U.S. patent application number 13/001069 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-12 for ventilator.
Invention is credited to Kenkichi Kagawa, Yasuhiro Oda, Toshio Tanaka.
Application Number | 20110111691 13/001069 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41444243 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110111691 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kagawa; Kenkichi ; et
al. |
May 12, 2011 |
VENTILATOR
Abstract
A ventilator (10) includes a casing (20) which includes an inlet
(21) for outdoor air, an inlet (22) for indoor air, and an air
outlet (23), and an air-blowing fan (30) contained in the casing
(20). The ventilator (10) is configured to suck the outdoor air and
the indoor air through the corresponding inlets (21, 22) into the
casing (20) by using the air-blowing fan (30), process the sucked
air, and supply the processed air through the outlet (23) into a
room. An electrical dust collecting mechanism (40) is provided in
the casing (20) to remove dust in the sucked air. Furthermore, a
deodorizing mechanism (50) having a low resistance to air
circulation is provided in the casing (20) to remove an odorous
substance in the sucked air.
Inventors: |
Kagawa; Kenkichi; (Osaka,
JP) ; Tanaka; Toshio; (Osaka, JP) ; Oda;
Yasuhiro; (Shiga, JP) |
Family ID: |
41444243 |
Appl. No.: |
13/001069 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
June 22, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2009/002830 |
371 Date: |
December 23, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/251 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B03C 2201/10 20130101;
B03C 3/155 20130101; B03C 3/08 20130101; B03C 3/12 20130101; F24F
1/0047 20190201; F24F 1/0035 20190201; A61L 2209/14 20130101; F24F
8/192 20210101; F24F 8/50 20210101; A61L 2209/16 20130101; B03C
3/47 20130101; B03C 2201/04 20130101; A61L 9/22 20130101; F24F
2221/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/251 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/007 20060101
F24F007/007 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 24, 2008 |
JP |
2008-164097 |
Claims
1. A ventilator including a casing (20) which includes an inlet
(21) for outdoor air, an inlet (22) for indoor air, and an air
outlet (23), and an air-blowing fan (30) contained in the casing
(20), and configured to suck the outdoor air and the indoor air
through the corresponding inlets (21, 22) into the casing (20) by
using the air-blowing fan (30), process the sucked air, and supply
the processed air through the outlet (23) into a room, the
ventilator comprising: an electrical dust collecting mechanism (40)
provided in the casing (20) to remove dust in the sucked air; and a
deodorizing mechanism (50) provided in the casing (20) to remove an
odorous substance in the sucked air, and having a low resistance to
air circulation.
2. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein the dust collecting mechanism
(40) includes an air passage (66, 76) extending along an air flow
in the casing (20) from both the inlets (21, 22) to the outlet
(23).
3. The ventilator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the deodorizing
mechanism (50) includes an air passage (56) extending along an air
flow in the casing (20) from both the inlets (21, 22) to the outlet
(23).
4. The ventilator of claim 2, wherein the dust collecting mechanism
(40) includes a charging portion (42), and a dust collecting
portion (43) for collecting dust electrically charged by the
charging portion (42), the dust collecting portion (43) includes a
first electrode (60) and a second electrode (70) each including a
grid-like base (61, 71) having a large number of air passages (66,
76) extending along the air flow, and a large number of projections
(62, 72) extending from the base (61, 71) in a direction parallel
to an axial direction of the air passages (66, 76), the projections
(62) of the first electrode (60) each extend toward an inside of
the corresponding air passage (76) of the second electrode (70),
and the projections (72) of the second electrode (70) each extend
toward an inside of the corresponding air passage (66) of the first
electrode (60).
5. The ventilator of claim 3, wherein the deodorizing mechanism
(50) includes an electrical discharge section (51) for generating
plasma in the sucked air, and a catalyst filter (52) placed
downstream of the electrical discharge section (51) to accelerate
decomposition of an odorous substance in the sucked air, and the
catalyst filter (52) includes a large number of air passages (56)
extending along the air flow.
6. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein the casing (20) is placed
indoors.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to ventilators, and more
particularly relates to a measure for reducing the pressure loss of
circulating air.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, some ventilators have been placed outdoors
as described in PATENT DOCUMENT 1. Such a ventilator is placed on
the ceiling of a balcony of an apartment, and includes an outdoor
air processor and an indoor air processor. The outdoor air
processor includes a dust collecting mechanism, a deodorizing
mechanism, and an air-blowing fan which are contained in a
casing.
