Air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability and laser air disinfection system

Abstract

The invention relates to an air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability and an air disinfection system, the air filter element comprises a light source and a light guide mechanism arranged in the air filter element, and the light source is used for transmitting laser with specific wavelength to the light guide mechanism; the light guide mechanism transmits the received laser into the air filter element and enables the irradiation range of the laser to cover the air filter element so as to carry out in-situ disinfection on the air filter element, the device with the laser self-disinfection capacity is integrated in the air filter element, the laser is used for irradiating the filter screen, efficient in-situ disinfection of the air filter element is achieved, and the air filter element can be disinfected in situ. According to the air filter element, microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses on the surface of the filter screen can be effectively killed, accumulation of pollutants and breeding of harmful microorganisms can be prevented, and therefore the service life of the air filter element is prolonged, the filtering efficiency of the air filter element is further improved, and a safer and healthier air environment can be provided for users.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of air filters, and in particular, to an air filter with laser self - disinfection ability and a laser air disinfection system. Background Art

[0002] Air filters usually consist of multiple layers, and each layer undertakes a specific filtering task to ensure the effect of air purification. The structure of air filters in the prior art usually includes, but is not limited to, the following layers: non - woven fabric layer, metal wire mesh layer, nylon mesh layer, fiber material layer, etc., which are used to filter relatively large - diameter particulate dust, such as hair, large particles, dandruff, etc. Further, some medium - efficiency air filters are also provided with an activated carbon layer, which can adsorb pollutants in the air, such as odors, organic substances, microorganisms, and viruses. Furthermore, HEPA high - efficiency filters, etc., can efficiently intercept tiny particles in the air, such as molds, viruses, dust, etc., and have excellent dust - collecting effects and antibacterial and anti - allergic effects.

[0003] Although the air filters in the prior art play an important role in filtering particulate matter, dust, etc. in the air, there are still some significant limitations. In particular, the surface of the filter screen is prone to deposition of microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. The sources of these microorganisms are extensive and may include pollutants in outdoor air, droplets generated by indoor human activities, etc. Once the air stops passing through the filter screen, due to the lack of the flushing effect brought by flowing air, the growth of microorganisms on the filter screen will be very serious. These grown viruses and bacteria will not only contaminate the filter screen itself but also form a potential pollution source inside the filter screen. When the air passes through the filter screen again, since a large number of microorganisms have grown on the filter screen, the flowing air is very likely to blow these microorganisms into people's breathing space, thus causing air pollution and even triggering health problems such as respiratory diseases, and the air filter becomes unreliable. Therefore, the technical improvement of air filters, especially how to achieve in - situ disinfection of air filters, avoid the growth of bacteria and viruses, and improve the reliability of air - disinfection filter screens, is particularly important. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Based on this, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides an air filter with laser self - disinfection ability, which realizes efficient in - situ disinfection of the air filter and greatly improves the reliability of the air - disinfection filter screen.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an air filter with laser self - disinfection ability, including a light source and a light - guiding mechanism disposed inside the air filter. The light source is used to transmit laser with a specific wavelength to the light - guiding mechanism; the light - guiding mechanism conducts the received laser into the air filter and makes the laser irradiation range cover the air filter to perform in - situ disinfection on the air filter.

[0006] In one specific embodiment, the light guiding mechanism is an optical fiber, and the optical fiber includes a laser attenuation region. Laser light leaks out from the laser attenuation region and irradiates onto the air filter element to kill bacteria or viruses intercepted in the air filter element. The laser attenuation region is a light-leaking optical fiber including only a core, or a fine textured surface is etched on the optical fiber, or tiny light-leaking holes are arranged at intervals.

[0007] In one specific embodiment, the air filter element includes a multi-layer structure, and the optical fiber is disposed through different layers of the air filter element, or the optical fiber is distributed on a planar layer to form an independent optical fiber disinfection layer, which is disposed between any two-layer structures of the air filter element.

