Air purification device

Abstract

There is provided an air purification device (1) comprising a container (2) defining a housing for a substrate (1b) for growing a plant (1a) and comprising a plate member (21) defining a wall of the housing and a separation plane (21a), the wall of the housing being configured to contact the substrate (1b); the plate member (21) comprises a recess (211) and a protrusion (212), the protrusion comprising a hole (212a) allowing an air flow to move through the plate member (21) and into the housing; the substrate (1b) has holes (212a) only in the protrusions (212) such that the substrate (1b) at the protrusions (212) is passed through by the air flow and the substrate (1b) at the recesses (211) is not passed through by the air flow, thereby ensuring a persistence of humidity contained in the substrate (1b) in the recesses (211), thereby defining a biofilm in the substrate in contact with the air flow to purify the air flow.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an air cleaning device of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 . Background Art

[0002] It is well known that plants can absorb and partially degrade several pollutants in the air. Plants can absorb some volatile molecules directly from their stomata and degrade them.

[0003] However, it is only in recent years that plants have been cultivated and used for air purification.

[0004] Specifically, over the past few years, air purification devices have been designed that include a pot containing a substrate for growing one or more plants and a forced circulation system that creates an air flow that moves through the plants and the substrate.

[0005] Examples of these systems are described in CN101451751A, WO2011115806A2 and WO2014123722.

[0006] The known prior art described comprises some important disadvantages.

[0007] In particular, known air purification devices using one or more plants have low purification capabilities, and they can purify only a small amount of air.

[0008] Another disadvantage is that such a low purification capacity necessitates the use of particularly bulky installations.

[0009] Furthermore, these disadvantages translate into high costs and complexity of implementation and management, which makes the known air purification devices receive little attention and then little utilization. Summary of the invention

[0010] In this case, the basic technical task of the present invention is to design an air purification device which can at least partially and substantially overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0011] In said technical task, an important purpose of the present invention is to obtain an air purification device having a high purification capacity and in particular capable of purifying large amounts of air.

[0012] Another important object of the present invention is to implement a purification device of reduced overall size.

[0013] Another additional object of the present invention is to provide an air purification device with reduced cost and implementation complexity.

[0014] Said technical task and specific aims are achieved by an air purification device as claimed in the attached claim 1. Examples of preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Features and advantages of the present invention are explained below in the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 The air cleaning device according to the present invention is shown in scale in use;

[0017] Figure 2 The purification device is shown to scale; and

[0018] Figure 3 Some details of the air purification device according to the present invention are shown in scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In this document, when associated with words such as "about" or other similar terms such as "approximately" or "substantially", measurements, values, shapes and geometrical references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism) will mean excluding measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and / or manufacturing errors, and most importantly, excluding slight deviations from the values, measurements, shapes or geometrical references associated therewith. For example, if these terms are associated with a value, it is preferably intended to mean a deviation of no more than 10% of the value itself.

[0020] Furthermore, when terms such as “first,” “second,” “higher,” “lower,” “primary,” and “secondary” are used, they do not necessarily determine an order, relationship priority, or relative position, but may simply be used to more clearly distinguish different components from one another.

[0021] Unless otherwise indicated, "perpendicular", "transverse", "parallel" or "normal" or other terms for geometric positioning between geometric elements (such as axes, directions and lines) refer to their relative geometric positions between corresponding projections. The projections are defined on a plane parallel to the plane in which the geometric elements lie.

[0022] Unless otherwise stated, the measurements and data reported in this document should be considered to have been made under the International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533:1975).

[0023] Unless otherwise indicated, as a result of the following discussion, terms such as "processing," "computer science," "determining," "computing," and the like are considered to involve the action and / or process of a computer or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and / or transforms data represented as physical data (e.g., electronic quantities in registers of a computer system and / or memory) into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within a computer system, registers, or other device for storing, transmitting, or displaying information.

[0024] With reference to the accompanying drawings, an air cleaning device according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 1 .

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, it is configured to purify the air by utilizing one or more plants 1a or other vegetables and in particular a substrate 1b for the growth of the plants 1a.

[0026] The purification device 1 may comprise one or more plants 1a.

[0027] The purification device 1 may include a substrate 1b for growing at least one plant 1a.

