JP2023170799A - Deodorizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a deodorizing device that can obtain a strong deodorizing effect even in a closed space without adversely affecting the health and growth of the human body and microorganisms.
[Solution] The deodorizing device includes a first flow path through which air flows, and is housed in the first flow path, and has a main emission wavelength of 150 nm or more for the air flowing through the first flow path. an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light within a range of 200 nm or less; a second flow path that is connected to the first flow path and allows the ozone-containing gas generated by the emission of the ultraviolet light to flow therethrough; a catalyst member that is filled in the second flow path and decomposes ozone, and the area of the connection port between the second flow path and the first flow path is less than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the first flow path. .
[Selection diagram] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a deodorizing device, and particularly to a deodorizing device using ozone.

Ozone (O ₃ ) is used to deodorize odors, but since ozone of 0.1 ppm or more is harmful to the human body, it is known that various measures such as blinking control, sensing, and interlocks such as door locks are necessary. It is being However, even if ozone is less than 0.1 ppm, there is a risk of adverse effects on people who are sensitive to odors or who are not feeling well. Furthermore, in places where bacteria are cultivated, such as incubators and malting chambers, even ozone of less than 0.1 ppm has an adverse effect on the growth of bacteria.

Therefore, there are also known deodorizing systems that are equipped with ozone and an ozone decomposition mechanism and process the odor and ozone internally without emitting ozone to the outside. However, when activated carbon is used as a filter to remove ozone, there is a risk of fine particles and combustion, and when metal oxide catalysts are used, organic matter in the gas phase deteriorates on the catalyst, giving off a strange odor. (See Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 3918231

In addition, a discharge type ozonizer that generates ozone by electric discharge is also known, but the NO _x generated together with O ₃ from the discharge type ozonizer alters the catalyst and shortens its life, has a negative impact on the growth of bacteria, and damages the interior material. There were problems such as corrosion.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a deodorizing device that can obtain a strong deodorizing effect even in a closed space without adversely affecting the health and growth of the human body and microorganisms.

The deodorizing device according to the present invention includes a first passage through which air flows;
an ultraviolet light source that is housed in the first flow path and emits ultraviolet light having a main emission wavelength within a range of 150 nm or more and 200 nm or less with respect to the air flowing through the first flow path;
a second flow path connected to the first flow path and through which ozone-containing gas generated by emitting the ultraviolet light flows;
a catalyst member that is filled in the second flow path and decomposes ozone;
The area of the connection port of the second flow path with the first flow path is less than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the first flow path.

According to this configuration, when the air is irradiated with ultraviolet light, NO _x is not generated in the first flow path, so there is no adverse effect on the health and growth of the human body and microorganisms even in a closed space. do not have. In addition, by making the area of the connection port of the second flow path less than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the first flow path, the pressure loss in the catalyst member becomes large, and the amount of air flowing through the first flow path is limited. Therefore, the one-pass removal rate of malodorous substances in the first passage can be improved and a strong deodorizing effect can be obtained.

In the deodorizing device according to the present invention, the length of the catalyst member along the flow direction of the second flow path may be longer than the maximum length of the catalyst member in a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction. .

By making the shape of the catalyst member small in cross section and elongated in the flow direction of the second flow path, when residual organic matter adheres to the catalyst member, it is promoted to volatilize into ozone-containing gas, and the residual organic matter is can be suppressed from being oxidized in the catalyst member, which in turn can suppress overheating of ozone and the catalyst in the catalyst member.

In the deodorizing device according to the present invention, the ultraviolet light source may be an excimer lamp.

According to this configuration, when the air is irradiated with ultraviolet light, NO _x is not generated in the first flow path, so there is no adverse effect on the health and growth of the human body and microorganisms even in a closed space. do not have.

In the deodorizing device according to the present invention, the second flow path may include an airflow generating section downstream of the catalyst member.

Further, in the deodorizing device according to the present invention, the airflow generating section may be a sirocco fan or an exhaust pump.

