1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air conditioner.
2. Description of Related Art
JP-A-2000-255257 describes an air conditioner for a vehicle which uses photocatalyst in a heat exchanger. A blower circulates air in a case of the air conditioner, and an evaporator is arranged in the case so as to cool the air. A deodorization filter is provided upstream of the evaporator in a flow of the air. The deodorization filter has adsorbent and photocatalyst. Further, a surface of the evaporator has photocatalyst. Moreover, an ultraviolet ray lamp is disposed between the evaporator and the deodorization filter.
The ultraviolet ray lamp is turned on always or periodically with interval during operation of the blower. The photocatalyst of the deodorization filter is excited by the ultraviolet rays emitted from the lamp toward the deodorization filter, so that odorant adsorbed on the adsorbent is decomposed. The photocatalyst of the evaporator is excited by the ultraviolet rays emitted from the lamp toward the evaporator, so that bacteria on the surface of the evaporator is sterilized.
However, because the ultraviolet ray lamp is arranged at a middle of the case, ventilation air resistance of the air circulating through the case is increased, so that air sending amount of the blower is decreased.