[0028] Substrate 1b can be defined as the substrate or substance (in some cases, a mixture) required for the survival and growth of one or more plants 1a, one or more plants 1a are fixed on the substrate 1b and they draw nutrients from it. Then, the substrate 1b meets the specific needs of the plant 1a for balanced growth, such as the amount of air, water and nutrients, for example.

[0029] The purification device 1 may define a longitudinal axis 1 c which is suitably parallel to the gravity gradient.

[0030] The purification device 1 may define a chamber for cultivating at least one plant 1a. Preferably, the cultivation chamber is substantially sealed except for the inlet section and the outlet section mentioned below.

[0031] At least one plant 1a and at least part of the substrate 1b may be placed in a cultivation chamber.

[0032] The device 1 may comprise an inlet section 1d allowing air flow into the cultivation chamber and an outlet section 1e allowing air flow out of the cultivation chamber.

[0033] The inlet section 1d may be substantially transverse and in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1c and in particular perpendicular to the gravity gradient.

[0034] The outlet section 1e may be located on an opposite side of the chamber from the inlet section 1d.

[0035] It may be substantially transverse and in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1c and in particular perpendicular to the gravity gradient.It may be substantially parallel to the inlet section 1d.

[0036] Figure 2 The purification device 1 shown may include a container 2 for accommodating a substrate 1b and an opening defining a growth section of one or more plants 1a, i.e., a surface from which a stem-growing device / system (i.e., a portion extending from the substrate and including, for example, stems, branches and leaves) of at least one or more plants 1a extends from the container 2 and thereby from the substrate 1b.

[0037] The air flow follows the following path: it enters the purification device 1 through the inlet section 1c, suitably in a dedicated way; it reaches the housing, where it moves suitably through the matrix 1b; through the opening, it enters the cultivation chamber and then leaves the device 1 from the outlet section 1d, suitably in a dedicated way.

[0038] The container 2 may comprise a plate member 21 defining a wall of the housing and, appropriately, at least one auxiliary plate member 22 which, together with the plate member 21 , defines and then delimits the housing and preferably defines and delimits the opening.

[0039] The at least one auxiliary plate member 22 may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 1 c.

[0040] Plate member 21( Figure 3 ) is configured to contact with substrate 1b and intercept the air flow from inlet section 1d before reaching the same substrate 1b. The plate member 21 is arranged between inlet section 1d and the housing, and then placed between inlet section 1d and substrate 1b. In this document, terms and expressions such as "arranged at", "downstream" and "upstream" refer to the direction / pointing of the path of the above-mentioned air flow.

[0041] The plate member 21 may define the bottom of the housing and, in use (ie when the substrate 1 b is placed in the housing and the plants are in the cultivation chamber) determine the bearing surface of the support 1 b and then of the plant or plants 1 a.

[0042] The plate member 21 defines a separation plane 21a. Therefore, the plate member 21 is preferably deployed along the separation plane 21a substantially centered on the center of gravity.

[0043] With respect to the plane 21a, the plate member 21 comprises at least one recess 211 defining a collection compartment for a portion of the substrate 1b, and at least one protrusion 212 at least partially and in particular substantially completely covered by the substrate 1b.

[0044] Preferably, the plate member 21 comprises several depressions 211 and several protrusions 212, suitably alternating with each other. It may then have a profile substantially similar to known cardboards / containers / trays for eggs.

[0045] The separation plane 21a may be centered on the center of gravity.

[0046] The separation plane 21a may be substantially transverse and in particular substantially perpendicular to the direction of advancement / direction of the air flow.

[0047] It may be substantially parallel to the outlet section 1e.

[0048] The separation plane 21a and thus the plate member 21 may be substantially transverse and in particular approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1c.

[0049] Each depression 211 relative to the separation plane 21a represents a hollow. It then defines a portion of the plate member 21 which, on the side opposite to the housing, appropriately projects from the plane 211 and delimits the collecting housing portion of the substrate 1b.

[0050] It may have a conical profile which preferably has its largest cross section at the separation plane 21a.

[0051] Each recess 211 may have a substantially flat bottom.

[0052] Each protrusion 212 relative to the separation plane 21a represents a projection. It then defines a portion of the plate member 21 which properly projects from the plane 211 towards the housing.

[0053] Therefore, the at least one protrusion 212 protrudes from the separation plane 21 a on the side opposite to the at least one recess 211 .

