- What Are Ion Generators?
Ion Generators are devices that generate ions using electricity, mechanical power, or ultraviolet light.
Ions generated by an ion generator are used for various purposes, such as sterilization, static electricity removal, and dust collection.
In order to generate ions, there are methods of generating negative ions by causing corona discharge to generate plasma, generating negative ions by the photoelectric effect, and a method called the Lenard effect.
Uses of Ion Generators
Ion Generators are widely used in homes, public facilities, hospitals, and factories.
Examples of uses include installation in air purifiers to sterilize mold and other harmful microorganisms, applying positive and negative ions to areas where static electricity is generated to eliminate static electricity, and collecting static-charged dust by means of the generated static electricity.
When selecting Ion Generators, it is necessary to consider the amount of ions generated, the ratio and precision of positive and negative ions, the power used, and ease of maintenance.
Principle of Ion Generators
The operating principles of Ion Generators is explained separately for the corona discharge, photoelectric effect, and Lenard effect.
The ion generator consists of an ion generator and an ion transmitter. In the ion generator, ions are generated by electricity, photoelectric effect, and Lenard effect. The ion transmitter transports ions by blowing air.
- Corona discharge
High voltage is passed between a needle-shaped electrode and a flat plate, and air is sent between the electrodes to cause corona discharge, which generates plasma at the electrode tips and produces positive and negative ions. Only negative ions are transported since positive ions are then absorbed by the electrodes. - Photoelectric Effect
The structure consists of a light-emitting object, such as an ultraviolet lamp, surrounded by a photoelectron-emitting material. During operation, a gas and air that have a high affinity for photoelectrons are sent into the device to ferment the luminous body, and the light causes the photoelectrons generated from the photoelectron-emitting material to combine with the gas that has a high affinity for photoelectrons, generating negative ions. - Lennard Effect
The system consists of a pump, an impact generator, and a transport section. Water supplied from the pump is turned into minute droplets by the impact generators, at which time negative ions are released into the air. Ions are taken out by transporting the negative ions.
Effects of Ion Generators
Ion Generators have been attracting attention recently with the increase in hygiene awareness, and are now installed in many places such as homes, offices, hotels, and public facilities.
Ion generators use water and oxygen in the air to generate positive and negative ions, and the ions change into OH radicals, which have a bactericidal effect, decompose organic matter, and eliminate bacteria and deodorize the air.
Air purifiers are equipped with dust collection filters and deodorizing filters to take in dirt in the air to clean the air, but Ion Generators clean the air by generating ions that are effective in suppressing the action and growth of airborne mold bacteria and viruses.
It also decomposes and removes mold fungi and viruses attached to the room, as well as tobacco odors on clothes, sofas, and other surfaces. For this reason, it is gaining popularity among households concerned about pet odors and nursing care workers concerned about hygiene. In addition, it is said to have the effect of suppressing static electricity and giving the skin a glossy effect.
On the other hand, although the ion function has an image of being “good for your health,” some people are concerned about the effects of ozone, which is generated at the same time as ions are generated. Manufacturers however state that ozone generated is so small that it has no effect on the human body, but no numerical values have been disclosed.
Ion Generators for Commercial Use
Planning and consulting services are available for commercial negative ion generators to provide total support, from installation to maintenance, in accordance with the site environment.
The main support includes a preliminary survey of the installation environment and proposals on the model, number of units, and installation location suited to the workplace conditions. We then verify the effectiveness of the system by simulating how much ion concentration will be achieved in the space and measuring the number of airborne bacteria.
The types of commercial products include floor-mounted types for large spaces of approximately 65 m² (about 39 tatami mats), easy-to-install wall-mounted/shelf-mounted types, and static eliminators specialized for static elimination.
There are also special air conditioning duct-integrated ion generator systems. This system is designed to be stored in the existing air conditioning vent space without changing the image of the room.