. Because the outdoor unit 20 has a typical configuration, detailed descriptions of each component (compressor 20a, expander 20b, outdoor heat exchanger 20c, blower fan 20d, and four-way valve 20e) are omitted.

A four-way valve 20e is connected to the refrigeration cycle including the refrigerant coil 14, so the air conditioning unit 15 can switch between a cooling mode (dehumidification mode) in which the refrigerant flows in a first direction via the four-way valve 20e to cool and dehumidify the air (air 8), and a heating mode in which the refrigerant flows in a second direction via the four-way valve 20e to heat the air (air 8).

Here, the first direction is the direction in which the refrigerant flows through the compressor 20a, outdoor heat exchanger 20c, expander 20b, and refrigerant coil 14, in that order. The second direction is the direction in which the refrigerant flows through the compressor 20a, refrigerant coil 14, expander 20b, and outdoor heat exchanger 20c, in that order. The refrigerant coil 14 can cool or heat the introduced air (air 8).

The air purification unit 11 of the space purification device 10 is a unit for humidifying the air 8 taken in. During humidification, the air is infused with hypochlorous acid along with atomized water. More specifically, the air purification unit 11 includes a mixing tank 92, a water level sensor 90, a humidification motor 11a, and a humidification nozzle 11b. The air purification unit 11 uses the humidification motor 11a to rotate the humidification nozzle 11b, which uses centrifugal force to suck up hypochlorous acid water stored in the mixing tank 92 of the air purification unit 11, scattering, colliding, and crushing it in the surrounding area (centrifugal direction), thereby moistening the air passing through. The air purification unit 11 adjusts the rotation speed of the humidification motor 11a (hereinafter referred to as the rotation output value) in response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41 to adjust the humidification capacity (amount of humidification). The amount of humidification can also be considered the amount of hypochlorous acid added to the air. The air purification unit 11 corresponds to the "humidification and purification unit" in the claims.

The water level sensor 90 measures the water level of the hypochlorous acid water stored in the mixing tank 92 and outputs the measurement value to the air purification control unit 41. More specifically, the water level sensor 90 measures the water level at which the mixing tank 92 becomes dry and the water level at which the mixing tank 92 becomes full, and outputs the measurement value as water level information to the air purification control unit 41. In this embodiment, the water level at which the mixing tank 92 becomes dry is set to the water level at which the amount of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 has decreased to approximately one-third of its full state.

The mixing tank 92 is a tank in the air purification unit 11 that stores hypochlorous acid water, and can also be considered a water storage unit. In the mixing tank 92, hypochlorous acid water of a predetermined concentration supplied from the hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 (described below) and water supplied from the water supply unit 50 (described below) are mixed within the tank, and mixed water consisting of diluted hypochlorous acid water is stored. The hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) stored in the mixing tank 92 can be discharged from the mixing tank 92 to the outside by the drainage unit 60, which operates in response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41.

The hypochlorous acid water generator 30 includes an electrolytic cell 31, electrodes 32, a solenoid valve 33, a brine tank 34, a brine transfer pump 35, a water level sensor 39, and a hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36.

The brine tank 34 stores brine and supplies it to the electrolytic cell 31 via the brine transfer pump 35 in response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41. The electrolytic cell 31 stores the brine to be electrolyzed, supplied from the brine tank 34. In response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41, tap water is also supplied to the electrolytic cell 31 via a solenoid valve 33 from a water supply pipe, etc., and the supplied tap water and brine are mixed to store brine of a predetermined concentration. The electrodes 32 are disposed within the electrolytic cell 31 and, in response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41, electrolyze the brine for a predetermined time by applying current to generate hypochlorous acid water of a predetermined concentration. In other words, the electrolytic cell 31 generates hypochlorous acid water by electrolyzing a chloride aqueous solution (e.g., a sodium chloride aqueous solution) as an electrolyte between a pair of electrodes. Because a conventional device is used for the electrolytic cell 31, detailed description is omitted. Here, the electrolyte is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of generating hypochlorous acid water and contains even a small amount of chloride ions. For example, an aqueous solution containing sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, or the like as a solute can be used. Hydrochloric acid is also acceptable. In this embodiment, an aqueous sodium chloride solution (brine) in which sodium chloride is added to water is used as the electrolyte.

The water level sensor 39 measures the water level in the electrolytic cell 31 and outputs the measurement value to the air purification control unit 41.

The hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 supplies hypochlorous acid water from the electrolytic cell 31 to the mixing tank 92 of the air purification unit 11 in response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41. The hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 has a hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37 and a water supply pipe 38. The hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37 sends hypochlorous acid water from the electrolytic cell 31 to the water supply pipe 38 in response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41. The water supply pipe 38 is connected between the hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37 and the mixing tank 92, and supplies hypochlorous acid water toward the mixing tank 92.

The water supply unit 50 supplies water to the mixing tank 92 in response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41. The water supply unit 50 has a solenoid valve 51 and a water supply pipe 52. In response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41, the solenoid valve 51 controls whether or not water supplied from a water pipe external to the space purification device 10 flows into the water supply pipe 52. The water supply pipe 52 is connected between the solenoid valve 51 and the mixing tank 92, and supplies water toward the mixing tank 92.

The drain unit 60 is connected to the bottom of the mixing tank 92 and discharges the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92 to the outside in response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41. The drain unit 60 has a solenoid valve 61 and a water supply pipe 62. The solenoid valve 61 controls whether or not the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92 is discharged to an external drain pipe in response to an output signal from the air purification control unit 41. The water supply pipe 62 is connected between the mixing tank 92 and the solenoid valve 61 and supplies the mixed water to an external drain pipe.

In the air purification unit 11, hypochlorous acid water from the hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 and water from the water supply unit 50 are supplied to the mixing tank 92. The hypochlorous acid water and water are then mixed in the mixing tank 92 of the air purification unit 11. The mixture of hypochlorous acid water and water can also be called hypochlorous acid water. More specifically, in the mixing tank 92 of the air purification unit 11, the hypochlorous acid water from the hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 or the water from the water supply unit 50 is supplied and mixed with the hypochlorous acid water remaining in the mixing tank 92. The air purification unit 11 releases the hypochlorous acid water into the indoor space 18 by centrifugal crushing the mixture of hypochlorous acid water and water stored in the mixing tank 92. The micronized hypochlorous acid water is released into the indoor space 18 with its liquid components evaporated.

An operating device 43 is installed on a wall of the indoor space 18. The operating device 43 has a user interface that can be operated by the user, and receives temperature and humidity setting values from the user. The operating device 43 includes a temperature and humidity sensor 44, which measures the temperature and humidity of the air in the indoor space 18. Known technology can be used to measure the temperature and humidity using the temperature and humidity sensor 44, so a description of this technology will be omitted here.

The operating device 43 is connected to the air purification control unit 41 and the air conditioning control unit 42 via a wired or wireless connection, and transmits the temperature setting value, humidity setting value, temperature measurement value, and humidity measurement value to the air purification control unit 41 and the air conditioning control unit 42. This information may be transmitted all at once, any two or more pieces of information may be transmitted at once, or each piece may be transmitted individually. Alternatively, the operating device 43 may transmit information to the air purification control unit 41, and the air purification control unit 41 may forward the information to the air conditioning control unit 42.