[0003] The ventilator is configured such that while indoor air is
taken out by the indoor air processor, the outdoor air processor
takes in the indoor air taken out by the indoor air processor, and
outdoor air. The outdoor air processor collects dust from the
taken-in air by using the dust collecting mechanism, and then,
deodorizes the taken-in air by using the deodorizing mechanism,
thereby supplying the resultant air into a room.
CITATION LIST
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0004] PATENT DOCUMENT 1: Japanese Patent No. 3908179
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Technical Problem
[0006] However, in a conventional ventilator, a photocatalyst body
made of small beads is used as a deodorizing mechanism, and thus, a
problem occurs in which the resistance to the air circulation is
high, and the pressure loss is high. As a result, a high-capacity
air-blowing fan needs to be used, thereby increasing the size of
the entire ventilator.
[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing
point, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a
ventilator with a low resistance to the air circulation.
[0008] Solution to the Problem
[0009] A first aspect of the invention is directed to a ventilator
including a casing (20) which includes an inlet (21) for outdoor
air, an inlet (22) for indoor air, and an air outlet (23), and an
air-blowing fan (30) contained in the casing (20), and configured
to suck the outdoor air and the indoor air through the
corresponding inlets (21, 22) into the casing (20) by using the
air-blowing fan (30), process the sucked air, and supply the
processed air through the outlet (23) into a room. An electrical
dust collecting mechanism (40) is provided in the casing (20) to
remove dust in the sucked air. Furthermore, a deodorizing mechanism
(50) having a low resistance to air circulation is provided in the
casing (20) to remove an odorous substance in the sucked air.
[0010] In the first aspect of the invention, when the air-blowing
fan (30) is driven, outdoor air and indoor air are sucked through
the corresponding inlets (21, 22) into the casing (20). In the
casing (20), the electrical dust collecting mechanism (40) removes
dust in the sucked air. Furthermore, the deodorizing mechanism (50)
having a low resistance to the air circulation removes odorous
substances in the sucked air. The air processed by the dust
collecting mechanism (40) and the deodorizing mechanism (50) is
supplied through the outlet (23) into the room.
[0011] A second aspect of the invention is the ventilator according
to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the dust collecting
mechanism (40) includes an air passage (66, 76) extending along an
air flow in the casing (20) from both the inlets (21, 22) to the
outlet (23).
[0012] In the second aspect of the invention, the air passage (66,
76) of the dust collecting mechanism (40) extends along the air
flow. This allows the resistance to the air circulation to be low,
thereby providing a low pressure loss.
[0013] A third aspect of the invention is the ventilator according
to the first or second aspect of the invention, wherein the
deodorizing mechanism (50) includes an air passage (56) extending
along an air flow in the casing (20) from both the inlets (21, 22)
to the outlet (23).
[0014] In the third aspect of the invention, the air passage (56)
of the deodorizing mechanism (50) extends along the air flow. This
allows the resistance to the air circulation to be low, thereby
providing a low pressure loss.
[0015] A fourth aspect of the invention is the ventilator according
to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the dust collecting
mechanism (40) includes a charging portion (42), and a dust
collecting portion (43) for collecting dust electrically charged by
the charging portion (42). The dust collecting portion (43)
includes a first electrode (60) and a second electrode (70) each
including a grid-like base (61, 71) having a large number of air
passages (66, 76) extending along the air flow, and a large number
of projections (62, 72) extending from the base (61, 71) in a
direction parallel to an axial direction of the air passages (66,
76), the projections (62) of the first electrode (60) each extend
toward an inside of the corresponding air passage (76) of the
second electrode (70), and the projections (72) of the second
electrode (70) each extend toward an inside of the corresponding
air passage (66) of the first electrode (60).
[0016] In the fourth aspect of the invention, the dust charged by
the charging portion (42) is adsorbed on, e.g., the first electrode
(60), and is collected. Since, in particular, the dust collecting
portion (43) has a large number of air passages (66, 76) extending
along the air flow, this allows the resistance to the air
circulation to be low, thereby providing a low pressure loss.
[0017] A fifth aspect of the invention is the ventilator according
to the third aspect of the invention, wherein the deodorizing
mechanism (50) includes an electrical discharge section (51) for
generating plasma in the sucked air, and a catalyst filter (52)
placed downstream of the electrical discharge section (51) to
accelerate decomposition of an odorous substance in the sucked air.
The catalyst filter (52) includes a large number of air passages
(56) extending along the air flow.