[0054] Each protrusion 212 may have a conical profile which preferably has a largest cross section at the separation plane 21 a.

[0055] Each protrusion 212 may have a substantially pointed apex.

[0056] Preferably, the depression 211 and the protrusion 212 have substantially the same thickness, and the plate member 21 then has a substantially constant thickness. The thickness may be less than 10 mm, and in particular substantially between 2 mm and 5 mm.

[0057] They may be made of plastic material. Specifically, the plate member 21 is a single piece.

[0058] At least one of the protrusions 212 may be perforated, which may then include one or more holes 212a that allow air flow to move through the plate member 21. In particular, the holes 212a are the only section for air flow to move from the inlet section 1d to the housing and then to the substrate 1b.

[0059] Preferably, all protrusions 212 include holes 212a. Alternatively, only part of the protrusions 212 may be provided with holes 212a.

[0060] By making the depressions without holes, it is advantageous to have holes 212a only at the protrusions 212. Thus, the air flow moves through the substrate 1b at the protrusions 212, while such air flow does not move through the substrate 1b at the depressions 211 (particularly inside the depressions 211), which ensures the persistence of humidity in the substrate 1b at the depressions 211 (particularly inside the depressions 211) and thus defines in this substrate 1b a biofilm in contact with the air flow moving through the substrate 1a, thereby purifying this same air flow.

[0061] The holes 212a are configured to allow air to pass through and prevent the passage of the substrate and preferably water. They have a diameter of less than 100 mm. 2 , specifically 50mm 2 , more specifically 10mm 2 (Appropriately 3mm 2 ) in cross-section and / or a linear extension of less than 10 mm, specifically between 1 mm and 5 mm.

[0062] The holes 212a can have any cross-section. For example, they can be circular (as shown in the figures) or similar to slots.

[0063] The holes 212a may have the same cross section, ie they may have a cross section with the same extension. In a preferred alternative, they have different cross sections, in particular they have a cross section that is inversely proportional to the distance from the apex of the protrusion 212 .

[0064] It is emphasized that the device 1 may then comprise a channel 3 defining the inlet section 1d and fluidically connecting this section 1d with the plate member 21. This channel 3 may be an extension of one or more auxiliary plate members 22.

[0065] The purification device 1 may comprise a structure 4 defining a cultivation chamber containing at least part of the container 2 and in use a substrate 1 b and one or more plants 1 a.

[0066] The structure 4 may include a frame 41 supporting the structure 4 and in turn the device 1; and one or more walls defining the culture chamber. Specifically, the wall 41 may include one or more side walls 42, a lower wall 43 to which the container 2 is anchored, and an upper wall 44 placed on the side opposite to the lower wall relative to the chamber.

[0067] The lower wall 43 may define an inlet section 1d.

[0068] The upper wall 44 may define an outlet section 1 e .

[0069] At least a portion of one or more side walls 42 may be made of glass or other transparent material to allow light to pass through.

[0070] The one or more side walls 42 may be generally parallel to the axis 1 c.

[0071] Alternatively, they may define extensions of the auxiliary plate member 22 .

[0072] The purification device 1 may comprise a recirculation system 5 which defines an air flow moving through the inlet section 1 d and then through the housing.

[0073] The recirculation system 5 is configured to allow the apparatus 1 to exchange air between the outside and the culture chamber.

[0074] It may be mandatory. It may work under pressure drop, in particular by placing the culture chamber (and precisely the housing) at a pressure lower than that of the inlet section 1d, which suitably has a pressure equal to the pressure outside the device, in turn equal to atmospheric pressure.

[0075] The recirculation system 5 may include an aspirator 51 for collecting air from the cultivation chamber and a pipe 52 connecting the aspirator 51 to the fluid channel of the outlet section 1e.

[0076] The recirculation system 5 can be integrated in the upper wall 44 .

[0077] The purification device 1 may comprise a system 6 for supplying one or more plants 1a with the requirements for their survival.

[0078] The supply system 6 may be integral with the structure 4 .

[0079] The apparatus 6 may comprise an irrigation module 61 configured to supply water to the substrate 1 b.

[0080] The irrigation module 61 may include at least one source 611 of appropriately sterilized water; one or more nozzles 612 for distributing the water; and a distributor 613 configured to collect water from the source 611 and provide the water to the substrate 1 b through the nozzles 612 .

