Abstract: An air purification device includes a controller configured to perform a normal discharge operation in which a discharger generates streamer discharge to purify air, and an emergency discharge operation in which, in order to remove substances, which are components contained in air, adhering to electrodes of the discharger due to the normal discharge operation, a higher voltage than that in the normal discharge operation is applied to the electrodes to cause the discharger to generate spark discharge. The controller adjusts an application voltage such that a current value between the electrodes is maintained constant, and the upper limit V of the application voltage is set at a value greater than an inter-electrode distance of d×1.2 (V?d×1.2).

Abstract: A water treatment system includes a water treatment unit and insulators. The water treatment unit is provided in an intermediate portion of a water passage allowing target water to flow, and produces bactericidal factors in the target water utilizing a discharge. The insulators are provided at an inflow side and an outflow side of the water treatment unit, respectively, and electrically insulate the water flowing to and out of the water treatment unit from the water treatment unit. The insulator at the inflow side sprays the target water to insulate the water. The insulator at the outflow side allows the target water to fall down from the water treatment unit to insulate the water.

Abstract: A discharge unit includes an alternating high-voltage generator, a pair of electrodes in water, the pair being configured to receive a voltage from the high-voltage generator, and an insulating divider configured to separate the pair of electrodes from each other in the water, and having a small discharge hole defining a path of current to flow between the pair of electrodes. The voltage is applied to the pair of electrodes to generate an electric discharge in the discharge hole.

Abstract: A water treatment system includes a water treatment unit and insulators. The water treatment unit is provided in an intermediate portion of a water passage allowing target water to flow, and produces bactericidal factors in the target water utilizing a discharge. The insulators are provided at an inflow side and an outflow side of the water treatment unit, respectively, and electrically insulate the water flowing to and out of the water treatment unit from the water treatment unit. The insulator at the inflow side sprays the target water to insulate the water. The insulator at the outflow side allows the target water to fall down from the water treatment unit to insulate the water.

Abstract: A discharge unit includes an alternating high-voltage generator, a pair of electrodes in water, the pair being configured to receive a voltage from the high-voltage generator, and an insulating divider configured to separate the pair of electrodes from each other in the water, and having a small discharge hole defining a path of current to flow between the pair of electrodes. The voltage is applied to the pair of electrodes to generate an electric discharge in the discharge hole.

Abstract: An air purification device includes a controller configured to perform a normal discharge operation in which a discharger generates streamer discharge to purify air, and an emergency discharge operation in which, in order to remove substances, which are components contained in air, adhering to electrodes of the discharger due to the normal discharge operation, a higher voltage than that in the normal discharge operation is applied to the electrodes to cause the discharger to generate spark discharge. The controller adjusts an application voltage such that a current value between the electrodes is maintained constant, and the upper limit V of the application voltage is set at a value greater than an inter-electrode distance of d×1.2 (V?d×1.2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a purifying device capable of effectively purifying liquid. The purifying device includes: a storage tank configured to store liquid; a power supply; a pair of electrodes connected to the power supply and configured to cause electric discharge to produce hydroxyl radicals in the liquid in the storage tank; and an ultrasound generating section configured to apply ultrasonic waves to the liquid in the storage tank to convert hydrogen peroxide in the liquid, which is produced from the produced hydroxyl radicals, into hydroxyl radicals.

Abstract: An oral cleaning device includes: a wash water production tank in which wash water to be fed into an oral cavity is produced and stored; a water feed mechanism including a water feed channel having one end connected to the wash water production tank, a carrier configured to carry the wash water in the wash water production tank into the water feed channel, and a release unit connected to an outlet end of the water feed channel to release the wash water into the oral cavity; and an electrical discharge generator which includes a pair of electrodes for inducing streamer discharge in water, and a power supply configured to apply a voltage to the pair of electrodes, and is configured to produce hydrogen peroxide in the water by the streamer discharge.

Abstract: A medical device cleaning device includes a washing tank, and an electrical discharge generator. An endoscope to be cleaned is housed in the washing tank, and immersed in wash water. An electrical discharge unit of the electrical discharge generator is placed in the washing tank, and immersed in the wash water. A direct-current power supply is connected to a pair of electrodes of the electrical discharge unit. When the direct-current power supply applies a voltage to the pair of electrodes, streamer discharge is performed between the pair of electrodes to produce hydrogen peroxide. The endoscope is sterilized in the washing tank by using the hydrogen peroxide produced by the streamer discharge.

Abstract: A dehumidification rotor traps water in air to dehumidify the air. The water trapped by the dehumidification rotor is collected in a water tank. The water to be collected in the water tank is purified by a water purification unit. A humidification rotor imparts the purified water to air to humidify the air.