[0018] In the fifth aspect of the invention, the plasma generated
by the electrical discharge section (51) contains a highly reactive
substance (active species, such as electrons, ions, ozone, or
radicals), and thus, the highly reactive substance decomposes and
removes odorous substances in the sucked air. Thereafter, when the
highly reactive substance reaches the catalyst filter (52), the
highly reactive substance is further activated, thereby decomposing
and removing odorous substances in the sucked air. Since, in
particular, the catalyst filter (52) has a large number of air
passages (56) extending along the air flow, this allows the
resistance to the air circulation to be low, thereby providing a
low pressure loss.
[0019] A sixth aspect of the invention is the ventilator according
to any one of the first through fifth aspects of the invention,
wherein the casing (20) is placed indoors.
[0020] In the sixth aspect of the invention, the casing (20) is
placed indoors, thereby enabling indoor dust collection and indoor
deodorization.
[0021] Advantages of the Invention
[0022] According to the present invention, the electrical dust
collecting mechanism (40) and the deodorizing mechanism (50) with a
low resistance to the air circulation are disposed in the casing
(20). Therefore, the resistance to the air circulation is low,
resulting in a significant reduction in the pressure loss. This
enables the use of the small-capacity air-blowing fan (30), thereby
downsizing the entire apparatus.
[0023] According to the second aspect of the invention, the dust
collecting mechanism (40) is an electrical mechanism, and includes
the air passage (66, 76) extending along the air flow in the casing
(20) from the inlets (21, 22) to the air outlet (23). This can
reduce the resistance to the air circulation in the entire
apparatus, thereby reducing the pressure loss.
[0024] According to the third aspect of the invention, the
deodorizing mechanism (50) includes the air passage (56) extending
along the air flow in the casing (20) from the inlets (21, 22) to
the air outlet (23). This can reduce the resistance to the air
circulation in the entire apparatus, thereby reducing the pressure
loss.
[0025] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the dust
collecting portion (43) is formed in a grid structure. Therefore,
while the dust collecting portion (43) can increase the area in
which dust is collected, the dust collecting portion (43) can
include the air passages (66, 76) extending along the air flow in
the casing (20) from the inlets (21, 22) to the air outlet (23).
This can reduce the resistance to the air circulation in the entire
apparatus, thereby reducing the pressure loss.
[0026] According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the
electrical discharge section (51) of the deodorizing mechanism (50)
includes two electrodes, and the catalyst filter (52) of the
deodorizing mechanism (50) is formed in a monolith structure.
Therefore, the deodorizing mechanism (50) includes the air passages
(56) extending along the air flow in the casing (20) from the
inlets (21, 22) to the air outlet (23). As a result, the
deodorizing mechanism (50) can reduce the resistance to the air
circulation. Therefore, the entire structure of the deodorizing
mechanism (50) has low pressure loss, thereby downsizing the entire
apparatus.
[0027] When the casing (20) is placed indoors, and is configured as
a so-called ceiling-mounted casing, a duct through which outdoor
air, etc., is taken and a duct through which processed air is
supplied indoors need to be connected to the casing (20), thereby
increasing the resistance to the air circulation through the ducts.
According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the resistance to
the air circulation in the casing (20) is reduced, thereby reducing
the pressure loss in the entire system including the ducts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the
entire structure of a ventilator of a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional top view of the ventilator of
the first embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a dust collecting
unit of the first embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a charging portion of
the dust collecting unit of the first embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the charging portion of
the dust collecting unit of the first embodiment with a side plate
omitted.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a dust collecting
portion of the first embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a
portion of the dust collecting portion of the first embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view illustrating
a portion of the dust collecting portion of the first
embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a catalyst filter
of a deodorizing unit of the first embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a charging portion of a
dust collecting unit of a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0038] FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the charging portion of
the dust collecting unit of the second embodiment with a side plate
omitted.
[0039] FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view
illustrating a portion of a dust collecting portion of a third
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0040] Embodiments of the present invention will be described
hereinafter in detail with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment of the Invention
[0041] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, a ventilator (10) of a first
embodiment is placed indoors.
[0042] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ventilator (10)
includes a casing (20), an air-blowing fan (30), a dust collecting
unit (40), and a deodorizing unit (50).
[0043] The casing (20) is formed as a flat rectangular body
including a rectangular top plate, a rectangular bottom plate,
front and rear side plates extending widthwise, and right and left
side plates extending lengthwise. The casing (20) is placed on the
back face (top face) of a ceiling (11) of a building.
[0044] An inlet (21) through which outdoor air is sucked, and an
inlet (22) through which indoor air is sucked are formed in the
front side plate of the casing (20) so as to be aligned laterally,
and an outlet (23) for air is formed in an upper part of a central
portion of the rear side plate.
