Air purifying device

Abstract

The application relates to an air purification device. The air purification device comprises a shell and a plasma generating mechanism. The shell has an air inlet, the plasma generating mechanism is installed in the shell, the plasma generating mechanism comprises a high-voltage electrode, a low-voltage electrode and a dielectric tube, the dielectric tube has a flow channel, the flow channel is communicated with the air inlet, the high-voltage electrode and the low-voltage electrode are located in the wall of the dielectric tube and are arranged on the two sides of the flow channel, and the high-voltage electrode generates plasma by discharging in the dielectric tube to purify the air in the flow channel. The air purification device can generate plasma by discharging, thereby generating active oxidative substances to decompose odor molecules in the air and actively kill bacteria in the air. Moreover, the strong electric field formed by the air purification device can collect particles in the air, so that the air purification effect is further improved. In addition, the low-voltage electrode can stabilize the electric field balance and adjust the electric field distribution, thereby maintaining the stability of the plasma and controlling the uniformity of the discharge, so that the uniformity of the plasma is optimized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to an air purification device. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, obtaining a safe and clean indoor air environment has become a new demand. Consequently, the demand for air purifiers is increasing daily. However, the purification effect of air purifiers decreases with use, therefore, there is an urgent need for an air purifier with better purification performance. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application addresses the problem of poor purification effect of existing air purification devices by proposing an air purification device that can uniformly generate plasma and active oxidizing substances to kill bacteria in the air.

[0004] This application provides an air purification device, including:

[0005] The casing has an air inlet.

[0006] A plasma generating mechanism is installed inside the housing. The plasma generating mechanism includes a high-voltage electrode, a low-voltage electrode, and a dielectric tube. The dielectric tube has a flow channel that is connected to the air inlet. The high-voltage electrode and the low-voltage electrode are located inside the wall of the dielectric tube and are disposed on both sides of the flow channel. The high-voltage electrode discharges in the dielectric tube to generate plasma to purify the air in the flow channel.

[0007] The air purification device provided in this application embodiment uses a high-voltage electrode to generate a strong electric field by applying a high-frequency voltage. This accelerates electrons and causes them to collide with gas molecules, leading to ionization and excitation, thereby forming plasma. A low-voltage electrode maintains the electric field balance with a smaller voltage to ensure plasma stability. The low-voltage electrode can also adjust the electric field distribution and control the discharge uniformity to optimize plasma uniformity. A power supply powers the plasma generation mechanism. Under the action of the high-voltage electrode, the dielectric tube discharges to generate plasma, producing a large number of highly reactive free radicals (such as hydroxyl radicals and oxygen radicals), negative ions (O2⁻), and other substances. Combined with the low-voltage electrode, this allows for uniform discharge on the surface of the dielectric tube, resulting in uniform plasma and active oxidizing substances. These active oxidizing substances decompose odor molecules in the air and actively kill bacteria. Furthermore, the strong electric field it generates can collect airborne particles, further improving the air purification effect.

[0008] In one embodiment, the housing has an air outlet communicating with the air inlet, the air outlet and the air inlet being disposed opposite each other along a first direction, the flow channel extending along the first direction and communicating between the air outlet and the air inlet.

[0009] Outside air enters the medium pipe through the air inlet, is purified, and then flows out through the air outlet. This not only simplifies the structure of the casing but also improves the smoothness of gas flow by limiting the path of gas flow within the casing.

[0010] In one embodiment, the flow channel is curved along the first direction; the flow channel.

[0011] Because the two ends of the flow channel are connected to the air inlet and outlet respectively, the length of the straight flow channel is less than the length of the curved flow channel. That is, the path of gas flowing through the curved flow channel is longer than the path of gas flowing through the straight flow channel. Gas takes longer to flow through the curved flow channel, thus allowing for a longer interaction time with the plasma. Therefore, the above configuration increases the interaction time between the gas and the plasma by increasing the length of the flow channel, thereby improving the gas purification effect.

[0012] In one embodiment, the shapes of the dielectric tube wall, the high-voltage electrode, and the low-voltage electrode are all configured to be curved along the first direction.

[0013] With this configuration, since the high-voltage and low-voltage electrodes are also bent along the first direction to form curves inside the cylinder wall, the stability and uniformity of the plasma can be improved by extending the flow channel length, thereby further enhancing the purification effect.

[0014] In one embodiment, the housing is provided with a plurality of air inlets, all of which are located on the same surface of the housing and are spaced apart, and each air inlet corresponds to a medium pipe.

[0015] Outside air can simultaneously enter the medium pipe's flow channel through different air inlets, and the purified gas then flows out from different air outlets. This design increases the air intake area, reduces the probability of localized airflow blockage caused by single-point air intake, and increases the amount of air purified in a single pass while ensuring the air purification effect of the air purifier. This improves the purification efficiency of the air purifier, making it suitable for large spaces and broadening its application range.

[0016] In one embodiment, all of the air inlets are arranged in an array.