[0081] The source 611 may comprise a water tank. Alternatively or additionally, it may comprise a connection to a water main outside the device 1. In particular, the source 611 is configured for sterilizing water, and it may then comprise a sterilizing agent, such as a UV lamp.

[0082] The distributor 613 may be a known irrigation device, such as a sprinkler, a misting device, an infiltration device, or a drip irrigation device.

[0083] The supply system 6 may comprise a lighting module 62 configured to ensure the required light conditions for one or more plants 1 a.

[0084] The lighting module 62 may comprise one or more light emitters, for example of the full-spectrum type, and thus cover the electromagnetic spectrum from infrared to ultraviolet useful for the plant or plants 1 a.

[0085] The purification device 1 may comprise a system 7 for controlling the operation of the purification device 1 .

[0086] For simplicity, only Figure 2 The control system 7 shown in FIG. 7 may include a control board 71 for controlling the recirculation system 5 , in particular the aspirator 51 , and appropriately controlling the supply system 6 .

[0087] The control system 7 may include an interface configured to allow an operator to exchange data with the control board 71; and means for connecting between the control board and the interface.

[0088] The interface may comprise a screen and / or keyboard integrated in the device 1, in particular in the structure 4. Alternatively, the interface may be an external processor (eg a tablet or smartphone), and the connection means may be wireless.

[0089] The control system 7 may include at least one humidity sensor 72 configured to detect humidity of the substrate 1 b at least at the recess 211 .

[0090] The moisture sensor 72 may be a known tensiometer.

[0091] The humidity sensor 72 may be data-connected to the control board 71 , and the control board 71 then controls the irrigation module 61 and / or the recirculation system 5 according to the humidity of the substrate 1 b detected by the sensor 72 .

[0092] In particular, if the humidity of the substrate 1 b is below a minimum humidity threshold, the 1a control board 71 controls the deactivation of the recycling system 5, and if the humidity of the substrate 1 b is at least equal to a maximum humidity threshold, the control board 71 controls the activation of the recycling system 5. Alternatively or additionally, the control board 71 controls the activation of the irrigation module 61 if the humidity of the substrate 1 b is below the minimum humidity threshold, and controls the deactivation of the irrigation module 61 if the humidity of the substrate 1 b is at least equal to the maximum humidity threshold.

[0093] The control system 7 may include a light sensor 73 configured to measure 1° light exposure to one or more plants.

[0094] The light sensor 73 may be data-connected to the control board 71, which then controls the irrigation module 61 according to the amount of light detected by the light sensor 73. In particular, the control board 71 controls activation of the irrigation module 61 if the light amount 1b is below a minimum light threshold.

[0095] The control system 7 may include a flow sensor 74 configured to measure the flow of air moving through the substrate and then through one of the sections 1d and 1e.

[0096] The flow sensor 74 may be data-connected to the control board 71, which then controls the recirculation system 5 according to the substance of the flow detected by the flow sensor 74. In particular, the control board 71 controls activation of the recirculation system 5 if the substance of the flow is below a minimum flow threshold, and controls deactivation of the recirculation system 5 if the substance of the flow is at least equal to a maximum flow threshold.

[0097] The control system 7 may include a timer 75 configured to measure the passage of time.

[0098] The timer 75 can be data-connected to the control board 71 , and then the control board 71 controls one or more modules 61 , 61 and / or 62 according to the preset time of the timer 75 .

[0099] In terms of structure, the above-described purification device 1 operates as follows.

[0100] Once the substrate 1b is placed, followed by the plant 1a, the device is ready.

[0101] The air attracted by the pressure drop of the aspirator 51 enters through the inlet section 1d, and enters the container 2 through the plate member 21 (to be precise, one or more holes 212a provided in the protrusion 212), and to be precise, moves through the substrate. The air is then discharged from the container 2 through the opening, and then collected and purified by the plant 1a. Once the purification is completed, the air, still pushed by the aspirator 51 of the recirculation system 5, is discharged from the device 1 through the duct 52, and then discharged from the outlet section 1e.

[0102] During operation, the sensor 72 can control the irrigation module 61 and / or the recirculation system 5 according to the humidity of the substrate 1 b in order to provide the substrate 1 b with a desired humidity.