[0045] One end of a duct (12) is connected to the inlet (21) for
the outdoor air, the duct (12) passes through a wall (13) of the
building, and the other end of the duct (12) is extended outdoors,
and includes a suction unit (14), such as a grille, attached to the
wall (13). One end of a duct (15) is connected to the inlet (22)
for the indoor air, the duct (15) is bent downward, and the other
end of the duct (15) is extended to the ceiling (11), and includes
a suction unit (16), such as a grille, attached to the ceiling
(11). One end of a duct (17) is connected to the air outlet (23),
the duct (17) is bent downward, and the other end of the duct (17)
is extended to the ceiling (11), and includes a discharge unit
(18), such as a diffuser, attached to the ceiling (11).
[0046] The interior of the casing (20) is configured as a
circulation passage (24) through which air flows from both of the
inlets (21, 22) to the outlet (23). The circulation passage (24) in
the interior of the casing (20) includes a chamber (25), the dust
collecting unit (40), the deodorizing unit (50), and the
air-blowing fan (30) which are placed along the air flow from the
front of the inlets (21, 22) to the back of the outlet (23).
[0047] The chamber (25) is formed inside the front side plate. The
chamber (25) is formed in which the outdoor air taken through the
inlet (21) for outdoor air and the indoor air taken through the
inlet (22) for indoor air are collected while being mixed.
[0048] The air-blowing fan (30) forms a fan unit, and is disposed
in an upper back portion of the interior of the casing (20).
Although not shown, the air-blowing fan (30) includes a single fan,
or multiple fans.
[0049] The dust collecting unit (40) is placed downstream of the
chamber (25) while being adjacent to the chamber (25). As
illustrated in FIG. 3, the dust collecting unit (40) includes a
prefilter (41), a charging portion (42), and a dust collecting
portion (43) which are arranged in this order from the upstream to
the downstream side of air flow, and forms an electrical dust
collecting mechanism.
[0050] The prefilter (41) forms a filter for collecting relatively
large dust contained in sucked air which is a mixture of the
outdoor air and indoor air taken in by the chamber (25).
[0051] The charging portion (42) forms an ionizer to charge
relatively small dust passing through the prefilter (41). As
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the charging portion (42) includes a
plurality of discharge electrodes (44) and a plurality of opposed
electrodes (45), and is configured such that a direct-current
voltage is applied between each of the discharge electrodes (44)
and the corresponding opposed electrode (45) to charge dust in the
sucked air.
[0052] The discharge electrodes (44) are formed by ionizing wires,
are disposed to extend from the left end of the charging portion
(42) to the right end thereof, and are arranged vertically in
parallel. The opposed electrodes (45) are disposed to extend from
the left end of the charging portion (42) to the right end thereof,
and are arranged vertically in parallel. The discharge electrodes
(44) are disposed, one between each adjacent pair of the opposed
electrodes (45). Therefore, a space located in the charging portion
(42) and between each discharge electrode (44) and an adjacent
opposed electrode (45) is formed as an air passage extending along
the air flow in the casing (20) from the inlets (21, 22) to the
outlet (23). Specifically, a space between the discharge electrode
(44) and the adjacent opposed electrode (45) forms an air passage
parallel to the circulation passage (24) in the casing (20), and
has a low resistance to the air circulation.
[0053] The dust collecting portion (43) is configured to collect
dust charged in the charging portion (42) by adsorption, and
includes, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, a dust collecting electrode
(60) which is an earth electrode, and a high-voltage electrode (70)
which is a positive electrode. Any one of the dust collecting
electrode (60) and the high-voltage electrode (70) forms a first
electrode, and the other one thereof forms a second electrode.
[0054] The dust collecting electrode (60) and the high-voltage
electrode (70) are both made of a conductive resin, and are each
formed, as a single-piece structure, by integral molding. The dust
collecting electrode (60) and the high-voltage electrode (70) are
formed in substantially the same shape, and configured in an
insertion structure in which they can be partly inserted into each
other.
[0055] The dust collecting electrode (60) and the high-voltage
electrode (70) are both preferably made of a slightly conductive
resin, and furthermore, the volume resistivity of the resin is
preferably greater than or equal to 10.sup.8 .OMEGA.cm and less
than 10.sup.13 106 cm.
