JPH10309491A - Electric precipitation element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a washing cost in an electric precipitation element. SOLUTION: An electric precipitation element 5 has a dust collection part 30 wherein a dust collection electric board 31 and a voltage application electrode board 32 which are composed of a thin board are alternately laminated. A photocatalyst having an ultrahydrophylic property is applied to a surface of the electrode board 31. The photocatalyst having the ultra-hydrophilic property contains titanium oxide having a rutile type crystal structure. Since a surface of the electrode board 31 is made in a state in which a thin water film spreads, and a stain is stuck onto the water film, the stain can be prevented from being stuck onto the surface of the electric board 31. If only a stain is stuck onto the water film, the stain can be easily washed and flowed off by water washing or the like without using an alkaline washing liquid used conventionally. Further, since a dewdrop is difficult to be generated on a surface of the electrode board 31, the electrode board can be dried in a short time after washing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric dust collecting element including a dust collecting portion for collecting charged dust.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, the above-mentioned electric dust collecting element includes an ionizing portion for charging dust in air flowing in an air passage, and a dust collecting portion having an electrode plate for collecting the charged dust. Is provided. In the above-mentioned dust collecting part, the application electrode plate and the dust collection electrode plate, which are rectangular thin plates parallel to each other, are alternately stacked. An electric field is generated between the applying electrode plate and the dust collecting electrode plate, and the charged dust is urged toward the dust collecting electrode plate side by Coulomb force to be attracted to the dust collecting electrode plate. . In general, the above-mentioned applied electrode plate is made of a resin plate having a conductive portion built in, and the above-mentioned dust collecting electrode plate is made of a metal plate such as SUS.

By the way, various kinds of dirt such as cigarette smoke adhere to the dust collecting electrode plate made of a metal plate such as SUS.
As the dirt gets worse, the dust collecting ability is reduced. To prevent this, the dust collecting part or the entire electric dust collecting element is periodically cleaned (for example, once a month). .

[0004]

Conventionally, this cleaning is performed by immersing a dust collecting part or the like in an alkaline cleaning liquid, washing with water, and then drying. However, the use of an alkaline cleaning liquid incurs a cost. In addition, the cleaning cost has increased due to the increase in the number of cleaning steps. Further, if water remains on the electrode plates, a useless discharge or the like occurs between the electrode plates and a desired potential difference cannot be obtained between the electrode plates. Therefore, it is necessary to securely dry the electrode plates to prevent this. Yes, it took about half a day to about a day, including from washing to drying. Such a large time cost has also been a factor that increases the cleaning cost.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric precipitating element which can solve the above-mentioned technical problems and can lower the cleaning cost.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an electric dust collecting element according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a dust collecting portion in which thin plate collecting plates and applying plates are alternately stacked. In the electric dust collecting element, a photocatalyst having superhydrophilic property is supported on at least one surface of the dust collecting electrode plate and the application electrode plate.

First, the inventor of the present application analyzed the cause of the time required for drying as follows. That is, the water adhering to the surface of the electrode plate tends to be polka dots, and since the polka dot structure has the smallest surface area with respect to the internal volume, it is difficult for water to evaporate as a result. by the way,
In general, a photocatalyst is a substance that absorbs light such as ultraviolet rays and gives the energy to a reactant to cause a chemical reaction. The main functions of the photocatalyst include a deodorizing function by removing odor components, a function of decomposing contaminants that are not odor components, a function of disinfecting microorganisms and inactivating viruses, and the like. Are all achieved by the oxidative decomposition function of the photocatalyst.

On the other hand, the inventor of the present application has noticed that some photocatalysts have excellent hydrophilicity. If such a photocatalyst is used, the electrode plate is hardly stained, and is easily washed off even if it is soiled. Therefore, the present invention was conceived. In other words, as a result of a decrease in the contact angle of water on the surface of the electrode plate on which the photocatalyst having superhydrophilicity is supported, the water adsorbed on the surface of the electrode plate is hardly turned into a polka dot and a thin water film is spread. Becomes The spread of the water film can prevent adhesion of dirt to the surface of the electrode plate. This is because dirt adheres to the water film. If the dirt adheres to the water film as described above, it can be easily washed away by washing with water or the like, so that it is not necessary to use an alkaline cleaning liquid which has been used conventionally. Further, as described above, since water drops are hardly formed and the water film is spread thinly, the evaporation rate of water can be increased and drying after washing can be performed in a short time.