By providing an airflow generator (for example, a sirocco fan or an exhaust pump) downstream of the catalyst member, the linear velocity of the ozone-containing gas can be increased. Further, by providing the airflow generating section, the exhaust gas that has passed through the catalyst member can be efficiently discharged to the outside of the deodorizing device.

In the deodorizing device according to the present invention, the catalyst member may be a filter supporting a catalyst that decomposes ozone.

According to this configuration, the ozone decomposition efficiency is higher than that of a filter using activated carbon, and the performance can be maintained for a long period of time.

Furthermore, in the deodorizing device according to the present invention, the filter may be in the form of pellets.

This configuration has a higher degree of freedom in shape than a filter with a honeycomb structure, and can be applied to narrow spaces.

In the deodorizing device according to the present invention, the first passage may include an air inlet that allows the air to flow in at a flow rate of 0.4 m/s or more.

According to this configuration, backflow of air from the air inlet can be prevented.

1 is a side view schematically showing an embodiment of the deodorizing device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the deodorizing device of FIG. 1. FIG.

Each embodiment of the deodorizing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Note that the following drawings are schematically illustrated, and the dimensional ratios on the drawings and the actual dimensional ratios do not necessarily match. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios do not necessarily match between the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing one embodiment of a deodorizing device 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the deodorizing device 1 of FIG. 1. The deodorizing device 1 is a device that deodorizes air containing malodorous substances using ozone.

The deodorizing device 1 includes a main body part 11 and a catalyst part 12 connected to the main body part 11. The deodorizing device 1 also includes a first passageway 2, an ultraviolet light source 3 housed in the first passageway 2, a second passageway 4 connected to the first passageway 2, and a second passageway 4 connected to the first passageway 2. A catalyst member 5 filled in the flow path 4 is provided.

The main body portion 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a first flow path 2 formed therein. The first flow passage 2 has a rectangular cross section and allows air G0 to flow therethrough. The first passageway 2 includes an air inlet 21 through which air G0 flows. The air inlet 21 has a rectangular shape. Air G0 flowing in from the air inlet 21 flows through the first passage 2 toward the second passage 4. In the following description, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the direction from the air inlet 21 toward the second flow path 4 will be referred to as the X direction, and the plane perpendicular to this will be referred to as the YZ plane.

The area of the air inlet 21 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first flow path 2. Conventionally, there has been a tendency to increase the area of the air inlet 21 in order to efficiently take in and process the air G0, but in the present invention, on the contrary, the area of the air inlet 21 is made smaller. By restricting the amount of air G0 flowing into the first passage 2, it is possible to improve the one-pass removal rate in the first passage 2 and obtain a strong deodorizing effect. (described later) can be reduced. Furthermore, by reducing the area of the air inlet 21, the wind speed of the air G0 at the air inlet 21 increases, and furthermore, the leakage of ultraviolet light L (described later) is reduced, so that the leakage of ultraviolet light L (described later) is reduced. It can reduce the risk of ozone leakage.

Although the air inlet 21 of this embodiment has a rectangular shape, the shape of the air inlet 21 is not limited to this. For example, the air inlet 21 may be circular or oval. However, the shape and size of the air inlet 21 are preferably set so that the flow velocity of the air G0 flowing in from the air inlet 21 is 0.4 m/s or more. By setting the flow velocity to 0.4 m/s or more, backflow of air G0 can be prevented.

The ultraviolet light source 3 is, for example, an excimer lamp in which a cylindrical tube made of synthetic quartz glass is filled with a discharge gas, and is arranged so that the tube axis is along the X direction.

The ultraviolet light source 3, which is an excimer lamp, is formed with a pair of opposing electrodes (not shown), and when a voltage is applied between the electrodes, it emits ultraviolet light L whose main emission wavelength is within the range of 150 nm to 200 nm. Emits light. The "main emission wavelength" here refers to the wavelength range Z (λ) of ±10 nm for a certain wavelength λ on the emission spectrum of the ultraviolet light source 3, with respect to the total integrated intensity in the emission spectrum. It refers to the wavelength λi in the wavelength range Z(λi) exhibiting an integrated intensity of 40% or more. The wavelength of the ultraviolet light L emitted from the ultraviolet light source 3 is determined by the material of the discharge gas. When a gas containing xenon (Xe) is used as the discharge gas, the emitted ultraviolet light L has a main emission wavelength of 172 nm.