[0056] Each of the dust collecting electrode (60) and the
high-voltage electrode (70) is formed in a rectangular shape, and
includes a single base (61, 71), and a large number of projections
(62, 72) projecting from the base (61, 71). The base (61, 71)
includes a frame (63, 73), a plurality of vertical partitions (64,
74) arranged within the frame (63, 73), and a plurality of
horizontal partitions (65, 75) arranged within the frame (63,
73).
[0057] The frame (63, 73) is formed in a rectangular shape. The
frame (63) of the dust collecting electrode (60) and the frame (73)
of the high-voltage electrode (70) are fixed to each other at their
four corners, and thus, the base (61) of the dust collecting
electrode (60) and the base (71) of the high-voltage electrode (70)
are disposed to face each other. Furthermore, the bases (61, 71) of
the dust collecting electrode (60) and the high-voltage electrode
(70) are oriented in a direction orthogonal to the air flow in the
circulation passage (24).
[0058] The vertical partitions (64, 74) of the dust collecting
electrode (60) and the high-voltage electrode (70) extend
vertically, while the horizontal partitions (65, 75) thereof extend
in a width direction. The vertical partitions (64, 74) and the
horizontal partitions (65, 75) are arranged to crisscross each
other. Each base (61, 71) has a large number of air passages (66,
76) formed therein and surrounded by the frame (63, 73), the
vertical partitions (64, 74), and the horizontal partitions (65,
75). In other words, the base (61, 71) is formed in a rectangular
grid structure by the vertical partitions (64, 74) and the
horizontal partitions (65, 75), thereby forming a large number of
tubular portions to form the air passages (66, 76).
[0059] The air passages (66, 76) are formed as passages extending
along the air flow in the casing (20) from the inlets (21, 22) to
the outlet (23). Specifically, the air passages (66, 76) form
passages parallel to the circulation passage (24) in the casing
(20), and has a low resistance to the air circulation.
[0060] Each of the vertical partitions (64) of the dust collecting
electrode (60) and a corresponding one of the vertical partitions
(74) of the high-voltage electrode (70) are formed to be in the
same plane in an assembled state where the base (61) of the dust
collecting electrode (60) and the base (71) of the high-voltage
electrode (70) are locked with each other. On the other hand, the
horizontal partitions (65) of the dust collecting electrode (60)
and the horizontal partitions (75) of the high-voltage electrode
(70) are formed to be alternately arranged in a vertically
staggered pattern in FIGS. 7 and 8 in the assembled state where the
base (61) of the dust collecting electrode (60) and the base (71)
of the high-voltage electrode (70) are locked with each other. In
other words, the horizontal partitions (65) of the dust collecting
electrode (60) are located in the middle of the air passages (76)
of the high-voltage electrode (70), while the horizontal partitions
(75) of the high-voltage electrode (70) are located in the middle
of the air passages (66) of the dust collecting electrode (60).
[0061] The projections (62, 72) are integrally connected to the
corresponding horizontal partitions (65, 75) to project from the
corresponding horizontal partitions (65, 75). The projections (62,
72) are formed into projecting pieces in the shape of a flat plate
having the same thickness as the horizontal partitions (65, 75),
and extend toward the inside of the corresponding air passages (66,
76) of the opposed electrodes (60, 70). Furthermore, the
projections (62, 72) are formed so that each of the vertical
partitions (74, 64) of the opposed electrodes (70, 60) is located
in a clearance between each horizontally adjacent pair of the
projections (62, 72).
[0062] The projections (62, 72) are each located in the middle of
the corresponding air passage (76, 66) in the assembled state where
the base (61) of the dust collecting electrode (60) and the base
(71) of the high-voltage electrode (70) are locked with each other,
and thus, air flows above and below the projections (62, 72). Each
projection (62) of the dust collecting electrode (60) and the
adjacent projection (72) of the high-voltage electrode (70) are
configured to have a distance of 1.0-2.0 mm therebetween. For
example, the distance between the projection (62) and the adjacent
projection (72) is preferably 1.2 mm
[0063] The vertical partitions (64) of the dust collecting
electrode (60) and the vertical partitions (74) of the high-voltage
electrode (70) are located a predetermined distance apart from and
without contact with each other in the assembled state where the
base (61) of the dust collecting electrode (60) and the base (71)
of the high-voltage electrode (70) are locked with each other.
[0064] Specifically, each projection (62) of the dust collecting
electrode (60) is surrounded by the corresponding vertical
partitions (74) and horizontal partitions (75) of the high-voltage
electrode (70), and has equal distances from the surrounding
vertical partitions (74) and horizontal partitions (75), thereby
creating a radial electric field in the cross section of the
corresponding air passage (76). Furthermore, each projection (72)
of the high-voltage electrode (70) is surrounded by the
corresponding vertical partitions (64) and horizontal partitions
(65) of the dust collecting electrode (60), and has equal distances
from the surrounding vertical partitions (64) and horizontal
partitions (65), thereby creating a radial electric filed in the
cross section of the corresponding air passage (66).