[0008] In one specific embodiment, the optical fiber is distributed in a grid shape, a curve shape, or a beam splitting array arrangement.

[0009] In one specific embodiment, it includes at least two-stage intermediate efficiency air filter elements and / or high efficiency air filter elements, and the optical fiber is distributed on a planar layer to form an independent optical fiber disinfection layer, which is disposed between two adjacent intermediate efficiency air filter elements or high efficiency air filter elements.

[0010] In one specific embodiment, the optical fiber disinfection layer includes an optical fiber fixing plate, and an optical fiber socket and an optical fiber receiving groove are provided on the optical fiber fixing plate. The optical fiber is inserted from the optical fiber socket and fixed in the optical fiber receiving groove. The shape of the optical fiber receiving groove matches the shape of the optical fiber distribution, and it can be a grid shape, a curve shape, a spiral shape, or a beam splitting array arrangement.

[0011] In one specific embodiment, after the optical fiber is inserted from the optical fiber socket and fixed in the optical fiber receiving groove, the front and back surfaces are free surfaces, and laser light can leak out in the front and back directions.

[0012] In one specific embodiment, the light source is an ultraviolet laser emitter.

[0013] In one specific embodiment, the laser wavelength transmitted by the ultraviolet laser reflector to the light guiding mechanism is 250 nm - 270 nm.

[0014] In one specific embodiment, a laser air disinfection system is provided, which includes a primary filter screen and the aforementioned air filter element having a laser self-disinfection ability.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: The present invention integrates a device with laser self - disinfection ability inside the air filter element. By irradiating the filter mesh with laser, efficient in - situ disinfection of the air filter element is achieved. It can not only effectively kill microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses on the surface of the filter mesh, but also prevent the accumulation of pollutants and the growth of harmful microorganisms, thereby extending the service life of the air filter element and further improving its filtration efficiency, and providing a safer and healthier air environment for users. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 FIG. is an exploded view of the structure of an air filter element with laser self - disinfection ability in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 FIG. is a sectional view of the structure of an air filter element with laser self - disinfection ability in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 FIG. is a schematic diagram of the structure of the optical fiber light leakage hole in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 FIG. is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air filter element with laser self - disinfection ability in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 FIG. is a schematic diagram of the structure of the optical fiber and the optical fiber fixing plate in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 FIG. is a schematic diagram of the structure of the optical fiber fixing plate in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 FIG. is a sectional view of the structure of an air filter element with laser self - disinfection ability in another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In order to make the above - mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the following detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present invention will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to fully understand the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the connotation of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0024] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

[0025] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms "mounted", "connected", "coupled", "fixed", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it may be the communication inside two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0026] To make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0027] As Figure 1 - Figure 2As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides an air filter element with laser self - disinfection ability, which includes a light source (not shown in the figure) and a light - guiding mechanism 20 disposed inside the air filter element 10. The light source is used to transmit laser with a specific wavelength to the light - guiding mechanism 20. The laser of this wavelength has excellent killing effects on microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. The light - guiding mechanism 20 conducts the received laser into the air filter element 10 and makes the laser irradiation range fully cover each area of the air filter element 10. During the laser irradiation process, the laser energy can penetrate the tiny gaps on the surface of the air filter element 10 and directly act on the cells of harmful microorganisms inside the air filter element 10, destroying their cell structures and causing the death of microorganisms, thereby achieving the purpose of killing microorganisms and ultimately realizing in - situ disinfection of the air filter element 10. Laser irradiation can promote the decomposition and shedding of pollutants captured by the filter screen, effectively preventing the accumulation of pollutants. An air filter element with laser self - disinfection ability provided by this embodiment integrates a device with laser self - disinfection ability inside the air filter element and uses laser to irradiate the filter screen to achieve efficient in - situ disinfection of the air filter element. It can not only effectively kill microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses on the surface of the filter screen, but also prevent the accumulation of pollutants and the breeding of harmful microorganisms, thereby extending the service life of the air filter element and further improving its filtration efficiency, and can provide a safer and healthier air environment for users.