The air conditioning control unit 42 of the air conditioner 15 receives the temperature setting value and the measured temperature value, and controls the refrigerant coil 14 and the outdoor unit 20 so that the measured temperature value approaches the set temperature value. In heating mode, if the measured temperature value is lower than the set temperature value, the air conditioning control unit 42 increases the degree of heating as the difference between the measured temperature value and the set temperature value increases.

Next, we will explain the air purification control unit 41 of the space purification device 10.

The air purification control unit 41 controls the processing operations of the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 and the space purification device 10, including operations related to the electrolysis process in the electrolytic cell 31, operations related to the supply of hypochlorous acid water to the air purification unit 11, operations related to the supply of water to the air purification unit 11, operations related to the humidification and purification process in the air purification unit 11, and operations related to the drainage of mixed water in the air purification unit 11. The air purification control unit 41 includes a computer system having a processor and memory. The computer system functions as the control unit when the processor executes a program stored in the memory. While the program executed by the processor is pre-recorded in the computer system's memory here, it may be provided by being recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, or via a telecommunications line such as the Internet. The air purification control unit 41 corresponds to the "control unit" in the claims.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the air purification control unit 41 includes an input unit 41a, a memory unit 41b, a timer unit 41c, a processing unit 41d, and an output unit 41e.

<Operations related to electrolysis treatment in electrolytic cell>
The air purification control unit 41 executes the following processes as operations related to the electrolysis process in the electrolytic cell 31.

The air purification control unit 41 receives water level information (drought signal) from the water level sensor 39 and time information (time information) from the timer unit 41c as triggers for the electrolysis process in the electrolytic cell 31, and outputs these to the processing unit 41d.

The processing unit 41d determines control information based on water level information from the water level sensor 39, time information from the timer unit 41c, and setting information from the memory unit 41b, and outputs it to the output unit 41e. The setting information includes information regarding the start or end time of hypochlorous acid water production, information regarding the amount of tap water supplied to the electrolytic cell 31, information regarding the amount of chloride ion-containing liquid fed into the brine transfer pump 35, information regarding the electrolysis conditions (time, current value, voltage, etc.) at the electrode 32, information regarding the opening and closing timing of the solenoid valve 33, and information regarding the on/off operation of the hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37.

The electrolysis conditions for the electrode 32 can be determined from the amount of tap water in the electrolytic cell 31, the chloride ion concentration, the electrolysis time, and the degree of deterioration of the electrode 32. An algorithm is created and set, and the conditions are stored in the memory unit 41b.

Then, the output unit 41e outputs a signal (control signal) to each device (salt water transfer pump 35, solenoid valve 33, and hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37) based on the received control information.

More specifically, first, the salt water transfer pump 35 remains stopped based on a signal from the output unit 41e, and the hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37 remains stopped based on a signal from the output unit 41e.

The solenoid valve 33 is then opened based on a signal from the output unit 41e. This starts the supply of tap water from the water pipe to the electrolytic cell 31. The solenoid valve 33 is then closed based on a signal from the output unit 41e, which receives water level information (full) from the water level sensor 39. This puts the electrolytic cell 31 in a state where tap water is being supplied at the set supply rate.

Next, the saltwater transfer pump 35 starts operating based on a signal from the output unit 41e, transfers a liquid containing a predetermined amount of chloride ions to the electrolytic cell 31, and then stops. This causes chloride ions to dissolve in the tap water, and the electrolytic cell 31 becomes a state in which an aqueous solution containing a predetermined amount of chloride ions (aqueous chloride solution) has been produced.

The electrode 32 then begins electrolysis of the chloride aqueous solution based on the signal from the output unit 41e, producing hypochlorous acid water according to the set conditions and then stopping. The hypochlorous acid water produced by the electrode 32 has, for example, a hypochlorous acid concentration of 100 ppm to 150 ppm (e.g., 120 ppm) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.5 (e.g., 8.0).

In this way, the air purification control unit 41 performs electrolysis in the electrolytic cell 31, producing hypochlorous acid water of a predetermined concentration and amount.

<Operations related to supplying hypochlorous acid water to the air purification unit>
The air purification control unit 41 executes the following processes as operations related to the supply process of hypochlorous acid water to the air purification unit 11.

In the air purification control unit 41, the timer unit 41c measures the operating time of the humidification motor 11a as a trigger for supplying hypochlorous acid water to the air purification unit 11, and outputs a hypochlorous acid water supply request to the hypochlorous acid water generation unit 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) every time a predetermined operating time has elapsed (e.g., 60 minutes). Here, the predetermined time is a time estimated in advance through experimental evaluation, taking into account that hypochlorous acid in the hypochlorous acid water evaporates and decreases over time.

Specifically, the processing unit 41d identifies control information based on time-related information (time information) from the timer unit 41c and setting information from the memory unit 41b, and outputs it to the output unit 41e. Here, the setting information includes information about the hypochlorous acid water supply interval (e.g., 60 minutes) and information about the on/off operation of the hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37.

Then, the output unit 41e outputs a signal (control signal) to the hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37 of the hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 based on the received control information.

The hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37 operates based on a signal from the output unit 41e. This causes the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 to begin supplying hypochlorous acid water from the electrolytic cell 31 to the air purification unit 11 (mixing cell 92). To ensure the concentration of hypochlorous acid water stored in the electrolytic cell 31, the entire amount of hypochlorous acid water generated in the electrolytic cell 31 is supplied when the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 supplies the hypochlorous acid water to the mixing cell 92. Therefore, after the hypochlorous acid water is supplied, the electrolytic cell 31 is empty, and hypochlorous acid water production will not begin if hypochlorous acid water remains in the electrolytic cell 31. When the entire amount of hypochlorous acid water in the electrolytic cell 31 has been supplied, the water level sensor 39 outputs a drought signal as water level information.

The hypochlorous acid water transfer pump 37 then stops based on a signal from the output unit 41e, which receives time-related information (the time required to supply the specified amount) from the timer unit 41c. This causes the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 to supply the set amount of hypochlorous acid water from the electrolytic cell 31 to the air purifier 11 (mixing tank 92).

In this manner, the air purification control unit 41 executes the process of supplying hypochlorous acid water from the hypochlorous acid water generation unit 30 (electrolytic cell 31) to the air purification unit 11. Note that the control by the air purification control unit 41 to supply hypochlorous acid water from the hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 at predetermined time intervals is referred to as "first control."

<Operations related to water supply processing to the air purification unit>
The air purification control unit 41 executes the following processes as operations related to the process of supplying water to the air purification unit 11.

The air purification control unit 41 receives water level information (drought signal) from the water level sensor 90 of the space purification device 10 as a trigger for supplying water to the air purification unit 11, and outputs a water supply request to the water supply unit 50.

Specifically, the input unit 41a receives water level information (drought signal) from the water level sensor 90 of the space purification device 10 and outputs it to the processing unit 41d.

The processing unit 41d identifies control information based on the water level information (drought signal) from the input unit 41a, time-related information (time information) from the timer unit 41c, and setting information from the memory unit 41b, and outputs it to the output unit 41e. Here, the setting information includes information regarding the on/off operation of the solenoid valve 51 of the water supply unit 50.