[0017] In this way, by evenly distributing air inlets at multiple points, concentrated airflow or dead zones can be avoided, allowing air to enter more evenly and reducing purification blind spots caused by turbulent airflow. Moreover, the array distribution can accelerate particle capture, further improving the purification effect.

[0018] In one embodiment, the medium tube is detachably mounted within the housing.

[0019] The above design improves the ease of installation of the media tube and facilitates user operation. Furthermore, if either the media tube or the housing is damaged, the damaged component can be replaced with a new one. Compared to replacing both the media tube and the housing, replacing only the damaged component reduces the maintenance cost of the air purifier.

[0020] In one embodiment, both the medium tube and the housing are constructed of transparent glass.

[0021] When the air purifier is running, users can observe the entire air purification process through the casing and media tube, such as the accumulation of dust within the channel, for a more intuitive understanding. Furthermore, because glass itself has excellent conductivity and insulation properties, and its surface is smooth, it can be cleaned directly by spraying, soaking, or using soft brushes, improving cleaning effectiveness and reducing the difficulty of cleaning large amounts of dust adhering to the inner wall of the media tube.

[0022] After cleaning, place the media tube in a ventilated place to air dry or use a hot air drying device to dry it, and then the media tube can be reused.

[0023] In one embodiment, the plasma generating mechanism further includes an electrical connector, through which both the high-voltage electrode and the low-voltage electrode are connected to the same external power source.

[0024] When the power supply is located far from the plasma generator, electrical connections can be made using electrical connectors, allowing users to rationally plan the internal space of the air purifier. Furthermore, if any of the high-voltage electrode, low-voltage electrode, or electrical connectors is damaged, replacement is easy, reducing maintenance costs.

[0025] In one embodiment, both the high-voltage electrode and the low-voltage electrode are installed inside the wall of the dielectric tube by a sputtering coating process or a screen printing process.

[0026] Electrode fabrication using sputtering offers advantages such as strong film adhesion, compatibility with high-melting-point materials, controllable thickness and composition, and support for the use of various materials. Electrode fabrication using screen printing, on the other hand, offers advantages such as low cost, simple process, mass production capability, stable electrode performance, and wide applicability. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air purification device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a top view of an air purification device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of an air purification device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0030] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0031] 10. Housing; 11. Air inlet; 12. Air outlet; 20. Plasma generator; 21. High-voltage electrode; 22. Low-voltage electrode; 23. Dielectric tube; 231. Flow channel; 30. Electrical connector; 40. Snap-fit ​​assembly; X, First direction; 100. Air purification device; 200. Power supply. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0033] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0034] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0035] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0036] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0037] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0038] Please see Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, an air purification device 100 is provided, which includes a housing 10 and a plasma generating mechanism 20. The housing 10 has an air inlet 11, and the plasma generating mechanism 20 is installed inside the housing 10. The plasma generating mechanism 20 includes a high-voltage electrode 21, a low-voltage electrode 22, and a dielectric tube 23. The dielectric tube 23 has a flow channel 231, which is connected to the air inlet 11. The high-voltage electrode 21 and the low-voltage electrode 22 are located inside the tube wall of the dielectric tube 23 and are disposed on both sides of the flow channel 231. The high-voltage electrode 21 discharges to generate plasma in the dielectric tube 23 to purify the air in the flow channel 231.

[0039] The housing 10 and the dielectric tube 23 can be made of the same material. The shape of the housing 10 can be, but is not limited to, a cuboid or a cylinder. The housing 10 is used to support the plasma generating mechanism. The high-voltage electrode 21 and the low-voltage electrode 22 are connected to the same power supply 200. The high-voltage electrode 21 generates a strong electric field by applying a high-frequency voltage, which accelerates electrons and causes them to collide with gas molecules, resulting in ionization and excitation, thereby forming plasma. The low-voltage electrode 22 maintains the electric field balance with a smaller voltage to maintain the stability of the plasma. The low-voltage electrode 22 can also adjust the electric field distribution and control the discharge uniformity to optimize the uniformity of the plasma.

[0040] In the actual use of the air purification device 100, the power supply 200 can be a high-frequency AC high-voltage power supply 200, with a frequency range of 20kHz to 100kHz and a voltage range of 3kV to 10kV. The power supply 200 supplies power to the plasma generating mechanism 20. Under the action of the high-voltage electrode 21, the dielectric tube 23 discharges to generate plasma, producing a large number of highly active free radicals (such as hydroxyl radicals, oxygen radicals), negative ions (O2⁻), and other substances. Combined with the low-voltage electrode 22, the surface of the dielectric tube 23 can be uniformly discharged to uniformly generate plasma.

[0041] When outside air enters the flow channel 231 of the medium tube 23 through the air inlet 11 of the housing 10, bacteria, viruses, odor molecules and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air can undergo oxidation, reduction or electron capture reactions with the above-mentioned active substances, thereby achieving efficient decomposition and killing, so as to purify the air entering the plasma generating mechanism 20.