[0103] Furthermore, according to the program selected by the operator, the control system 7 regulates the lighting (intensity and / or duration) and the dosage of fertilizers through the fertilization module 61 .

[0104] The purification device 1 according to the invention achieves important advantages.

[0105] In fact, in contrast to known purification devices, it is able to purify relatively large quantities of air. This advantage is mainly due to the fact that the device allows to continuously have optimal growth conditions for the plants 1a.

[0106] In addition, by making air move in substrate 1b, air purification is advantageously realized.In fact, owing to only having hole 212a at projection 212, even when having significant air flow, hole 212a can also avoid the overdrying of substrate, and allow also to have the biofilm that contacts with the air moving through substrate 1a to purify this air.Specifically, air flow moves through substrate 1b at projection 212, and such air flow does not move through substrate 1b at recess 211 (specifically inside recess 211), which ensures the persistence of humidity in substrate 1b at recess 211 (specifically inside recess 211), and then in this substrate 1b, limit the biofilm that contacts with the air flow moving through substrate 1a, thereby purify this same air flow.Then, adopt new plate member 21 to avoid the overdrying of substrate (even when having significant air flow), and then also have the biofilm that contacts with the air moving through substrate 1a to purify this air.Therefore, device 1 has high purification capacity, and particularly it can purify a large amount of air.

[0107] Another advantage is that the purification device 1 allows to purify large quantities of air while having reduced overall dimensions.

[0108] A not negligible advantage is then that the purification device 1 has reduced implementation and management costs and results in ease of implementation and in particular ease of management thanks to the control panel 71 and several sensors 72 , 73 and 74 allowing all the parameters of the device 1 to be monitored and subsequently regulated.

[0109] The invention can be varied within the inventive concept defined by the claims.

[0110] For example, the plate member 21 may comprise a number of modules, each module defining a plate member portion, and a restraining device configured to restrain the modules to each other, preferably integrally.

[0111] Each moulding element may comprise at least said recess and at least said protrusion 212 , the protrusion 212 suitably providing one or more of the above-mentioned holes 212 .

[0112] Within such scope, all the details may be replaced by equivalent elements and the materials, shapes and dimensions may be any.

Claims

1. An air purification device (1), comprising: - a container (2) defining a housing for a substrate (1b) for cultivating at least one plant (1a); Features The container (2) comprises - a plate member (21) defining a wall of the housing and a separation plane (21a), the wall being configured to contact the substrate (1b); The plate member (21) comprises a - depressions (211), each depression defining a collection compartment for a portion of said matrix (1b); - a protrusion (212) configured to be at least partially covered by said matrix (1b); and characterized in that the protrusion (212) comprises - a hole (212a) which allows air flow to move through the plate member (21) and into the housing; the hole (212a) is cut only in the protrusion (212) so that o the substrate (1b) at least at the protrusions (212) is penetrated by the air flow; and o The substrate (1b) corresponding to the recess (211) is not passed through by the air flow, thereby ensuring the persistence of humidity in the substrate (1b) contained in at least the recess (211), thereby defining a biofilm in contact with the air flow in the substrate to purify the air flow.

2. The purification device (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The plate member (21) defines the bottom of the housing so as to allow the substrate (1b) to rest on the plate member (21) by gravity.

3. The purification device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein: The hole (212a) has a diameter less than 10 mm. 2 cross-sectional area.

4. The purification device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein: The hole (212a) has a cross-sectional area inversely proportional to the distance from the vertex of the protrusion (212).

5. The purification device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein: The plate member (21) has a thickness which is substantially constant and is substantially between 3 mm and 5 mm.

6. A purification device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, comprising an irrigation module (61) configured to supply water to the substrate (1b), and a control system (7), the control system (7) comprising a control board (71) for controlling the purification device (1) and a humidity sensor (72) configured to detect the humidity of the substrate (1b) at least at the recess (211), so as to enable the control board (71) to control the irrigation module (61) according to the humidity of the substrate (1b).

7. A purification device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, comprising a structure (4) defining a substantially sealed culture chamber, an inlet section (1d) for air entering the culture chamber and an outlet section (1e) for the air from the culture chamber; wherein the container (2) is placed in the culture chamber so that the plate member (21) is located downstream of the inlet section (1d) relative to the direction of advance of the air.

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