The output unit 41e then outputs a signal (control signal) to the solenoid valve 51 based on the received control information.

The solenoid valve 51 operates based on a signal from the output unit 41e. This causes the water supply unit 50 to start supplying water from the external water supply pipe to the air purification unit 11 (mixing tank 92) via the water supply pipe 52.

The solenoid valve 51 then stops based on a signal from the output unit 41e, which receives water level information (full water signal) from the water level sensor 90 of the space purification device 10. This causes the water supply unit 50 to supply water from the external water supply pipe to the air purification unit 11 (mixing tank 92) until the set amount of water is reached.

In this way, the air purification control unit 41 executes the process of supplying water from the water supply unit 50 to the air purification unit 11. Note that the control by the air purification control unit 41 to supply water from the water supply unit 50 based on information about the water level in the mixing tank 92 from the water level sensor 90 (drought information) is referred to as "second control."

<Operations related to humidification and purification processing in the air purification unit>
Next, the operation of the air purification control unit 41 regarding the humidification and purification process in the air purification unit 11 will be described.

The input unit 41a accepts user input information from the operating device 43, temperature and humidity information about the air in the indoor space 18 from the temperature and humidity sensor 44, and water level information about the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 from the water level sensor 90. The input unit 41a outputs each piece of accepted information to the processing unit 41d.

Here, the operating device 43 is a terminal for inputting user-input information related to the space purification device 10 (e.g., air volume, target temperature, target humidity, whether or not to add hypochlorous acid, target hypochlorous acid supply level, etc.), and is connected to the air purification control unit 41 wirelessly or via a wired connection so that it can communicate with the air purification control unit 41.

The temperature and humidity sensor 44 is installed in the indoor space 18 and senses the temperature and humidity of the air in the indoor space 18.

The memory unit 41b stores user input information received by the input unit 41a and supply setting information for the hypochlorous acid supply operation to the air circulating within the device. The memory unit 41b outputs the stored supply setting information to the processing unit 41d. Note that the supply setting information for the hypochlorous acid supply operation can also be considered humidification setting information for the humidification and purification operation of the air purification unit 11.

The timing unit 41c outputs time information related to the current time to the processing unit 41d.

The processing unit 41d accepts various information (user input information, temperature and humidity information, water level information) from the input unit 41a, time information from the timer unit 41c, and supply setting information from the memory unit 41b. The processing unit 41d uses the accepted user input information, time information, and supply setting information to determine control information related to the humidification and purification operation.

Specifically, the processing unit 41d determines the required amount of humidification required for the indoor space 18 at regular intervals based on the time information from the timer unit 41c, based on the humidity difference between the target humidity stored in the memory unit 41b and the temperature and humidity information of the air in the indoor space 18 from the temperature and humidity sensor 44. The processing unit 41d then determines control information related to the humidification and purification operation based on the determined required amount of humidification and the supply setting information stored in the memory unit 41b. The processing unit 41d then outputs the determined control information to the output unit 41e.

Furthermore, when the water level information from the water level sensor 90 includes information (a drought signal) regarding the water level indicating a drought of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92, the processing unit 41d causes the output unit 41e to output a signal requesting water supply from the water supply unit 50. Furthermore, when the operating time of the air purifying unit 11 (humidifying motor 11a) reaches a predetermined time (e.g., 60 minutes) based on the time information from the timing unit 41c, the processing unit 41d causes the output unit 41e to output a signal requesting hypochlorous acid water supply from the hypochlorous acid water generating unit 30. Note that in this embodiment, the water level indicating a drought of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 is set to the water level when the amount of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 has decreased to approximately one-third of its full capacity.

The output unit 41e then outputs the received signals to the air purification unit 11, the hypochlorous acid water generation unit 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36), and the water supply unit 50, respectively.

The air purification unit 11 then receives a signal from the output unit 41e and controls its operating behavior based on the received signal. At this time, the hypochlorous acid water generation unit 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) receives a signal (hypochlorous acid water supply request signal) from the output unit 41e and performs the above-mentioned operation (first control) related to the supply of hypochlorous acid water to the air purification unit 11 based on the received signal. Furthermore, the water supply unit 50 receives a signal (water supply request signal) from the output unit 41e and performs the above-mentioned operation (second control) related to the supply of water to the air purification unit 11 based on the received signal.

As described above, the air purification control unit 41 executes a supply process consisting of a first control in which the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) supplies hypochlorous acid water at predetermined time intervals, and a second control in which the water supply unit 50 supplies water based on information (drought information) about the water level in the mixing tank 92 from the water level sensor 90, thereby storing mixed water in the mixing tank 92. When supplying hypochlorous acid water and water to the mixing tank 92 and storing the mixed water, the air purification control unit 41 differentiates the hypochlorous acid water supply cycle (every predetermined time interval) from the water supply cycle (each time drought is detected), and executes a humidification purification process on the air circulating through the space purification device 10 (air purification unit 11).

<Operations related to drainage treatment of mixed water from the air purification unit>
The air purification control unit 41 executes the following process as an operation related to the drainage process of the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92 of the air purification unit 11.

The air purification control unit 41 determines whether or not to perform the drainage process based on information (execution time information) regarding the execution time of the second control in the water supply unit 50 as a trigger for the drainage process of the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92.

Specifically, the memory unit 41b stores execution time information for the second control. Here, the execution time is the execution time of the second control executed after the start of the humidification purification treatment operation (hereinafter also referred to as "after operation start"), starting from the initial state of the mixing tank 92 (for example, a state in which the mixing tank 92 is filled with water due to the supply of water and hypochlorous acid water executed after the drainage treatment). The execution time of the second control is stored in the memory unit 41b each time the second control is executed. Note that the memory unit 41b also stores the time when the humidification purification treatment operation started as part of the execution time information for the second control.

The processing unit 41d identifies a period during which the second control is not being executed (a period during which the second control is not being executed) based on the execution time information of the second control from the memory unit 41b and the time-related information (time information) from the timing unit 41c. The processing unit 41d then determines whether the identified period during which the second control is not being executed is equal to or longer than a reference time.

Here, the reference time is set to "6 hours" based on the hypochlorous acid concentration of the hypochlorous acid water supplied from the hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 so that the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 does not exceed the reference concentration simply by continuously supplying hypochlorous acid water under the first control. The reference concentration is set to a hypochlorous acid concentration that does not cause discomfort to users in the indoor space 18 due to the odor of the air 9 (air 9 containing hypochlorous acid) blown into the indoor space 18. The reference time corresponds to the "predetermined period" in the claims.

If the processing unit 41d determines that the non-execution period of the second control is equal to or longer than the reference time, it identifies control information based on the time information from the timer unit 41c and the setting information from the memory unit 41b and outputs it to the output unit 41e. Here, the setting information includes information regarding the on/off operation of the solenoid valve 61 of the drainage unit 60.

The output unit 41e then outputs a signal (control signal) to the solenoid valve 61 based on the received control information.

The solenoid valve 61 operates based on a signal from the output unit 41e. This causes the drainage unit 60 to begin discharging mixed water from the mixing tank 92 to an external drain pipe via the water supply pipe 62.