[0028] As Figure 3 shown, in one specific embodiment, the light - guiding mechanism 20 is an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a laser attenuation region 201. After the laser is conducted into the optical fiber, it leaks out from the laser attenuation region 201 and evenly irradiates the air filter element 10 to kill bacteria or viruses intercepted in the air filter element 10. The laser attenuation region 201 is a leaky optical fiber that only includes a core, or a fine textured surface is etched on the optical fiber. The textured surface is evenly distributed around the core to transmit laser in all directions, or is evenly distributed on the front and back sides of the optical fiber to transmit laser in the front and back directions. For example, a high - energy pulsed laser is used to irradiate the silica part on the cladding to form an uneven surface, so that the laser is transmitted out from this textured surface. The laser attenuation region 201 can also be tiny light - leaking holes 202 spaced on the optical fiber. The light - leaking holes can be spirally distributed on the optical fiber to transmit laser in all directions, or can be spaced on the front and back sides of the optical fiber to transmit laser in the front and back two directions. The shape of the light - leaking holes 202 can be different shapes such as rectangular, circular, triangular, elliptical, etc.

[0029] In one specific embodiment, the air filter element 10 includes a multi - layer structure. The optical fiber penetrates through different layers of the air filter element, or the optical fiber is distributed in a planar layer to form an independent optical - fiber disinfection layer. The optical - fiber disinfection layer can be disposed between any two layers of the air filter element structure, such as Figure 1As shown, the optical fiber disinfection layer is disposed between the upstream disinfection layer 101 and the downstream disinfection layer 102. Optionally, the optical fiber disinfection layer can also be disposed on the top or bottom surface of the air filter element 10. The top surface refers to the side of the air filter element 10 that first contacts the air, and the bottom surface refers to the side of the air filter element that last contacts the air.

[0030] In one specific embodiment, the distribution of the optical fiber or the optical fiber attenuation region is in a grid shape, a curve shape, a spiral shape, or a beam splitting array arrangement inside the air filter element 10. Exemplarily, as Figure 1 shown, the distribution of the optical fiber attenuation region is in a spiral shape, as Figure 4 - Figure 5 shown, the distribution of the optical fiber attenuation region is in a beam splitting array arrangement. This distribution manner enables the laser leaking from the optical fiber attenuation region to uniformly and comprehensively cover each region of the air filter element 10, avoiding the occurrence of disinfection dead corners in the air filter element 10 and threatening the health of users.

[0031] In one specific embodiment, it includes at least two - stage intermediate - efficiency air filter elements and / or high - efficiency air filter elements. The intermediate - efficiency air filter element or the high - efficiency air filter element can intercept harmful microorganisms in the air. The optical fiber is distributed in a planar layer to form an independent optical fiber disinfection layer, which is disposed between two adjacent intermediate - efficiency air filter elements or high - efficiency air filter elements. As Figure 4 - Figure 7 shown, the optical fiber disinfection layer is disposed between the intermediate - efficiency air filter element 30 and the high - efficiency air filter element 40. The laser leaking from the optical fiber is transmitted in the front and rear directions, and irradiates the intermediate - efficiency air filter element and the high - efficiency air filter element respectively, thereby disinfecting the harmful microorganisms intercepted by the intermediate - efficiency air filter element or the high - efficiency air filter element respectively.

