Electrostatic atomizing device and air conditioner using same

Abstract

An electrostatic atomizing device includes an atomizing electrode which generates charged fine water particles negatively charged in the form of mist, by generating an electric field when a high negative voltage is applied thereto in a state in which water is supplied; a water supply portion which supplies the water to the atomizing electrode; a discharge detection portion which detects whether negative ion discharge, indicating discharge in which only negative ions are generated without generating the charged fine water particles, is occurring at the atomizing electrode or not; and a control portion which reduces the electric field intensity of the electric field generated by the atomizing electrode when the discharge detection portion detects the occurrence of the negative ion discharge.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An electrostatic atomizing device, comprising:
 an atomizing electrode which generates charged fine water particles negatively charged in the form of mist, by generating an electric field when a high negative voltage is applied thereto in a state in which water is supplied;   a water supply portion which supplies the water to the atomizing electrode;   a discharge detection portion which detects whether negative ion discharge, indicating discharge in which only negative ions are generated without generating the charged fine water particles, is occurring at the atomizing electrode or not by detecting a discharge current value of a discharge current occurring when the high negative voltage is applied to the atomizing electrode and comparing the discharge current value detected with a predetermined threshold value; and   a control portion which carries on reducing the electric field intensity of the electric field generated by the atomizing electrode until the occurrence of the negative ion discharge is no longer detected by the discharge detection portion, if the discharge detection portion detects the occurrence of the negative ion discharge.   
     
     
         18 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a high-voltage power supply circuit which applies the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode, wherein
 the control portion is configured to cause the high-voltage power supply circuit to apply the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode,   the control portion halts the supply of the water to the atomizing electrode by the water supply portion during the period from when the high-voltage power supply circuit is caused to apply the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode until a predetermined first time has elapsed, and   when the first time has elapsed after causing the high-voltage power supply circuit to apply the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode, the control portion causes the discharge detection portion to detect whether the negative ion discharge is occurring or not.   
     
     
         19 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 18 , wherein, when the occurrence of the negative ion discharge is detected by the discharge detection portion, the control portion further causes the discharge detection portion to detect whether the negative ion discharge is occurring or not during the period from the detection of the occurrence of the negative ion discharge until a predetermined second time has elapsed, and
 when the occurrence of the negative ion discharge is detected by the discharge detection portion during the period from the time of detection of the occurrence of the negative ion discharge until the second time has elapsed, the control portion reduces the electric field intensity of the electric field generated by the atomizing electrode.   
     
     
         20 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 17 , wherein the water supply portion is a Peltier element provided at the base of the atomizing electrode. 
     
     
         21 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 19 , wherein the second time is 1 minute. 
     
     
         22 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a high-voltage power supply circuit which applies the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode, wherein
 the control portion reduces the electric field intensity of the electric field generated by the atomizing electrode by reducing a voltage value of the high negative voltage applied to the atomizing electrode by the high-voltage power supply circuit.   
     
     
         23 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a high-voltage power supply circuit which applies the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode, wherein
 a plurality of voltage values are set in advance as voltage values of the high negative voltage applied to the atomizing electrode by the high-voltage power supply circuit, and   the control portion reduces in steps the voltage value of the high negative voltage applied to the atomizing electrode by the high-voltage power supply circuit, according to the discharge current value detected by the discharge detection portion.   
     
     
         24 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a high-voltage power supply circuit which applies the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode, wherein
 the control portion turns OFF and then turns ON the high-voltage power supply circuit as well as reduces the voltage value of the high negative voltage applied to the atomizing electrode.   
     
     
         25 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a high-voltage power supply circuit which applies the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode, wherein
 a plurality of voltage values are set in advance as voltage values of the high negative voltage applied to the atomizing electrode by the high-voltage power supply circuit, and   the control portion repeatedly turns OFF and then turns ON the high-voltage power supply circuit as well as reduces in steps the voltage value of the high negative voltage applied to the atomizing electrode, until the occurrence of the negative ion discharge is no longer detected by the discharge detection portion.   
     
     
         26 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a high-voltage power supply circuit which applies the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode, wherein
 the control portion reduces the voltage value of the high negative voltage applied to the atomizing electrode, and when as a result the occurrence of the negative ion discharge is no longer detected by the discharge detection portion, further reduces the voltage value of the high negative voltage.   
     
     
         27 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 22 , further comprising a storage portion which stores the voltage value of the high negative voltage obtained when the discharge detection portion no longer detects the negative ion discharge, wherein
 the control portion causes the storage portion to store the voltage value of the high negative voltage obtained when the discharge detection portion no longer detects the negative ion discharge, and   the control portion sets the voltage value stored in the storage portion as a default voltage value.   
     
     
         28 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a high-voltage power supply circuit which applies the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode, wherein
 the control portion halts the supply of the water to the atomizing electrode by the water supply portion during the period from when the high-voltage power supply circuit is caused to apply the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode until a predetermined first time has elapsed, and   when the first time has elapsed after causing the high-voltage power supply circuit to apply the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode, the control portion causes the discharge detection portion to detect whether the negative ion discharge is occurring or not, and   when the discharge detection portion detects that the negative ion discharge is occurring when the first time has elapsed after the high-voltage power supply circuit is caused to apply the high negative voltage to the atomizing electrode,   until the occurrence of the negative ion discharge is no longer detected by the discharge detection portion,   the control portion repeats processing of judging the discharge current value detected by the discharge detection portion, and reducing the voltage value applied to the atomizing electrode as the high negative voltage by a first voltage value when a discharge current value detected is less than a predetermined threshold value, otherwise reducing the voltage value applied to the atomizing electrode as the high negative voltage by a second voltage value which is different from the first voltage value when a discharge current value detected is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         29 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 28 , wherein the first voltage value is smaller than the second voltage value. 
     
     
         30 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising an opposing electrode provided opposing the atomizing electrode, wherein
 the control portion reduces the electric field intensity of the electric field generated from the atomizing electrode toward the opposing electrode by causing the atomizing electrode and the opposing electrode to be moved apart.   
     
     
         31 . The electrostatic atomizing device according to  claim 18 , wherein the first time is a time in the range from 5 seconds to 30 seconds. 
     
     
         32 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 an electrostatic atomizing device which includes;   an atomizing electrode which generates charged fine water particles negatively charged in the form of mist, by generating an electric field when a high negative voltage is applied thereto in a state in which water is supplied;   a water supply portion which supplies the water to the atomizing electrode;   a discharge detection portion which detects whether negative ion discharge, indicating discharge in which only negative ions are generated without generating the charged fine water particles, is occurring at the atomizing electrode or not by detecting a discharge current value of a discharge current occurring when the high negative voltage is applied to the atomizing electrode and comparing the discharge current value detected with a predetermined threshold value; and   a control portion which carries on reducing the electric field intensity of the electric field generated by the atomizing electrode until the occurrence of the negative ion discharge is no longer detected by the discharge detection portion, if the discharge detection portion detects the occurrence of the negative ion discharge; and   
       an air conditioning portion which performs air conditioning.