Then, the solenoid valve 61 stops after a predetermined time (e.g., one minute) based on a signal from the output unit 41e, which receives time information from the timer unit 41c. As a result, all of the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92 is discharged, leaving it empty.

In this way, the air purification control unit 41 executes the process of draining the mixed water from the mixing tank 92 to the outside. Note that the control by the air purification control unit 41 to drain the mixed water by the drain unit 60 based on information regarding the execution time of the second control in the water supply unit 50 (period during which the second control is not executed) is referred to as "third control."

Next, referring to Figures 3 to 5, the mixed water (mixed water mixed under first or second control) in the mixing tank 92 of the space purification device 10 (air purification unit 11) in the space purification system 100 will be described. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the changes over time in the water volume, hypochlorous acid water concentration, and hypochlorous acid concentration in the space purification system 100 (winter: first example). More specifically, Figure 3(a) shows the changes over time in the water volume of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92. Figure 3(b) shows the changes over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92. Figure 3(c) shows the changes over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air at the air outlet 3. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the changes over time in the water volume, hypochlorous acid water concentration, and hypochlorous acid concentration in the space purification system 100 (summer: second example). More specifically, (a) of FIG. 4 shows the change over time in the amount of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92. (b) of FIG. 4 shows the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92. (c) of FIG. 4 shows the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air at the outlet 3. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the change over time in the amount of water, hypochlorous acid water concentration, and hypochlorous acid concentration in the space purification system 100 (summer: third example). More specifically, (a) of FIG. 5 shows the change over time in the amount of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92. (b) of FIG. 5 shows the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92. (c) of FIG. 5 shows the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air at the outlet 3.

Here, hypochlorous acid water is supplied to the mixing tank 92 at predetermined intervals (every hour), and water is supplied to the mixing tank 92 every time the water level sensor 90 detects a water level that causes the mixing tank 92 to become dry.

As mentioned above, even when the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 reaches a water level that causes a drought, approximately one-third of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) remains in the mixing tank 92 compared to when it was full. To simplify the explanation, it is assumed that the air purification unit 11 operates at a constant humidification requirement during the humidification purification operation. Hereinafter, the predetermined amount of hypochlorous acid water supplied to the mixing tank 92 will also be referred to as "concentrated hypochlorous acid water."

First, we will explain the operating conditions during the Japanese winter. During the Japanese winter, the outside air is dry, so the demand for humidification from the air purifier 11 is high, and water is supplied at shorter intervals than the supply of hypochlorous acid water. In other words, the water level in the mixing tank 92 reaches a low level before the hypochlorous acid water is supplied.

The following describes, as a first example, processing under humidification purification conditions in which water is supplied (second control) four times and hypochlorous acid water is supplied (first control) three times during a period of up to three hours of operation after the air purification unit 11 starts operating.

The above-mentioned humidification and purification conditions are conditions that are set based on controlling the air purification unit 11 so that the number of times the first control is performed is less than the number of times the second control is performed when the humidification demand for the air purification unit 11 is equal to or greater than a first reference value. Here, the first reference value is a value that is set to distinguish between conditions in which the air is dry and has low humidity, such as in Japan's winter, and conditions in which the air is humid and has high humidity, such as in Japan's summer.

In the first example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the supply of hypochlorous acid water to the mixing tank 92 (first control) is carried out at 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, etc., assuming that the start of operation is 0 hours. On the other hand, the supply of water to the mixing tank 92 (second control) is carried out at a hour, b hour, c hour, d hour, etc. At 0 hours, when operation starts, the supply of hypochlorous acid water and the supply of water to the mixing tank 92 are each carried out, and the mixing tank 92 is in a state (initial state) where it is filled with hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) of a predetermined concentration.

Furthermore, at the third hour, the supply of hypochlorous acid water (first control) and the supply of water (second control) overlap, so the first example can be considered a three-hour cycle of supplying hypochlorous acid water (first control) and water (second control). However, with the supply of water (second control) at this time, approximately one-third of the mixed water remains in the mixing tank 92 compared to when it was full, and the amount of water supplied is reduced by the amount of hypochlorous acid water supplied, so the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 is slightly higher than the initial state at time 0.

In the first example, during the period from when the air purification unit 11 starts operating until the operation time is three hours (the period from when the operation time is more than zero hours to three hours or less), water is supplied four times and hypochlorous acid water is supplied three times. After that, the third hour of operation is considered to be the initial state (zero hours), and the same supply operation is repeated every three hours of operation.

In other words, in the first example, when the humidification demand for the air purification unit 11 is equal to or greater than the first reference value, the number of times the first control is performed is controlled to be less than the number of times the second control is performed.

In winter in Japan, the demand for humidification from the air purifier 11 is high, and water supply (second control) is performed at intervals shorter than the reference time (6 hours). Therefore, second control is performed frequently, and mixed water drainage under third control is not performed.

Explain in more detail.

Referring to Figure 3(a), the explanation focuses on the change over time in the water level of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92.

At the beginning of operation (time 0), the mixing tank 92 is filled to capacity with a mixture of hypochlorous acid concentrate and water (also called hypochlorous acid water). The amount of mixed water then decreases at a constant rate through humidification and purification operation, and a drought is detected at time a from the start of operation, at which point water is supplied from the water supply unit 50 until the mixing tank 92 is full. The level of the mixed water then decreases at a constant rate through humidification and purification operation, and at one hour, the time for supplying hypochlorous acid water, the first control is executed. In other words, hypochlorous acid concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) to the mixing tank 92. This causes the water level in the mixing tank 92 to rise slightly. The level of the mixed water then continues to decrease through humidification and purification operation, and at time b from the start of operation, a drought occurs again, and water is supplied from the water supply unit 50 until the mixing tank 92 is full.

Then, when the operating time since the start of operation reaches two hours, the first control is executed, and the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) to the mixing tank 92. This causes the water level in the mixing tank 92 to rise slightly. The mixed water level then continues to decrease due to the humidification purification operation, and at time c after the start of operation, the water level becomes low again, and water is supplied from the water supply unit 50 until the mixing tank 92 is full.

Then, the operating time after the start of operation reaches three hours (hour d). At this time, the drought detection and the supply of hypochlorous acid water concentrate overlap, so first control and second control are executed in that order. More specifically, in first control, hypochlorous acid water concentrate is first supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) to the mixing tank 92. Then, in second control, water is supplied from the water supply unit 50 until the mixing tank 92 is full. As a result, hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water are each supplied into the mixing tank 92, and the water level in the mixing tank 92 returns to the same state as at the beginning of operation (hour 0).

After that, just as during the first three hours of operation after operation starts, water will be supplied when there is a water shortage, and undiluted hypochlorous acid water will be supplied when there is a hypochlorous acid water supply, and this process will be repeated.

Next, referring to Figure 3(b), we will explain the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92.