The ultraviolet light L is extracted outward from the outer peripheral surface of the ultraviolet light source 3. This ultraviolet light L is irradiated onto the air G0 flowing through the first flow path 2.

When the ultraviolet light L having a wavelength λ emitted from the ultraviolet light source 3 is irradiated onto the air G0 flowing through the first flow path 2 toward the second flow path 4, the ultraviolet light L is irradiated with oxygen. It is absorbed by (O ₂ ), and the reaction of formula (1) below proceeds. In equation (1), hv(λ) means that light with wavelength λ is absorbed.

O ₂ + hν(λ) → ・O + ・O (1)
Oxygen radicals (.O) generated by the formula (1) react with surrounding oxygen molecules to generate ozone (O ₃ ) according to the following formula (2). (2) In the formula, M represents a third reaction product.

・O + O ₂ + M → O ₃ + M ‥‥ (2)

Air G0 contains malodorous substances, such as organic substances such as acetaldehyde, ammonia, methyl mercaptan, hydrogen sulfide, methyl sulfide, propionic acid, isovaleric acid, and butyraldehyde. These malodorous substances are, for example, established as specific malodorous substances under the Malodor Prevention Act. Then, the ozone reacts with organic matter in the air G0 to deodorize the air G0.

As a result, the air G0 that has flowed into the first passageway 2 from the air inlet 21 changes into air containing ozone (hereinafter referred to as "ozone-containing gas G1"), and then flows into the second passageway. Flows to 4. Note that a small amount of organic matter may remain in the ozone-containing gas G1, and the organic matter remaining in the ozone-containing gas G1 is also referred to as "residual organic matter" in this specification.

Since the ultraviolet light source 3 is disposed within the first passage 2, it can effectively irradiate the air G0 with ultraviolet light L. Thereby, the amount of organic matter decomposed by the ultraviolet light L can be increased, and the amount of residual organic matter adhering to the catalyst member 5 can be reduced. Note that, although the ultraviolet light source 3 is arranged at the center of the first flow path 2, it is not limited thereto. Further, a plurality of ultraviolet light sources 3 may be arranged within the first flow path 2.

When air G0 is irradiated with ultraviolet light L whose main emission wavelength is in the range of 150 nm or more and 200 nm or less, it is absorbed by oxygen in air G0, but not absorbed by nitrogen in air G0. Therefore, when the air G0 is irradiated with the ultraviolet light L, the amount of NO _x generated within the first flow path 2 is substantially zero. As a result, it is possible to prevent problems such as deterioration of the catalyst member 5 and shortening its lifespan, adverse effects on the growth of bacteria, and corrosion of interior materials due to NO _x .

The catalyst section 12 has a cylindrical shape extending in the X direction, and has a second communication passage 4 formed therein. The second flow path 4 has a circular cross section and allows the ozone-containing gas G1 to flow therethrough.

A catalyst member 5 is filled inside the second passageway 4 . The catalyst member 5 decomposes ozone contained in the ozone-containing gas G1. The catalyst member 5 is a filter that supports a catalyst that decomposes ozone. This filter may have a honeycomb structure, but is preferably pellet-shaped. It is also preferred that the pellets contain manganese, particularly manganese dioxide.

The length 5x of the catalyst member 5 in the X direction is preferably longer than the maximum length 5y of the catalyst member 5 in a cross section perpendicular to the X direction (a cross section parallel to the YZ plane). That is, it is preferable that the catalyst member 5 has an elongated shape in the flow direction (X direction) of the second flow path 4. In this embodiment, the maximum length 5y of the catalyst member 5 in the cross section orthogonal to the X direction is the same as the inner diameter of the second passage 4. By making the shape of the catalyst member 5 small in cross section and elongated in the flow direction of the second flow path 4, when residual organic matter adheres to the catalyst member 5, volatilization into the ozone-containing gas G1 is prevented. oxidation of residual organic matter in the catalyst member 5, and in turn, it is possible to suppress overheating of ozone and the catalyst in the catalyst member 5.