[0065] A direct-current voltage is applied between the dust
collecting electrode (60) and the high-voltage electrode (70) to
create an electric field therebetween, and thus, electrically
charged dust is adsorbed on the dust collecting electrode (60).
[0066] The deodorizing unit (50) is disposed downstream of the dust
collecting unit (40) to extend from the dust collecting unit (40)
to the air-blowing fan (30). Specifically, the deodorizing unit
(50) is provided to extend from an outlet in the back face of the
dust collecting unit (40) to an inlet in the bottom face of the
air-blowing fan (30). The deodorizing unit (50) is configured as a
deodorizing mechanism with a low resistance to the air circulation
such that an electrical discharge section (51) and a catalyst
filter (52) are arranged in this order from the upstream to the
downstream side of air flow.
[0067] Although not shown, the electrical discharge section (51)
includes discharge electrodes and opposed electrodes, and the
discharge electrodes are disposed, one between each adjacent pair
of the opposed electrodes. The opposed electrodes are formed by,
e.g., linear or rod-like electrodes, and are arranged in
substantially parallel with the discharge electrodes. Specifically,
a space located in the electrical discharge section (51) and
between each discharge electrode and an adjacent opposed electrode
(45) is formed as an air passage extending along the air flow in
the casing (20) from the inlets (21, 22) to the outlet (23).
Specifically, a space between the discharge electrode and the
adjacent opposed electrode forms an air passage parallel to the
circulation passage (24) in the casing (20), and has a low
resistance to the air circulation.
[0068] The electrical discharge section (51) is configured to
generate a streamer discharge. When the electrical discharge
section (51) generates a streamer discharge, low-temperature plasma
is generated. The low-temperature plasma contains a highly reactive
substance (active species, such as electrons, ions, ozone, or
radicals), and thus, the highly reactive substance in the
low-temperature plasma decomposes and removes odorous substances
including toxic substances in the air.
[0069] The catalyst filter (52) is disposed downstream of the
electrical discharge section (51) while being adjacent to the inlet
in the bottom face of the air-blowing fan (30). As illustrated in
FIG. 9, the catalyst filter (52) is configured to carry a catalyst
on the surface of a base material (53). The base material (53) has
a monolith structure in which a large number of partitions (55) are
formed vertically and horizontally inside a rectangular frame
material (54), and a large number of air passages (56) are formed
inside the frame material (54) by the partitions (55). The air
passages (56) are formed as passages extending along the air flow
in the casing (20) from the inlets (21, 22) to the outlet (23).
Specifically, the air passages (56) form passages parallel to the
circulation passage (24) in the casing (20), and each have a low
resistance to the air circulation.
[0070] Manganese catalysts, precious metal catalysts, etc., are
used as the catalyst, and such a catalyst further activates a
highly reactive substance in low-temperature plasma generated by
discharge, and accelerates the decomposition and removal of odorous
substances in the sucked air.
[0071] By contrast, a pressure sensor (80) is placed indoors. The
indoor pressure is sensed by the pressure sensor (80), and the
sensed pressure is transmitted to a controller (81). The controller
(81) controls the air volume of the air-blowing fan (30) in order
to allow the indoor pressure to be positive.
[0072] --Operational Behavior--
[0073] Next, the ventilation operation of the above-described
ventilator (10) will be described.
[0074] First, when the air-blowing fan (30) is driven, outdoor air
is sucked through the inlet (21) into the casing (20), and indoor
air is sucked through the inlet (22) into the casing (20). The
outdoor air and indoor air sucked into the casing (20) collect in
the chamber (25), and are mixed, and the sucked air which is a
mixture of the sucked indoor and outdoor air flows into the dust
collecting unit (40).
[0075] In the dust collecting unit (40), while a direct-current
voltage is applied between each discharge electrode (44) of the
charging portion (42) and the corresponding opposed electrode (45)
thereof, a direct-current voltage is applied between the dust
collecting electrode (60) and the high-voltage electrode (70) of
the dust collecting portion (43).
[0076] The sucked air passes through the prefilter (41), thereby
collecting relatively large dust contained in the sucked air. The
sucked air having passed through the prefilter (41) flows into the
charging portion (42). In the charging portion (42), relatively
small dust having passed through the prefilter (41) is charged with
electricity to take a positive charge, for example, and the
electrically charged dust flows downstream.