At the beginning of operation (hour 0), the mixture of hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water is mixed in the mixing tank 92 to a predetermined concentration (initial concentration). Then, when the humidification purification operation begins, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 decreases over time from the start of operation until hour a. This is because hypochlorous acid has a higher vapor pressure than water, and hypochlorous acid vaporizes and is added to the air at a constant rate relative to the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water. If the hypochlorous acid does not vaporize, the hypochlorous acid contained in the water is simply consumed along with the water atomized by the air purification unit 11. Therefore, although the hypochlorous acid water decreases at a constant rate depending on the amount of humidification, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 does not change. Furthermore, the reason the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water is not zero even at hour a, when the water level sensor 90 detects a drought, is because, as described above, hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) remains in the mixing tank 92 even when a drought is detected.

Then, when hour a has elapsed since the start of operation (drought detection), the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 is diluted with water as water is supplied from the water supply unit 50, causing the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 to decrease. Thereafter, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) decreases slightly due to the evaporation of hypochlorous acid until one hour has elapsed, which is the time for supplying hypochlorous acid water.

Then, at one hour after the start of operation, which is the timing for supplying hypochlorous acid water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 rises to above the initial concentration as the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36). This is because the predetermined amount of hypochlorous acid water (hypochlorous acid water concentrate) supplied at the beginning of operation is supplied to mixed water (water containing hypochlorous acid), which is a smaller amount of water than was supplied at the beginning of operation (0 hours). Thereafter, until hour b from the start of operation (when drought is detected), the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) decreases due to the evaporation of hypochlorous acid. Note that the rate at which hypochlorous acid decreases is faster than at the beginning of operation because the mixed water contains a higher amount of hypochlorous acid, resulting in a greater amount of hypochlorous acid evaporating.

Then, when b hours have passed since the start of operation (drought detection), the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 is diluted with water as water is supplied from the water supply unit 50, and the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 decreases. Thereafter, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) decreases slightly due to the evaporation of hypochlorous acid until 2 hours has passed, which is the time for supplying hypochlorous acid water.

Then, when two hours have passed since the start of operation, which is the timing for supplying hypochlorous acid water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 rises to above the initial concentration as the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36). Thereafter, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) decreases due to the evaporation of hypochlorous acid until c hours have passed since the start of operation (when drought is detected).

Then, at c hours after the start of operation (when drought is detected), the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 is diluted with water as water is supplied from the water supply unit 50, and the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 decreases. Thereafter, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) decreases slightly due to the evaporation of hypochlorous acid until 3 hours has passed, which is the time for supplying hypochlorous acid water.

Then, at 3 hours (hour d) from the start of operation, which is the timing for supplying water (and hypochlorous acid water), water and hypochlorous acid water concentrate are each supplied into the mixing tank 92, and the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 becomes close to that at the beginning of operation (hour 0). Thereafter, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) continues to change in the same way as before.

Next, with reference to Figure 3(c), we will explain the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the air outlet 3.

The concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 discharged from the outlet 3 is determined by the amount of humidification in the air purification unit 11 and the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92. However, in the first example, the amount of humidification is constant, so the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 is reflected. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3(c), the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the outlet 3 increases or decreases in response to the increase or decrease in the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 shown in Figure 3(b).

Here, if, as in the conventional system, the hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water are supplied to fill the tank each time the water level sensor 90 detects a drought, the state from the start of operation (hour 0) to hour a is repeated until 3 hours (hour d). In this case, the average concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the outlet 3 will be, for example, the conventional average concentration shown in Figure 3(c). In contrast, in the first example, while the state is the same as the conventional system from the start of operation (hour 0) to hour a, the state is different from the conventional system from hour a to 3 hours. More specifically, during the period from hour a to 3 hours, as shown in Figure 3(b), the period during which the concentration of hypochlorous acid water is higher than the initial concentration (part of the period from hour 1 to hour b, and the period from hour 2 to hour c) is shorter than the periods during which the concentration is lower than the initial concentration (the period from hour a to hour 1, the period from hour b to hour 2, and the period from hour c to hour 3). As a result, during the period from the start of operation (0 hours) to 3 hours, the average concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the air outlet 3 is lower than the conventional average concentration.

As described above, as in the first example, when hypochlorous acid water and water are supplied to the mixing tank 92 and the mixed water is stored, by differentiating the hypochlorous acid water supply cycle (every predetermined time) from the water supply cycle (each time drought is detected), the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 from the outlet 3, i.e., the air blown out into the indoor space 18, can be reduced compared to when hypochlorous acid water and water are supplied to the mixing tank 92 using conventional methods.

Next, we will explain the operating conditions during the Japanese summer. During the Japanese summer, the outside air is humid and damp, so the amount of humidification required of the air purifier 11 is low, and water is supplied at longer intervals than hypochlorous acid water is supplied. In other words, hypochlorous acid water is supplied (first control) multiple times before water is supplied (second control).

The following describes, as a second example, processing under humidification purification conditions in which water is supplied once (second control) and hypochlorous acid water is supplied five times (first control) during a period of up to five hours of operation after the air purification unit 11 starts operating.

In the second example, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the supply of hypochlorous acid water concentrate to the mixing tank 92 (first control) is performed at 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, and 5 hours, assuming that the start of operation is 0 hours. Meanwhile, the supply of water to the mixing tank 92 (second control) is performed when the water level sensor 90 detects a water drought at 5 hours. At 0 hours, when operation starts, the supply of hypochlorous acid water and the supply of water to the mixing tank 92 are each performed, and the mixing tank 92 is filled with hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) of a predetermined concentration (initial state).

Specifically, when the operation time reaches one hour after the start of operation, the first control is executed and the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied to the mixing tank 92. After that, the same control is executed until the operation time reaches four hours after the start of operation.

Next, the operating time after the start of operation reaches five hours. At this time, the drought detection and the supply of hypochlorous acid water concentrate overlap, so first control and second control are executed in that order. More specifically, in first control, hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) to the mixing tank 92. Subsequently, in second control, water is supplied from the water supply unit 50 until the mixing tank 92 is full. As a result, hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water are each supplied into the mixing tank 92, and the water level in the mixing tank 92 returns to a state close to that at the beginning of operation (0 hours).

After that, the 5-hour operating time will be considered the initial state (0 hours), and the same supply operation will be repeated every 5 hours.

Explain in more detail.

First, referring to Figure 4(a), we will explain the change over time in the water level of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92.

At the beginning of operation (0 hours), the mixing tank 92 is filled to capacity with a mixture of hypochlorous acid concentrate and water (which is also hypochlorous acid water). Then, when humidification purification operation begins, the amount of mixed water decreases at a constant rate due to humidification purification operation, and the 1-hour mark, which is the time to supply hypochlorous acid water, is reached.

During the humidification purification operation from the start of operation until the first hour of operation, water supply under second control is not performed, and the period during which second control is not performed (approximately one hour) does not reach the reference time (six hours). Therefore, first control is performed without draining the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92, and hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) to the mixing tank 92. This causes the water level in the mixing tank 92 to rise slightly. The mixed water level continues to decrease due to humidification purification operation thereafter, and the two-hour mark, the time for supplying hypochlorous acid water, is reached.

During the humidification purification operation from the start of operation until the operating time reaches two hours, the period during which the second control is not executed (approximately two hours) does not reach the reference time (six hours). Therefore, the first control is executed without draining the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92, and hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) to the mixing tank 92. This causes the water level in the mixing tank 92 to rise slightly. Thereafter, similar control is executed until the operating time reaches four hours after the start of operation. Thus, in the second example, the amount of mixed water decreases at a constant rate during the humidification purification operation, while hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied. Therefore, while the amount of mixed water increases, it also decreases in accordance with the difference between the amount of humidification and the amount of supply.