The area of the connection port 4a of the second communication passage 4 with the first communication passage 2 is less than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the first communication passage 2. Preferably, the area of the connection port 4a of the second flow path 4 with the first flow path 2 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first flow path 2. Conventionally, in order to efficiently utilize the catalyst filled in the second flow path 4, there has been a tendency to widen the connection port 4a of the second flow path 4 to slow down the linear velocity of the ozone-containing gas G1. On the contrary, in the present invention, the connection port 4a of the second flow path 4 is narrowed. By setting the area of the connection port 4a of the second flow path 4 to be less than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the first flow path 2, the pressure loss in the catalyst member 5 becomes large, and the air flowing through the first flow path 2 increases. Since the air volume of G0 is limited, it is possible to improve the one-pass removal rate in the first passage 2 and obtain a strong deodorizing effect, and furthermore, it is possible to reduce the amount of residual organic matter adhering to the catalyst member 5. In addition, since the linear velocity of the ozone-containing gas G1 is high, the rate at which the attached residual organic matter re-volatilizes increases, and the overall amount of attached residual organic matter can be reduced.

The second flow path 4 includes an airflow generating section 6 on the downstream side of the catalyst member 5. The airflow generation section 6 is, for example, a sirocco fan or an exhaust pump, and FIG. 2 schematically shows a sirocco fan as an example of the airflow generation section 6. By providing the airflow generation section 6 on the downstream side of the catalyst member 5, the linear velocity of the ozone-containing gas G1 can be increased. Further, by providing the airflow generating section 6, the exhaust gas G2 that has passed through the catalyst member 5 can be efficiently discharged to the outside of the deodorizing device 1.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above based on the drawings, it should be understood that the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is indicated not only by the description of the embodiments described above but also by the claims, and further includes all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

It is possible to apply the structure adopted in each of the above embodiments to any other embodiment. The specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

<Other embodiments>
In the above embodiment, the first flow path 2 has a rectangular cross section, but is not limited to this. The first flow path 2 may have, for example, a circular cross section. Further, in the above embodiment, the second flow path 4 has a circular cross section, but is not limited to this. The second flow path 4 may have a rectangular cross section, for example. At this time, the maximum length 5y of the catalyst member 5 in the cross section parallel to the YZ plane is the same as the length of the diagonal line of the rectangular cross section of the second flow path 4.

1: Deodorizing device 2: First passage 3: Ultraviolet light source 4: Second passage 4a: Connection port 5: Catalyst member 6: Air flow generation part 11: Main body part 12: Catalyst part 21: Air inlet G0: Air G1: Ozone-containing gas G2: Exhaust L: Ultraviolet light

Claims (8)

a first passage through which air flows;
an ultraviolet light source that is housed in the first flow path and emits ultraviolet light having a main emission wavelength within a range of 150 nm or more and 200 nm or less with respect to the air flowing through the first flow path;
a second flow path connected to the first flow path and through which ozone-containing gas generated by emitting the ultraviolet light flows;
a catalyst member that is filled in the second flow path and decomposes ozone;
In the deodorizing device, the area of the connection port of the second flow path with the first flow path is less than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the first flow path. The deodorizing device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the catalyst member along the flow direction of the second flow path is longer than the maximum length of the catalyst member in a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction. The deodorizing device according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light source is an excimer lamp. The deodorizing device according to claim 1, wherein the second flow path includes an airflow generating section downstream of the catalyst member. The deodorizing device according to claim 4, wherein the airflow generating section is a sirocco fan or an exhaust pump. The deodorizing device according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst member is a filter supporting a catalyst that decomposes ozone. The deodorizing device according to claim 6, wherein the filter is in the form of pellets. The deodorizing device according to claim 1, wherein the first flow path includes an air inlet that allows the air to flow in at a flow rate of 0.4 m/s or more.