Here, as the photocatalyst having superhydrophilicity, titanium oxide having a rutile type crystal structure (for example, T
iO ₂ ). Note that this photocatalyst having a rutile-type crystal structure and titanium oxide having an anatase-type crystal structure excellent in oxidative decomposition function (for example, Ti
It may be used in combination with a photocatalyst such as O ₂ ). In general, the dust collecting electrode plate is easily soiled, and the dust collecting electrode plate is usually made of SUS.
Since the surface of such a metal plate has a large contact angle with water, the attached water tends to form polka dots. Therefore, it is particularly significant to carry a superhydrophilic photocatalyst on the dust collecting electrode plate in order to achieve prevention of contamination and easiness of washing. In addition, there is usually a coating method for supporting a photocatalyst on a dust collecting electrode plate made of a metal plate such as a SUS plate.

On the other hand, since the applied electrode plate does not become much stained only by applying a high voltage, the necessity of supporting the above-mentioned superhydrophilic photocatalyst is smaller than that of the dust collecting electrode plate. In this case, the formation of polka dots on the surface of the applied electrode plate can be suppressed, and drying after washing can be performed in a shorter time. In general, in order to carry a photocatalyst on an applied electrode plate composed of a resin plate having a conductive portion, in addition to a method of applying the photocatalyst to the surface, a method of applying the photocatalyst to a resin material for molding the resin plate before molding There is also a method of kneading and incorporating them.

[0011]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an air purifier to which an electric precipitating element as one embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the following figures,
An arrow X indicating a left-right direction, an arrow Y indicating a front-rear direction, and an arrow Z indicating a vertical direction are illustrated, and the following description will be made based on these directions.

In the air purifier 1, a suction grill 3 is disposed at the forefront of the air purifier main body 2, and air is sucked into the air purifier main body 2 through the suction grill 3. The air purifier main body 2 has a housing 2c formed in a substantially box shape, and a recess 2b is formed in a front surface 2a. A pre-filter 4 for removing relatively large dust and dirt, an electric dust collecting element 5 for charging and capturing dirt particles, and a deodorizing filter for removing odor components in the air are provided in the recess 2b. 6 are accommodated. An opening communicating with the inside of the housing 2c is formed at a substantially central portion of the recess 2b, and a blower fan 7 for circulating room air to the electric dust collecting element 5 is attached to this opening. Blower fan 7
Is driven to rotate by a fan motor 7a, and sucks room air through the suction grill 3 into the air cleaner body 2. The room air sucked from the suction grill 3 flows along a predetermined air flow path. That is, after the air is purified through the pre-filter 4, the electric dust collecting element 5, the deodorizing filter 6 and the blower fan 7, the air passes through the housing 2 c and is provided at the upper part of the air purifier main body 2. Blown out from.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electric precipitating element 5 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, the electrostatic precipitating element 5 includes an ionization unit 20 that performs a discharge to charge dirt particles in the air flow path, and a dust collection unit 30 that collects the charged particles. And the ionization unit 20 and the dust collection unit 30
Are configured as an integrated unit. The ionization section 20 extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the air flow and is arranged in pairs with a plurality of ionization lines 21 (only some are shown) as discharge lines parallel to each other and sandwiching each ionization line 21. And opposing electrode plates 22 parallel to each other.
Dust particles in the ventilation flow are charged by an ion shower generated by corona discharge. The opposite electrode plate 22 is formed by cutting and raising a sheet metal material, and the cutout portion forms an air flow path. At the left and right ends of the opposite electrode plate 22,
A pair of cantilever-like holding members 23 are provided, and the ionization line 21 is extended between the two holding members 23 so as to extend right and left.

More specifically, both holding members 23 are
As shown in FIG. 3, they are connected to each other by a panel-shaped resin frame 24 having crosspieces 24 a having a U-shaped cross section opened toward the leeward side. The opposing electrode plates 22 form a pair, and are arranged along opposing wall surfaces of the adjacent rails 24. A columnar lamp 25 that emits light including ultraviolet rays is accommodated in at least one of the crosspieces 24 in a state surrounded on three sides by the crosspiece 24. The lamp 25 is located on the leeward side. A reflection plate 26 for reflecting light toward the dust collection electrode plate 31 and the application electrode plate 32 described below is arranged adjacently. The lamp 25 is activated by irradiating a photocatalyst, which will be described later, carried on the electrode plates 31 and 32 with light including ultraviolet rays.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the holding member 23 is a member whose front end is fixed to the left and right ends of the sheet metal forming the opposed electrode plate 22, for example, a resin plate. The holding member 23 has a holding portion 23a at a portion facing the air flow path,
The holding portion 23a is provided so as to be opposed by the pair of holding members 23, and the dust collecting portion 3 is provided between the opposed holding portions 23a.
0 is detachably mounted. Also, the holding member 2
3 has a concave portion 23b into which the fastener 60 enters when the dust collecting portion 30 is mounted, and the concave portions 23b are provided at the upper and lower end portions of the holding member 23 in a total of four places in the electric dust collecting element 5. ing.