Abstract: With a method and an apparatus for activating physiological functions, a thermal stimulus at 31° C. to 34° C. and a cold stimulus at 18° C. to 22° C. are alternately given to the human body to activate the human physiological functions, in particular, the motor functions of peripheral blood vessels. As a result, the blood pressure regulatory functions, the blood circulation regulatory functions, and the thermoregulatory functions are enhanced thereby to achieve the effects of preventing hypertension, preventing reduction in metabolism and repair functions, accelerating recovery from fatigue, and preventing heat strokes. The apparatus for activating physiological functions includes, for example, a heat pump type air conditioner that selectively generates hot air and cool air. The hot air blown out from the air conditioner into a room interior is utilized as the thermal stimulus, and the cool air also blown out from the air conditioner is utilized as the cold stimulus.

Abstract: A dividing member (25) divides an inside of a storage tank (41) into a humidification region (31) and a supply region (32), and a space above the supply region (32) is covered with a covering member (26). In water, the dividing member (25) defines a communication path (33) through which the supply region (32) and the humidification region (31) communicate with each other. Active species generated in an electrical discharge unit (51) are supplied to the supply region (32) to purify the water. A release of the supplied active species to outside is reduced by the dividing member (25) and the covering member (26), and the water in the supply region (32), which is purified by the active species flows into the humidification region (31) through the communication path (33).

Abstract: A ventilator (10) includes a casing (20) which includes an inlet (21) for outdoor air, an inlet (22) for indoor air, and an air outlet (23), and an air-blowing fan (30) contained in the casing (20). The ventilator (10) is configured to suck the outdoor air and the indoor air through the corresponding inlets (21, 22) into the casing (20) by using the air-blowing fan (30), process the sucked air, and supply the processed air through the outlet (23) into a room. An electrical dust collecting mechanism (40) is provided in the casing (20) to remove dust in the sucked air. Furthermore, a deodorizing mechanism (50) having a low resistance to air circulation is provided in the casing (20) to remove an odorous substance in the sucked air.

Abstract: A heat pump type hot-water supply device including a hot water storage tank and a hot water circulation circuit is provided with a bactericidal component generator, such as a discharge device for generating a streamer discharge, in order to prevent development of bacteria, such as Legionella, at low cost. The bactericidal component generator generates, at a temperature lower than or equal to that of hot water in a hot water circulation circuit, a bactericidal component so as to bring about an effect on the hot water.

Abstract: Purifying substances generated in a water purification unit are imparted to water in a water tank. The water containing the purifying substances is supplied to an adsorbing member of a humidification rotor. In the adsorbing member, harmful substances etc. contained in the water are purified by the purifying substances. Consequently, the clean humidification water is imparted from the humidification rotor to air.

Abstract: In a discharge device for performing streamer discharge between a discharge electrode (41) including a plurality of discharge parts (61) and a counter electrode (42) including a plurality of counter parts (62) confronting the discharge parts (61), a resistor (60) is provided in a current carrying path between power source means (45) and the discharge parts (61).

Abstract: A discharge unit (30) and a heat exchanger (20) are disposed in an air passageway (15). In the discharge unit (30), a rod-like discharge electrode (31) and a plate-like counter electrode (32) are disposed perpendicular to the flow of air, and lie along the heat exchanger (20). Upon application of voltage to both the electrodes (31, 32), streamer discharge is performed between the electrodes (31, 32), whereby an active species capable of decomposition of a component to be processed is produced.

Abstract: The frequency of a cyclically varying voltage, (fv), is made equal to or higher than the frequency of a streamer discharge, (fs), thereby making it possible to reduce the discharge delay time which is caused in a single streamer discharge.

Abstract: A discharge device in a substance modifying device is provided with a positive electrode in linear or needle form and a negative electrode in plane form. Thus, substances having a nanostructure are made to contact an active species generated through streamer discharge, which is discharge between the positive and negative electrodes, where discharge between certain points of the positive electrode and a number of points on the negative electrode occurs stably and approximately simultaneously, and is diffused from between the positive and negative electrodes, so that the nanostructure is eliminated. The nanostructure is eliminated in this manner, and thus, the bioinvasive response due to the nanostructure of substances is reduced.

Abstract: In a discharge device for performing streamer discharge between a discharge electrode (41) including a plurality of discharge parts (61) and a counter electrode (42) including a plurality of counter parts (62) confronting the discharge parts (61), a resistor (60) is provided in a current carrying path between power source means (45) and the discharge parts (61).