Indoor unit of airconditioner comprising electric discharge generator

Abstract

An air conditioner comprises a housing, a main fan, a heat exchanger, and a discharge generator. The housing is formed with an inlet, an outlet, a main airflow path. The inlet is provided for introducing outside air. The main airflow path extends from the inlet to the outlet. The main fan is disposed in the housing. The main fan is provided for generating a forced flow of the air through the main airflow path. The heat exchanger is disposed in the housing to heat and/or cool the air which flows through the main airflow path. The discharge generator has a casing, an emitter electrode, and an electrical insulator. The casing is formed with an intake, an outtake, and a second airflow path. The intake is provided for taking in the air into the casing. The outtake is communicated with the intake via the second airflow path within the casing in order to pass airflow through the casing. The electrical insulator is made of an electrical insulating material. The emitter electrode and the electrical insulator are disposed within the casing so as to form a discharge space. The emitter electrode is configured to apply high voltage to the discharge space. The emitter electrode has a circumferential surface. The circumferential surface is spaced from an inside surface of the casing by a clearance. The inside surface of the casing is opposed to the circumferential surface of the emitter electrode. The second airflow path is shaped to flow the airflow both through the clearance and the discharge space.

1 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a housing being formed with an inlet for introducing outside air, an outlet, and a main airflow path extending from said inlet to said outlet;   a main fan being disposed in said housing to generate a forced flow of the air through said main airflow path;   a heat exchanger disposed in said housing to heat and/or cool the air flowing through said main airflow path;   an discharge generator having a casing formed with an intake for taking in the air into said casing, and an outtake communicating with said intake via a second airflow path within said casing for passing an airflow therethrough,   said discharge generator including an emitter electrode and an electrical insulator which is made of an electrical insulating material, said emitter electrode and said electrical insulator are disposed within said casing so as to have a discharge space, said   said emitter electrode being configured to apply high voltage to said discharge space;   wherein   said emitter electrode has a circumferential surface spaced from an inside surface of said casing by a clearance, said inside surface being opposed to said circumferential surface of said emitter electrode, and   said second airflow path being shaped to flow the airflow both through said clearance and said discharge space.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said discharge space is defined by a first space and/or a second space,   said first space being defined by a gap, said electrical insulator being disposed within said second airflow path in a spaced relation to said emitter electrode to have said gap between said emitter electrode and said electrical insulator,   said second space is defined by an opening of said electrical insulator, said opening extending through said electrical insulator.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said air conditioner further comprises a filter which is disposed downstream of said inlet,   said outtake is located downstream of said filter.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said air conditioner further comprises a filter which is disposed downstream of said inlet,   said outtake being located upstream of said filter or being directed to said filter.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said air conditioner further comprises a filter which is disposed downstream of said inlet,   said discharge generator further including a selector which is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position,   said outtake being shaped to have a first port when said selector is located in said first position, and have a second port when said selector is located in said second position,   said first port being located downstream of said filter, and   said second port being located upstream of said filter or directed to said filter.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said air conditioner further comprises a filter which is disposed downstream of said inlet,   said outtake being divided into a first port and a second port,   said first port being located downstream of said filter, and   said second port being located upstream of said filter or directed to said filter.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said heat exchanger is configured to condense vapor of the air in the housing into water,   said air conditioner further comprises a water supply means which is configured to supply the water to a first portion and/or a second portion of said casing,   said first portion being located downstream of the electrical insulator, and   said second portion being located upstream of the electrical insulator.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said discharge generator further comprises a water holder and a water diffusion means,   said water holder being located between said outtake and said electrical insulator, and being configured to hold water,   said water diffusion means being configured to vaporize and/or atomize the water on said water holder.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 said air conditioner further comprises a filter which is disposed downstream of said inlet,   said outtake is located downstream of said filter.   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 said air conditioner further comprises a filter which is disposed downstream of said inlet,   said outtake being located upstream of said filter or being directed to said filter.   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 said air conditioner further comprises a filter which is disposed downstream of said inlet,   said discharge generator further including a selector which is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position,   said outtake being shaped to have a first port when said selector is located in said first position, and have a second port when said selector is located in said second position,   said first port being located downstream of said filter, and   said second port being located upstream of said filter or directed to said filter.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 said air conditioner further comprises a filter which is disposed downstream of said inlet,   said outtake being divided into a first port and a second port,   said first port being located downstream of said filter, and   said second port being located upstream of said filter or directed to said filter.   
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 said heat exchanger is configured to condense vapor of the air in the housing into water,   said air conditioner further comprises a water supply means which is configured to supply the water to a first portion and/or a second portion of said casing,   said first portion being located downstream of the electrical insulator, and   said second portion being located upstream of the electrical insulator.   
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 said discharge generator further comprises a water holder and a water diffusion means,   said water holder being located between said outtake and said electrical insulator, and being configured to hold water,   said water diffusion means being configured to vaporize and/or atomize the water on said water holder.