Liquid transfer device and air conditioner

Abstract

A nozzle electrode ( 44 ) is connected to a drain pan ( 30 ), with the other end of the nozzle electrode ( 44 ) pointing upward and open. A ring electrode ( 45 ) is positioned so as to face the nozzle electrode ( 44 ). When a positive voltage is applied to the nozzle electrode ( 44 ), an electric field is created at a location close to the tip of the nozzle electrode ( 44 ). As a result, a drain water is sprayed from the nozzle electrode ( 44 ) as positively-charged small droplets. The sprayed droplets are discharged to the outside of the system through a flow-in pipe ( 51 ) and a flow-out pipe ( 53 ).

1 . A liquid transfer device for transferring a liquid in a reservoir ( 30 ), comprising:
 a tubular first electrode ( 44 ) whose one end communicates with the reservoir ( 30 ) and whose other end is open;   a second electrode ( 45 ) provided at a location corresponding to the other end of the first electrode ( 44 ); and   a power source ( 60 ) for applying an potential difference between the first electrode ( 44 ) and the second electrode ( 45 ), thereby creating an electric field at a location close to the other end of the first electrode ( 44 ), wherein   the liquid in the reservoir ( 30 ) is sprayed from the other end of the first electrode ( 44 ) due to the electric field, and thereby the liquid is transferred.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein
 a positive voltage or a negative voltage is applied to the first electrode ( 44 ) from the power source ( 60 ), and   the second electrode ( 45 ) is electrically grounded.   
     
     
         3 . The liquid transfer device of  claim 2 , comprising a flow-in side guide member ( 51 ) which forms a flow path for guiding the liquid sprayed from the first electrode ( 44 ). 
     
     
         4 . The liquid transfer device of  claim 3 , wherein a voltage having a same electric potential as the voltage applied to the first electrode ( 44 ) is applied to the flow-in side guide member ( 51 ). 
     
     
         5 . The liquid transfer device of  claim 3  or  claim 4 , comprising a flow-out side guide member ( 53 ) which forms a flow path for guiding the liquid that flows out of the flow-in side guide member ( 51 ) and which is electrically grounded. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid transfer device of  claim 2 , comprising:
 a flow-in pipe ( 51 ) through which the liquid sprayed from the first electrode ( 44 ) flows and to which a voltage having a same electric potential as the voltage applied to the first electrode ( 44 ) is applied;   a flow-out pipe ( 53 ) through which the liquid that flow out of the flow-in pipe ( 51 ) flows and which is electrically grounded; and   an insulating discharge side connecting pipe ( 52 ) for connecting between the flow-in pipe ( 51 ) and the flow-out pipe ( 53 ).   
     
     
         7 . The liquid transfer device of  claim 1 , comprising an insulating reservoir side connecting pipe ( 43 ) for connecting between the reservoir ( 30 ) and the first electrode ( 44 ). 
     
     
         8 . The liquid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the one end of the first electrode ( 44 ) communicates with a lower portion of the reservoir ( 30 ), and the other end of the first electrode ( 44 ) is open at a level equal to or lower than a bottom of the reservoir ( 30 ). 
     
     
         9 . An air conditioner comprising: a heat exchanger ( 27 ) for cooling air; a reservoir ( 30 ) for storing a condensed water generated from the air cooled by the heat exchanger ( 27 ); and a liquid transfer device ( 40 ) for transferring and discharging the condensed water in the reservoir ( 30 ), wherein
 the liquid transfer device ( 40 ) is the liquid transfer devices of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner of  claim 9 , wherein a copper material is provided in the reservoir ( 30 ) so that a copper ion is liberated in the condensed water. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner of  claim 10 , wherein
 a positive voltage is applied to the first electrode ( 44 ) from the power source ( 60 ), and   the second electrode ( 45 ) is electrically grounded.