Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Katsutoshi Noguchi

Hideo Nojima

Yoshinori Sekoguchi

Toshiaki Takano

Kazuo Nishikawa

Mamoru Morikawa

Yasukata Takeda

Akio Miyata

Takeshi Furukawa

Takashi Kohama

Hiroyasu Yamashita

Fumiaki Shimizu

Tomohisa Ito

An ion generating device generates O(HO)(where n is a natural number) as negative ions and H(HO)(where m is a natural number) as positive ions, and discharges those ions into the air so that airborne germs are killed through an oxidation reaction by hydrogen peroxide HOor radical hydroxyl OH generated through as an active species a chemical reaction between the negative and positive ions. Satisfactory sterilization is achieved when the negative and positive ions are generated in such a way that the concentrations of the negative and positive ions are both 10,000 ion/cc at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which they are generated.

Sterilization method, ion generating device, ion generating apparatus, and air conditioning apparatus

Sterilization method

An air conditioning apparatus incorporates an ion generating device that generates positive and negative ions by applying an alternating-current voltage between electrodes. The generated positive and negative ions coexist in the air and, when they attach to the surfaces of airborne bacteria, they react chemically with each other and generate radical hydroxyl and hydrogen peroxide, which extract hydrogen atoms from the cells of the bacteria and thereby kill them. This sterilizing effect is combined with the temperature-conditioning, dehumidifying, humidifying, air-purifying, and other functions of the air conditioning apparatus to bring about a comfortable and healthful indoor environment.

Air refining device and ion generator used for the device

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Katsutoshi Noguchi