Next, the operating time reaches five hours after the start of operation. During the humidification and purification operation from the start of operation until the fifth hour, the non-execution period of the second control (approximately five hours) does not reach the reference time (six hours). At this time, the drought detection and the supply of hypochlorous acid water concentrate overlap, so the first control and the second control are executed in this order without draining the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92. As described above, in the first control, hypochlorous acid water concentrate is first supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) to the mixing tank 92. Then, in the second control, water is supplied from the water supply unit 50 until the mixing tank 92 is full. As a result, hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water are each supplied into the mixing tank 92, and the water level in the mixing tank 92 returns to a state close to the initial operation time (0 hours). Note that because water is supplied by the water supply unit 50, the non-execution period of the second control is re-determined starting from this timing.

After that, the five-hour operating time is considered the initial state (0 hours), and the same supply and drain operations are repeated every five hours. More specifically, just as before, the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied by the first control when the hypochlorous acid water is supplied, and water is supplied by the second control when the water is supplied. The level of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 increases or decreases in response to each operation.

Next, with reference to Figure 4(b), we will explain the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92.

At the beginning of operation (hour 0), a mixture of hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water is mixed in the mixing tank 92 to a predetermined concentration (initial concentration). Then, when the humidification purification operation begins, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 decreases over time until one hour after the start of operation. This is because, as mentioned above, hypochlorous acid has a higher vapor pressure than water, and a certain proportion of the hypochlorous acid water concentration is vaporized and added to the air.

Then, one hour after the start of operation, which is the timing for supplying hypochlorous acid water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 rises to above the initial concentration as hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36). This is because, as described above, a predetermined amount of hypochlorous acid water (hypochlorous acid water concentrate) supplied at the beginning of operation is supplied to mixed water (water containing hypochlorous acid), which is a volume of water less than the volume of mixed water stored at the beginning of operation (0 hours). Thereafter, until two hours after the start of operation, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) decreases slightly due to the evaporation of hypochlorous acid.

Then, when two hours have passed since the start of operation, which is the time for supplying hypochlorous acid water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 increases further as the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36). The concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) continues to change in the same way up to the four-hour mark, and the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) gradually increases.

Then, five hours after the start of operation, which is the time for supplying water and hypochlorous acid water concentrate, water and hypochlorous acid water concentrate are each supplied into the mixing tank 92, and the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 decreases because the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 is diluted with water as water is supplied from the water supply unit 50. However, because the hypochlorous acid water and water are supplied while approximately one-third of the hypochlorous acid water remains, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 is not diluted to its initial concentration. After that, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water tends to increase overall over time, but the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) basically repeats the same changes as before.

Next, with reference to Figure 4(c), we will explain the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the air outlet 3.

The concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 discharged from the outlet 3 is determined by the amount of humidification in the air purification unit 11 and the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92, just as in winter in Japan. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4(c), the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the outlet 3 increases or decreases in response to the increase or decrease in the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 shown in Figure 4(b).

Here, if, as in the past, hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water are supplied to fill the tank each time the water level sensor 90 detects a drought, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water will continue to decrease from the start of operation (0 hours) until 5 hours have passed. Strictly speaking, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water will continue to decrease during the 5-hour period from the full water state until a drought is detected. In this case, the average concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the outlet 3 will be, for example, the conventional average concentration shown in Figure 4(c).

In contrast, in the second example, the state is the same as before from the start of operation (0 hours) to 1 hour, but the state is different from before from the 1st to 5th hour operating time. More specifically, during the 1st to 5th hour operating time period, as shown in Figure 4(b), the period during which the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water is higher than the initial concentration is much longer than the period during which the concentration is lower than the initial concentration. Therefore, during the 5th hour operating time period from the start of operation (0 hours) to 5 hours, the average concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the outlet 3 is higher than the average concentration before.

Furthermore, even after five hours of operation, the concentration of the mixed water will be changed every five hours, with five hours being one cycle, so the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water will not continue to rise, and it will be possible to continue adjusting the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water to within a certain range.

Next, as a third example, we will explain processing under humidification purification conditions in which water supply (second control) is not performed during the first six hours of operation of the air purification unit 11 after it starts operating. In other words, the third example is processing under conditions that are less humidified than the second example, during the Japanese summer.

In the third example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the supply of hypochlorous acid water concentrate to the mixing tank 92 (first control) is performed at 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, etc., assuming that the start of operation is 0 hours. On the other hand, the supply of water to the mixing tank 92 (second control) is not performed because the amount of water consumed during humidification and purification is less than in the second example, and the water level sensor 90 does not detect a drought. At 0 hours, when operation starts, the supply of hypochlorous acid water and the supply of water to the mixing tank 92 are each performed, and the mixing tank 92 is filled with hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) of a predetermined concentration (initial state).

Specifically, when the operation time reaches one hour after the start of operation, the first control is executed and the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied to the mixing tank 92. After that, the same control is executed until the operation time reaches five hours after the start of operation.

Next, the operating time since the start of operation reaches six hours. At this time, the non-execution period of second control is six hours, so it is determined that the non-execution period of second control is equal to or longer than the reference time (six hours). Based on this determination, third control is executed, and all of the mixed water in mixing tank 92 is drained. Furthermore, after third control is executed, new hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water are respectively supplied to mixing tank 92, and mixing tank 92 becomes full of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) of the specified concentration, the same as in the initial state.

After that, the 6-hour period will be considered the initial state (0 hours), and the same supply and drain operations will be repeated every 6 hours.

Explain in more detail.

First, referring to Figure 5(a), we will explain the change over time in the water level of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92.

At the beginning of operation (0 hours), the mixing tank 92 is filled to capacity with a mixture of hypochlorous acid concentrate and water (also called hypochlorous acid water). Then, through humidification purification operation, the amount of mixed water decreases at a constant rate, reaching the one-hour mark, which is the time for supplying hypochlorous acid water. At this one-hour mark, a decision is made to drain the mixed water.

At the beginning of operation (0 hours), the mixing tank 92 is filled to capacity with a mixture of hypochlorous acid concentrate and water (which is also hypochlorous acid water). Then, when humidification purification operation begins, the amount of mixed water decreases at a constant rate due to humidification purification operation, and the 1-hour mark, which is the time to supply hypochlorous acid water, is reached.

During the humidification purification operation from the start of operation until the first hour of operation, water supply under second control is not performed, and the period during which second control is not performed (approximately one hour) does not reach the reference time (six hours). Therefore, first control is performed without draining the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92, and hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36) to the mixing tank 92. This causes the water level in the mixing tank 92 to rise slightly. The mixed water level continues to decrease due to humidification purification operation thereafter, and the two-hour mark, the time for supplying hypochlorous acid water, is reached.