The holding section 23a has a dust collecting section 30 mounted thereon.
An engagement projection 23c is formed at the position of the rear end. The engaging projection 23c is provided on the left holding member 23A,
The dust collecting unit 30 is engaged with the left rear portion of the mounted dust collecting unit 30 to prevent the dust collecting unit 30 from moving back and forth, and the dust collecting unit 30 can be mounted without play. Further, a concave streak (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the holding portion 23a. The concave stripe is
The dust collecting portion 30 engages with convex portions (not shown) formed on the left and right ends of the frame 33 of the dust collecting portion 30, and can guide the dust collecting portion 30 at the time of mounting. It is possible to prevent the dust collecting unit 30 from being moved and to be mounted without rattling.

The dust collecting section 30 includes a dust collecting section main body 36 having a dust collecting electrode plate 31 and an application electrode plate 32, and a grid-like protective cover 40 mounted on the dust collecting section main body 36. It is arranged downstream of the air flow path with respect to the ionization section 20. The dust collecting unit main body 36 includes the dust collecting electrode plate 31 and the applied electrode plate 3.
2 are alternately opposed to each other. That is, the dust collection unit 3
A pair of long plate-shaped frames 33 are provided parallel to each other at the upper and lower ends of the frame 0, and both frames 33 are fixed to each other via electrode rods. The electrode rod extends vertically between the two frame bodies 33 and includes an application column 34 and a ground column 35. The dust collecting electrode plate 31 is arranged on the grounding support 35 and the application electrode plate 32 is arranged on the application support 34 at a predetermined interval. The two electrode plates are alternately stacked in parallel with the frame 33.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, dust collecting electrode plate 31 will be described.
Is formed of a long thin plate of stainless steel such as SUS. The dust collecting electrode plate 31 is configured such that the dust collecting portion 30 is
In a state where the dust collecting portion 30 is attached to the right side, the dust collecting portion 30 faces the outside between the frames 33 at a right end which is one end in the longitudinal direction. In this state, the dust collecting electrode plate 31 is electrically connected and grounded by coming into contact with the ground electrode portion 50 provided on the holding member 23B through the gap of the grid of the protective cover 40.

A superhydrophilic photocatalyst 71 is supported on the surface of the dust collecting electrode plate 31 by coating or the like. Examples of the photocatalyst 71 having superhydrophilicity include titanium oxide (for example, TiO ₂ ) having a rutile-type crystal structure. It is also possible to use a mixture of the photocatalyst 71 having the rutile type crystal structure and a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide (for example, TiO ₂ ) having an anatase type crystal structure having an excellent oxidative decomposition function.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG.
Is made of a resin plate in which a conductive portion 32a made of a long thin plate of stainless steel such as SUS is embedded. This applied electrode plate 32
Is electrically connected to the application electrode unit 50 at the left end of the dust collection unit 30 in the same manner as the above-described dust collection electrode plate 31.
A predetermined voltage is applied. A photocatalyst 71 having the same superhydrophilicity as the dust collecting electrode 31 is provided on the surface of the applying electrode 32.
Is carried. For such an applied electrode plate 31,
In order to support the photocatalyst 71, there is a method of applying the photocatalyst 71 to the surface, or a method of kneading the photocatalyst in a resin material in advance and including the resin, followed by resin molding.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the electrode plate is exposed between the longitudinal ends of the frame 33 when the dust collecting portion main body 36 alone, that is, when the protective cover 40 is not attached. ing. The exposure of the electrode plate is avoided by the holding member 23 when the electrode plate is mounted on the ionization unit 20. The protective cover 40 includes the dust collecting electrode plate 31 and the applied electrode plate 3.
In order to protect 2, it is detachably attached to the rear surface of the dust collecting unit main body 36 (which is exposed in a state of being attached to the ionization unit 20) on the downstream side of the air flow path. .

The protective cover 40 is formed in a substantially J-shape in plan view so as to cover the rear and right sides of the bipolar plates.
That is, the protective cover 40 is a substantially planar main body 41 as a protective frame on the rear surface of the dust collecting section 30 and a first covering member connected to the right end of the main body 41 and covering the right end of the electrode plate. And a plurality of hooking claw portions 43 for detachably fitting into concave portions 33n formed in the frame body 33 are provided at upper and lower ends of the main body portion 41. .