[0077] The electrically charged dust flows into the dust collecting
portion (43), and flows through the air passages (66, 76) in the
bases (61, 71) of the dust collecting electrode (60) and the
high-voltage electrode (70). Specifically, the indoor air flows
through the air passages (66, 76) formed by the frames (63, 73),
the vertical partitions (64, 74), and the horizontal partitions
(65, 75) of the bases (61, 71) of the dust collecting electrode
(60) and the high-voltage electrode (70), and flows around each of
the projections (62, 72) of the dust collecting electrode (60) and
the high-voltage electrode (70).
[0078] Since, in this case, the dust collecting electrode (60)
serves as, e.g., an earth electrode, and is set to a negative
electrode, the dust charged with positive electricity is adsorbed
on the dust collecting electrode (60). Specifically, the dust is
adsorbed on the inner surface of the frame (63) of the dust
collecting electrode (60), the surfaces of the vertical partitions
(64) thereof, the surfaces of the horizontal partitions (65)
thereof, and the surfaces of the projections (62) thereof.
[0079] By contrast, in the deodorizing unit (50), the electrical
discharge section (51) generates a streamer discharge, thereby
generating low-temperature plasma. The sucked air flowing through
the dust collecting unit (40) flows into the deodorizing unit (50),
and passes through the streamer discharge. The low-temperature
plasma contains a highly reactive substance (active species, such
as electrons, ions, ozone, or radicals), and thus, the highly
reactive substance removes odorous substances including toxic
substances in the sucked air.
[0080] Thereafter, the sucked air flows into the catalyst filter
(52). When the highly reactive substance reaches the catalyst
filter (52), the highly reactive substance is further activated,
thereby decomposing and removing odorous substances in the sucked
air.
[0081] Clean processed air from which the dust is removed and from
which toxic substances and odorous substances are also removed
flows through the air-blowing fan (30), and is blown through the
outlet (23) into the room.
[0082] --Advantages of First Embodiment--
[0083] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the
electrical dust collecting unit (40) and the deodorizing unit (50)
with a low resistance to the air circulation are disposed in the
casing (20). Therefore, the resistance to the air circulation is
low, resulting in a significant reduction in the pressure loss.
This enables the use of the small-capacity air-blowing fan (30),
thereby downsizing the entire apparatus.
[0084] A duct through which outdoor air, etc., is taken and a duct
through which processed air is supplied indoors need to be
connected, in particular, to the ventilator (10) having the casing
(20) placed in the indoor ceiling, i.e., the so-called
ceiling-mounted ventilator (10), thereby increasing the resistance
to the air circulation through the ducts. Therefore, the resistance
to the air circulation in the casing (20) is reduced, thereby
reducing the pressure loss in the entire system including the
ducts.
[0085] Furthermore, the dust collecting unit (40) is an electrical
unit, and the charging portion (42) and the dust collecting portion
(43) each include electrodes of two types. Therefore, the dust
collecting unit (40) includes an air passage extending along the
air flow in the casing (20) from the inlets (21, 22) to the air
outlet (23). As a result, the dust collecting unit (40) can reduce
the resistance to the air circulation, thereby reducing the
pressure loss.
[0086] In particular, the dust collecting portion (43) is formed in
a grid structure.
[0087] Therefore, while the dust collecting portion (43) can
increase the area in which dust is collected, the dust collecting
portion (43) can include the air passages (66, 76) extending along
the air flow in the casing (20) from the inlets (21, 22) to the air
outlet (23). As a result, the dust collecting unit (40) can reduce
the resistance to the air circulation, thereby reducing the
pressure loss.
[0088] The electrical discharge section (51) of the deodorizing
unit (50) includes two electrodes, and the catalyst filter (52) of
the deodorizing unit (50) is formed in a monolith structure.
Therefore, the deodorizing unit (50) includes the air passage (56)
extending along the air flow in the casing (20) from the inlets
(21, 22) to the air outlet (23). As a result, the deodorizing unit
(50) can reduce the resistance to the air circulation. Therefore,
the entire structure of the deodorizing unit (50) has low pressure
loss, thereby downsizing the entire apparatus.
[0089] Since outdoor air and indoor air are both taken in, heat can
be more advantageously utilized than when only outdoor air is taken
in.
[0090] Since the casing (20) is placed indoors, only a single
opening can be formed in a wall of a building to take in outdoor
air.