[0032] As Figure 4 - Figure 6 shown, in one specific embodiment, the optical fiber disinfection layer includes an optical fiber fixing plate 50. An optical fiber socket 501 and an optical fiber receiving groove 502 are provided on the optical fiber fixing plate 50. The optical fiber is inserted from the optical fiber socket 501 and fixed in the optical fiber receiving groove 502. The shape of the optical fiber receiving groove 502 matches the shape of the optical fiber distribution, which can be a grid shape, a curve shape, a spiral shape, or a beam splitting array arrangement. After the optical fiber is inserted from the optical fiber socket 501 and fixed in the optical fiber receiving groove 502, the front and rear surfaces are free surfaces and can leak laser in the front and rear directions. The shape of the optical fiber receiving groove matches the shape of the optical fiber distribution, which can be a grid shape, a curve shape, a spiral shape, or a beam splitting array arrangement.

[0033] In one specific embodiment, the light source is an ultraviolet laser emitter. The laser wavelength transmitted by the ultraviolet laser reflector to the light guiding mechanism is 250 nm - 270 nm, especially the laser with a wavelength of 266 nm. The laser of this wavelength has a high disinfection effect on harmful microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria.

[0034] In one specific embodiment, a laser air disinfection system is provided, which includes a primary filter and the aforementioned air filter with laser self-disinfection ability. The primary filter captures large particles and dust in the air to prevent clogging of the downstream medium or high-efficiency air filters. The air filter with laser self-disinfection ability further filters fine particles and kills residual microorganisms through laser, ensuring that the system can provide a safer and healthier air environment for users.

[0035] It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or basic characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, from any point of view, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the above description. Therefore, all changes falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims are intended to be included in the present invention, and any reference signs in the claims should not be regarded as limiting the claims involved.

[0036] In the present invention, specific examples are used to illustrate the principle and implementation manner of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manner and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. An air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability, characterized in that: It includes a light source and a light guide mechanism arranged inside the air filter element. The light source is used to transmit laser light with a specific wavelength to the light guide mechanism; the light guide mechanism transmits the received laser light to the air filter element, and makes the laser irradiation range cover the air filter element to perform in-situ disinfection on the air filter element.

2. The air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light-guiding mechanism is an optical fiber, which includes a laser attenuation zone. Laser leaks out from the laser attenuation zone and irradiates the air filter element to kill bacteria or viruses intercepted in the air filter element. The laser attenuation zone is a light-leaking optical fiber that only includes a fiber core, or a fine roughened surface is etched on the optical fiber, or tiny light-leaking holes are arranged at intervals.

3. The air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability according to claim 2, characterized in that: The air filter element comprises a multi-layer structure, and the optical fiber runs through different layers of the air filter element, or the optical fiber is distributed in a plane layer to form an independent optical fiber disinfection layer, which is arranged between any two layers of the air filter element.

4. The air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability according to claim 3, characterized in that: The optical fiber distribution is arranged in a grid shape, a curve shape or a beam splitting array.

5. The air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability according to claim 2, characterized in that: It comprises at least two stages of medium-efficiency air filter elements and / or high-efficiency air filter elements. The optical fiber is distributed in a plane layer to form an independent optical fiber disinfection layer, which is arranged between two adjacent stages of medium-efficiency air filter elements or high-efficiency air filter elements.

6. The air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability according to claim 4, characterized in that: The optical fiber disinfection layer includes an optical fiber fixing plate, on which an optical fiber socket and an optical fiber receiving groove are provided. The optical fiber is inserted from the optical fiber socket and fixed in the optical fiber receiving groove. The shape of the optical fiber receiving groove matches the shape of the optical fiber distribution, and can be a grid shape, a curve shape, a spiral shape, or a beam splitting array arrangement.

7. The air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability according to claim 6, characterized in that: After the optical fiber is inserted from the optical fiber socket and fixed in the optical fiber receiving groove, the front and rear surfaces are free surfaces, and laser light can be leaked in the front and rear directions.

8. An air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The light source is an ultraviolet laser emitter.

9. The air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability according to claim 8, characterized in that: The wavelength of the laser transmitted by the ultraviolet laser reflector to the light guiding mechanism is 250nm-270nm.

10. A laser air disinfection system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a primary filter and an air filter element with laser self-disinfection capability as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images