During the humidification purification operation from the start of operation until the second operation hour has elapsed, the non-execution period of the second control (approximately two hours) does not reach the reference time (six hours). Therefore, the first control is executed without draining the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92, and the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied to the mixing tank 92 from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36). This causes the water level in the mixing tank 92 to rise slightly. Thereafter, the same control is executed until the fifth operation hour has elapsed since the start of operation. Thus, in the third example, the amount of mixed water decreases at a constant rate during the humidification purification operation, while the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied. Therefore, while the amount of mixed water increases, it also decreases in accordance with the difference between the amount of humidification and the amount of supply.

Next, the operating time after the start of operation reaches six hours. During the humidification and purification operation from the start of operation until the sixth hour of operation, the period during which the second control is not executed (approximately six hours) exceeds the reference time (six hours), and it is determined that the reference time has been reached. Based on this determination result, the third control is executed, and the mixed water in the mixing tank 92 is drained. Furthermore, after the mixed water is drained by the third control, a new supply of hypochlorous acid water concentrate and a new supply of water are executed to the mixing tank 92, and the mixing tank 92 becomes full of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) of the specified concentration, the same as in the initial state (0 hours). Note that, because water has been supplied by the water supply unit 50, the non-execution time of the second control is determined again starting from this timing.

After that, the six-hour operating time is considered the initial state (0 hours), and the same supply and drain operations are repeated every six hours. More specifically, just as before, the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied by the first control when the hypochlorous acid water is supplied, and water is supplied by the second control when the water is supplied. The level of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 increases or decreases in response to each operation.

Next, with reference to Figure 5(b), we will explain the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92.

At the beginning of operation (hour 0), a mixture of hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water is mixed in the mixing tank 92 to a predetermined concentration (initial concentration). Then, when the humidification purification operation begins, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 decreases over time until one hour after the start of operation. This is because, as mentioned above, hypochlorous acid has a higher vapor pressure than water, and a certain proportion of the hypochlorous acid water concentration is vaporized and added to the air.

Then, one hour after the start of operation, which is the timing for supplying hypochlorous acid water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 rises to above the initial concentration as hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36). This is because, as described above, a predetermined amount of hypochlorous acid water (hypochlorous acid water concentrate) supplied at the beginning of operation is supplied to mixed water (water containing hypochlorous acid), which is a volume of water less than the volume of mixed water stored at the beginning of operation (0 hours). Thereafter, until two hours after the start of operation, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) decreases slightly due to the evaporation of hypochlorous acid.

Then, at two hours after the start of operation, which is the time for supplying hypochlorous acid water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 further increases as the hypochlorous acid water concentrate is supplied from the hypochlorous acid water generator 30 (hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36). The concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) continues to change in the same way up to the five-hour mark, and the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) gradually increases.

Then, when six hours have passed since the start of operation, which is the time to supply the hypochlorous acid water concentrate, the discharge timing is determined based on the discharge judgment. After all of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) in the mixing tank 92 has been discharged, water and hypochlorous acid water concentrate are supplied to the mixing tank 92, and the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 returns to the same state as at the beginning of operation (0 hours). After that, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water (mixed water) continues to change repeatedly as before.

Next, with reference to Figure 5(c), we will explain the change over time in the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the air outlet 3.

As in the second example, the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 discharged from the outlet 3 is determined by the amount of humidification in the air purification unit 11 and the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5(c), the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the outlet 3 increases or decreases in response to the increase or decrease in the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 shown in Figure 5(b).

Here, if, as in the past, hypochlorous acid water concentrate and water are supplied to fill the tank every time the water level sensor 90 detects a drought, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water will continue to decrease from the start of operation (0 hours) until 6 hours have passed. Strictly speaking, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water will continue to decrease during the 6-hour period from the full water state until a drought is detected. In this case, the average concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the outlet 3 will be, for example, the conventional average concentration shown in Figure 5(c).

In contrast, in the third example, the state is the same as before from the start of operation (0 hours) to 1 hour, but the state is different from before from 1 hour to 6 hours. More specifically, during the period from 1 hour to 6 hours, as shown in Figure 5(b), the period during which the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water is higher than the initial concentration is much longer than the period during which the concentration is lower than the initial concentration. Therefore, during the period from the start of operation (0 hours) to 6 hours, the average concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 at the outlet 3 is higher than the average concentration before.

After six hours, the concentration of the mixed water is changed every six hours, with six hours being one cycle, so the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water does not continue to rise, and it is possible to continue adjusting the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water to a range below a certain concentration. In other words, if the humidification purification operation continues, the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 may rise too much, but by providing control for drainage judgment in accordance with the non-execution period of the second control, it is possible to reset the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92, and therefore the amount of hypochlorous acid added to the air 9 at the outlet 3, at regular intervals, and it is possible to control the amount of hypochlorous acid gas supplied to the indoor space 18.

As described above, the space purification system 100 performs the first control by supplying hypochlorous acid water to the mixing tank 92 at preset intervals (e.g., one hour), the second control by supplying water based on water level information (a drought signal) from the water level sensor 90, and the third control by draining the mixed water from the mixing tank 92 based on periods when the second control is not being executed. Furthermore, the air purification control unit 41 of the space purification system 100 differentiates the number of times the first control is performed within a predetermined period from the number of times the second control is performed within a predetermined period based on the humidification demand required of the air purification unit 11 (a humidification demand corresponding to a Japanese winter or a Japanese summer). This allows air 9 with a lower hypochlorous acid content to be released into the indoor space 18 compared to conventional methods when the humidification demand is high, such as in a Japanese winter. However, when the humidification demand is low, such as in a Japanese summer, air 9 with a higher hypochlorous acid content to be released into the indoor space 18 compared to conventional methods. Furthermore, if the humidifying and purifying operation continues for a long period of time, it is possible to prevent the concentration of hypochlorous acid released into the indoor space 18 from increasing excessively.

In other words, by operating the supply of hypochlorous acid water, the supply of water, and the drainage of mixed water with separate triggers, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 (the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the air 9 blown into the indoor space 18) can be adjusted with simple controls (first control, second control, third control).

As described above, the space purification system 100 according to the first embodiment can provide the following benefits.

(1) The space purification system 100 includes a hypochlorous acid water generation unit 30 that generates hypochlorous acid water, a hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 that supplies hypochlorous acid water from the hypochlorous acid water generation unit 30 to a mixing tank 92, a water supply unit 50 that supplies water to the mixing tank 92, a water level sensor 90 that detects the water level in the mixing tank 92, an air purification unit 11 that atomizes the mixed water of hypochlorous acid water and water stored in the mixing tank 92 and releases it into the air, and an air purification control unit 41 that controls the supply process in the hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 and the water supply unit 50, and the drainage process of the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92. The air purification control unit 41 then executes, as a supply process, a first control in which the hypochlorous acid water supply unit 36 supplies hypochlorous acid water every predetermined time (for example, 60 minutes), and a second control in which the water supply unit 50 supplies water based on information (drought information) about the water level in the mixing tank 92 from the water level sensor 90. As a drainage process, if the second control has not been executed for a predetermined period (for example, 6 hours) since the water supply unit 50 started supplying water, the air purification control unit 41 executes a third control in which the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92 is drained.