[0091] <Second Embodiment of the Invention>
[0092] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0093] In the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11,
the discharge electrodes (44) of the charging portion (42) of the
dust collecting unit (40) are formed by serrated electrodes instead
of by ionizing wires in the first embodiment.
[0094] Specifically, the discharge electrodes (44) each include an
electrode rod (46), and needles (47) formed on the electrode rod
(46). The electrode rod (46) is disposed to extend from the left
end of the charging portion (42) to the right end thereof. The
plurality of needles (47) are formed to project toward the opposed
electrodes (45). In other words, the needles (47) project upward
and downward. Therefore, an electrical current is discharged from
the needles (47) to the opposed electrodes (45). The other
structures, operations, and advantages are similar to those of the
first embodiment.
[0095] <Third Embodiment of the Invention>
[0096] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0097] In the first embodiment, the dust collecting electrode (60)
and the high-voltage electrode (70) of the dust collecting portion
(43) of the dust collecting unit (40) are both made of a conductive
resin. However, in the third embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 12,
the dust collecting electrode (60) is made of a conductive
metal.
[0098] Specifically, the dust collecting electrode (60) is made of
a metal sheet, such as stainless steel, while the high-voltage
electrode (70) is made of a conductive resin similarly to the first
embodiment.
[0099] Similarly to the first embodiment, the dust collecting
electrode (60) is formed in a rectangular shape, and includes a
single base (61) and a large number of projections (62), and the
base (61) includes a frame (63), a plurality of vertical partitions
(64), and a plurality of horizontal partitions (65). The
projections (62), the frame (63), the vertical partitions (64), and
the horizontal partitions (65) are each made of a metal sheet of a
conductive metal.
[0100] Similarly to the first embodiment, the projections (62) of
the dust collecting electrode (60) extend toward the inside of the
air passage (76) of the high-voltage electrode (70). Meanwhile,
similarly to the first embodiment, the projections (72) of the
high-voltage electrode (70) extend toward the inside of the air
passage (66) of the dust collecting electrode (60).
[0101] Therefore, according to this embodiment, the dust collecting
electrode (60) is made of a conductive metal. This allows the metal
sheet to be thinner than the resin, thereby improving the
efficiency of integration and downsizing the entire apparatus. The
other structures, operations, and advantages are similar to those
of the first embodiment.
[0102] In this embodiment, the dust collecting electrode (60) is
made of a conductive metal, and the high-voltage electrode (70) is
made of a conductive resin. However, the dust collecting electrode
(60) may be made of a conductive resin, and the high-voltage
electrode (70) may be made of a conductive metal.
[0103] <Other Embodiments>
[0104] The first embodiment of the present invention may be
configured as follows.
[0105] In the above embodiments, the catalyst filter (52) of the
deodorizing unit (50) is formed in a monolith structure. However,
the catalyst filter (52) may have a honeycomb structure or a
corrugated structure. In short, the catalyst filter (52) may be
configured to include an air passage extending along the air flow
in the casing (20) from the inlets (21, 22) to the air outlet
(23).
[0106] The deodorizing unit (50) includes the electrical discharge
section (51) and the catalyst filter (52). However, the deodorizing
unit (50) may include only the electrical discharge section (51).
Specifically, the electrical discharge section (51) may be
configured to also decompose odorous substances. The deodorizing
unit (50) may include only the catalyst filter (52). Specifically,
the catalyst filter (52) may include activated carbon, etc., and
the catalyst filter (52) may be configured to also decompose
odorous substances.
[0107] The electrical discharge process of the electrical discharge
section (51) of the deodorizing unit (50) is not limited to a
streamer discharge. Various electrical discharge processes, such as
a pulse discharge, may be used as the discharge process.
[0108] The foregoing embodiments have been set forth merely for
purposes of preferred examples in nature, and are not intended to
limit the scope, applications, and use of the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0109] As described above, the present invention is useful for a
ventilator for collecting dust and removing odors.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0110] 10 Ventilator
[0111] 20 Casing
[0112] 30 Air-Blowing Fan
[0113] 40 Dust Collecting Unit (Dust Collecting Mechanism)
[0114] 42 Charging Portion
[0115] 43 Dust Collecting Portion
[0116] 50 Deodorizing Unit (Deodorizing Mechanism)
[0117] 51 Electrical Discharge Section
[0118] 52 Catalyst Filter
[0119] 56 Air Passage
[0120] 60 Dust Collecting Electrode
[0121] 70 High-Voltage Electrode
[0122] 61, 71 Base
[0123] 62, 72 Projection
[0124] 66, 76 Air Passage
* * * * *