The protective cover 40 is formed of a synthetic resin material in a lattice shape. Therefore, water is easily drained by the gaps between the lattices (opening for draining), and the dust collecting section 30 can be easily washed with water even when the protective cover 40 is attached to the dust collecting section main body 36. The main body portion 41 is formed in a lattice shape crossing vertically and horizontally. Therefore, the main body portion 41 is arranged on the rear surface of the dust collecting portion main body 36, protects the end portion forming the long side surface of the electrode plate, and can maintain the flow of the air flowing through the air flow path.

According to the present embodiment, since the photocatalyst 71 having superhydrophilicity is carried on the respective surfaces of the dust collecting electrode plate 31 and the application electrode plate 32, the contact angle of water can be reduced. Therefore, it is difficult to form polka dots, and each electrode plate 3
A state in which a thin water film spreads on the surfaces of the first and the second water can be achieved. As a result, dirt can be deposited on the water film. Thereby, adhesion of dirt to the surface of each electrode plate 31, 32 can be prevented.

In addition, any dirt adhering to the water film can be easily washed away with water or the like without using a conventionally used alkaline cleaning liquid. In addition, since water remaining on the surfaces of the electrode plates 31 and 32 after cleaning makes it difficult to form polka dots, drying after cleaning can be performed in a short time. As described above, the cleaning does not require much labor and time, and an expensive alkaline cleaning liquid is not required, so that the cleaning cost can be significantly reduced.

In particular, by carrying the photocatalyst 71 having a superhydrophilic property on the dust collecting electrode plate 31 which is liable to adhere to the stain, the effect of the stain prevention can be improved. In the present embodiment, the dust collecting electrode plate 31 and the application electrode plate 32
Although the photocatalyst 71 having superhydrophilicity is supported on both surfaces, from the viewpoint of effectively preventing contamination, the photocatalyst 71 having superhydrophilicity may be supported only on the surface of the dust collecting electrode plate 31. good. However, the present invention does not exclude a case where the photocatalyst 71 having superhydrophilicity is supported only on the applied electrode plate 32.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 of the above embodiment, the surface of the dust collecting electrode plate 31 carries a photocatalyst 71 having superhydrophilicity, and the surface of the applying electrode plate 32 is shown in FIG. As shown, the photocatalyst 7 having an oxidative decomposition function
By carrying 2, the electric dust collecting element can have not only a simple dust collecting function but also a deodorizing function by oxidative decomposition, a sterilizing function, and the like. In particular, usually, the applied electrode plate 3
2 has a relatively large surface area compared to the dust collecting electrode plate 31,
High deodorizing ability can be obtained.

As the photocatalyst 72 having the oxidative decomposition function, titanium oxide (for example, TiO ₂ ) having an anatase crystal structure can be exemplified. Titanium oxide having this anatase-type crystal structure is preferable in that it can exhibit high purification ability even with weak ultraviolet light. Further, zinc oxide (ZnO) and tungsten oxide (for example, WO
₃ ) may be used. In addition, in the case of FIG. 6, the deodorizing filter 6 may be used together or may be abolished. However, even when the filter is abolished, a sufficient deodorizing performance can be achieved by the electric dust collecting element having the deodorizing function.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[0030]

According to the present invention, a thin water film can be spread on the surface of the electrode plate by the photocatalyst having superhydrophilicity, and dirt can be adhered on the water film. Thereby, the adhesion of dirt to the surface of the electrode plate can be prevented, and any dirt adhering to the water film can be easily washed away with water or the like without using a conventionally used alkaline cleaning liquid. . In addition, since polka dots are hardly formed on the surface of the electrode plate, it can be dried in a short time after washing. Therefore, the cleaning does not require much labor and time, and an expensive alkaline cleaning liquid is not required, so that the cleaning cost can be remarkably reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an air purifier to which an electric dust collecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electric precipitating element of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an electric dust collecting element.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a dust collecting electrode plate.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an applied electrode plate.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an application electrode plate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air cleaner 5 Electric dust collection element 20 Ionization part 30 Dust collection part 31 Dust collection electrode plate 32 Applied electrode plate 71 Photocatalyst having superhydrophilicity 72 Photocatalyst having oxidative decomposition function

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI B03C 3/60 B03C 3/60

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A dust collecting electrode plate (31) and an applying electrode plate made of a thin plate.
In the electric dust collecting element including the dust collecting portion (30) in which (32) are alternately laminated, the dust collecting electrode plate (31) and the application electrode plate (32)
At least one surface of the photocatalyst having super hydrophilicity (7
An electrostatic precipitating element carrying (1). 2. The electrostatic precipitating element according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst having superhydrophilicity contains titanium oxide having a rutile type crystal structure.