As a result, when air with high relative humidity is ventilated, such as in the Japanese summer, the amount of mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92 is low, so the frequency of supplying hypochlorous acid water to the mixing tank 92 (the number of times the first control is performed) increases, and the mixed water is atomized and released into the air while the hypochlorous acid concentration in the mixing tank 92 is high. In this case, if the second control has not been performed for a predetermined period (e.g., six hours) since the water supply unit 50 supplied water, the third control is performed to discharge the mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92 and reset the mixed water in the mixing tank 92, thereby preventing the hypochlorous acid concentration in the mixing tank 92 from rising too high. As a result, even in situations where the atomized hypochlorous acid water is difficult to vaporize, hypochlorous acid at a predetermined concentration can be absorbed into the air and released into the indoor space 18.

On the other hand, when air with low relative humidity is ventilated, such as in the winter in Japan, the amount of mixed water stored in the mixing tank 92 is high, so the frequency of water supply to the mixing tank 92 (the number of times the second control is performed) increases, and the mixed water is atomized and released into the air while the hypochlorous acid concentration in the mixing tank 92 is low. As a result, even in situations where the atomized hypochlorous acid water is prone to vaporization, hypochlorous acid diluted to a predetermined concentration can be absorbed into the air and released into the indoor space 18.

In other words, the space purification system 100 makes it easier to adjust the amount of hypochlorous acid released into the air.

(2) Even when the space purification system 100 is operated for a long period of time (e.g., 24 hours), the state inside the mixing tank 92 can be returned to the state it was in when the operation started before the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 becomes too high. In other words, the space purification system 100 can easily adjust the amount of hypochlorous acid released into the air.

(3) In the space purification system 100, the air purification control unit 41 controls the supply process so that the number of times the first control is performed is less than the number of times the second control is performed when the humidification demand required of the air purification unit 11 is equal to or greater than the first reference value, and controls the number of times the first control is performed is greater than the number of times the second control is performed when the humidification demand is less than the first reference value. As a result, in the supply process, the space purification system 100 can atomize the mixed water and release it into the air when the hypochlorous acid concentration in the mixing tank 92 is high when the humidification demand is less than the first reference value. On the other hand, when the humidification demand is equal to or greater than the first reference value, the mixed water can be atomized and released into the air when the hypochlorous acid concentration in the mixing tank 92 is low. In other words, the space purification system 100 can impart hypochlorous acid to the air 9 released from the air purification unit 11 under conditions suitable for the environment of the indoor space 18 based on the humidification demand.

The present invention has been described above based on embodiments. These embodiments are merely examples, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.

In the first, second, and third examples of the space purification system 100 according to the first embodiment, the air purification unit 11 has been described as operating at a constant humidification demand during the humidification purification operation period. However, in reality, the air purification unit 11 operates at a humidification demand that is determined at regular intervals based on the humidity difference between the target humidity and the humidity of the air in the indoor space 18.

Furthermore, in the first, second, and third examples of the space purification system 100 according to Embodiment 1, a situation was described in which the timing of drought detection and the supply of concentrated hypochlorous acid water overlapped. However, in reality, the timing of drought detection and the supply of concentrated hypochlorous acid water differ in most cases. In such a situation, it is preferable for the air purification control unit 41 to execute the third control immediately before executing the first control, rather than immediately executing the third control once the non-execution period of the second control reaches the reference time (6 hours). This prevents the space purification system 100 from draining water under the third control immediately after hypochlorous acid is supplied to the mixing tank 92 under the first control. This allows the hypochlorous acid water supplied under the first control to be used for as long as possible, reducing waste due to drainage under the third control.

Furthermore, in the space purification system 100 according to this embodiment, it is preferable that the predetermined period be set based on the concentration of hypochlorous acid water supplied by the first control. For example, in the space purification system 100, when the concentration of hypochlorous acid water supplied by the first control is high, the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 will increase quickly unless water is supplied by the second control. Therefore, by setting the predetermined period to be short, it is possible to more reliably prevent the concentration of hypochlorous acid water in the mixing tank 92 from increasing too much. On the other hand, in the space purification system 100, when the concentration of hypochlorous acid water supplied by the first control is low, it is possible to reduce the wasteful discharge of mixed water by the third control by setting the predetermined period to be long.

Furthermore, in the space purification system 100 according to this embodiment, if the mixed water in the mixing tank 92 has been drained using some kind of drainage control (e.g., third control) and the mixed water has not been drained even once within the following 24 hours, the mixed water may be drained. By doing so, the mixed water in the mixing tank 92 is reset, and the hypochlorous acid concentration in the mixing tank 92 can be prevented from rising too high.

The space purification system of the present invention makes it easy to adjust the amount of hypochlorous acid released into the air when micronizing hypochlorous acid water and releasing the hypochlorous acid into the air, and is useful as a system for sterilizing or deodorizing the air in a target space.

2 Intake port 3 Outlet port 4 Front air duct 5 Middle air duct 6 Rear air duct 8 Air 9 Air 10 Space purification device 11 Air purification section 11a Humidification motor 11b Humidification nozzle 13 Blower 14 Refrigerant coil 15 Air conditioning device 16 Duct 16a Indoor intake port 17 Duct 17a Indoor outlet 18 Indoor space 20 Outdoor unit 20a Compressor 20b Expansion device 20c Outdoor heat exchanger 20d Blower fan 20e Four-way valve 21 Refrigerant circuit 24 Duct 30 Hypochlorous acid water generation section 31 Electrolyzer 32 Electrode 33 Solenoid valve 34 Brine tank 35 Brine transfer pump 36 Hypochlorous acid water supply section 37 Hypochlorous acid water conveying pump 38 Water supply pipe 39 Water level sensor 41 Air purification control unit 41a Input unit 41b Memory unit 41c Timer unit 41d Processing unit 41e Output unit 42 Air conditioning control unit 43 Operation device 44 Temperature and humidity sensor 50 Water supply unit 51 Solenoid valve 52 Water supply pipe 60 Drainage unit 61 Solenoid valve 62 Water supply pipe 90 Water level sensor 92 Mixing tank 100 Space purification system

Claims (3)

A hypochlorous acid water generating unit that generates hypochlorous acid water;
A hypochlorous acid water supply unit that supplies the hypochlorous acid water from the hypochlorous acid water generation unit to a mixing tank;
a water supply unit that supplies water to the mixing tank;
a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the mixing tank;
A humidifying and purifying unit that atomizes the mixed water of the hypochlorous acid water and the water stored in the mixing tank and releases the atomized water into the air;
A control unit that controls the supply treatment in the hypochlorous acid water supply unit and the water supply unit, and the drainage treatment of the mixed water stored in the mixing tank;
Equipped with
The control unit executes, as the supply process, a first control in which the hypochlorous acid water supply unit supplies the hypochlorous acid water at predetermined time intervals, and a second control in which the water supply unit supplies water based on information from the water level sensor regarding the water level in the mixing tank, and, as the drainage process, executes a third control in which the mixed water stored in the mixing tank is drained if the second control has not been executed for a predetermined period since the water supply unit supplied water , and the predetermined period is at least the predetermined time . This space purification system is characterized in that The space purification system described in claim 1, characterized in that the control unit executes the third control immediately before executing the first control. The space purification system described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the specified period is set based on the concentration of the hypochlorous acid water supplied by the first control.