[0042] In summary, the air purification device 100 provided in this application embodiment, by equipping itself with a high-voltage electrode 21, a low-voltage electrode 22, and a dielectric tube 23, uniformly discharges and generates plasma on the surface of the dielectric tube 23, thereby producing active oxidizing substances that decompose odor molecules in the air and actively kill bacteria in the air. Furthermore, the strong electric field it generates can collect particles in the air, further improving the air purification effect. In addition, the low-voltage electrode 22 can stabilize the electric field balance and adjust the electric field distribution, thereby maintaining the stability of the plasma and controlling the discharge uniformity to optimize the uniformity of the plasma.

[0043] In some embodiments, the housing 10 has an air outlet 12 communicating with the air inlet 11. The air outlet 12 and the air inlet 11 are arranged opposite to each other along a first direction X. The flow channel 231 extends along the first direction X and communicates between the air outlet 12 and the air inlet 11.

[0044] For example, the housing 10 has a cavity for accommodating the medium tube 23. The cavity has two walls spaced apart along a first direction X. The two walls are respectively provided with an air inlet 11 and an air outlet 12. Outside air enters the flow channel 231 of the medium tube 23 through the air inlet 11 and is purified, and then flows out through the air outlet 12.

[0045] In this way, not only is the structure of the housing 10 simplified, but the smoothness of gas flow is also improved by limiting the path of gas flow within the housing 10.

[0046] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the flow channel 231 is a curved flow channel along the first direction X.

[0047] Because the two ends of the flow channel 231 are connected to the air inlet 11 and the air outlet 12 respectively, the length of the straight flow channel 231 is less than the length of the curved flow channel 231. That is, the path of the gas flowing through the curved flow channel 231 is longer than the path of the gas flowing through the straight flow channel. The gas takes longer to flow through the curved flow channel 231, thus having a longer interaction time with the plasma.

[0048] Therefore, the above configuration increases the time for the gas to interact with the plasma as it flows through the flow channel 231 by increasing the length of the flow channel 231, thereby improving the purification effect on the gas.

[0049] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the shapes of the tube wall of the dielectric tube 23, the high-voltage electrode 21, and the low-voltage electrode 22 along the first direction X are all configured as curves.

[0050] This can be understood as the medium pipe 23 being constructed as a hollow cylindrical structure, but its cylindrical wall is curved and extends along the first direction X. Here, the first direction X can be understood as the opening direction of the air inlet 11.

[0051] Since the high-voltage electrode 21 and the low-voltage electrode 22 are also bent along the first direction X to form a curve inside the cylinder wall, the stability and uniformity of the plasma can be improved by extending the length of the flow channel 231, thereby further improving the purification effect.

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the housing 10 is provided with a plurality of air inlets 11, all of which are located on the same surface of the housing 10 and are spaced apart, and the air inlets 11 correspond one-to-one with the medium pipes 23.

[0053] For example, in Figure 2 In the example shown, the housing 10 has six independent receiving cavities, with an air inlet 11 and an air outlet 12 formed at both ends of each cavity. Six media pipes 23 are also provided, with one media pipe 23 located within one receiving cavity.

[0054] Outside air can simultaneously enter the flow channel 231 of the medium pipe 23 through different air inlets 11, and then the purified air flows out from different air outlets 12. This arrangement increases the air intake area, reduces the probability of localized airflow blockage caused by single-point air intake, and increases the single-pass air purification capacity of the air purifier 100 while ensuring its air purification effect. This improves the purification efficiency of the air purifier 100, making it suitable for large spaces and expanding its application range.

[0055] It should be noted that the number of air inlets 11 and media pipes 23 can be adjusted according to the actual situation, which will not be elaborated here.

[0056] Specifically, in some embodiments, all air inlets 11 are arranged in an array.

[0057] In this way, by evenly distributing the air inlets 11 at multiple points, concentrated airflow or dead zones can be avoided, allowing air to enter more evenly and reducing purification blind spots caused by turbulent airflow. Moreover, the array distribution can also accelerate particle capture, further improving the purification effect.

[0058] More specifically, in some embodiments, the medium tube 23 is detachably mounted within the housing 10.

[0059] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, the medium tube 23 can be installed on the housing 10 via the snap-fit ​​assembly 40. Of course, the medium tube 23 can also be installed by easy-to-remove methods such as adhesive, which will not be listed here.

[0060] The above-mentioned design improves the ease of installation of the media tube 23, facilitates user operation, and makes it convenient to remove the media tube 23 from the housing 10 for cleaning. Furthermore, if either the media tube 23 or the housing 10 is damaged, the damaged component can be replaced with a new one. Compared to replacing both the media tube 23 and the housing 10, replacing only the damaged component reduces the maintenance cost of the air purification device 100.

[0061] In some embodiments, both the medium tube 23 and the housing 10 are constructed as transparent glass.

[0062] Transparent glass can specifically be borosilicate glass. Borosilicate glass has good thermal stability and chemical inertness, and it can withstand the effects of high-frequency and high-voltage electric fields without deformation or breakage.

[0063] When the air purifier 100 starts operating, the user can observe the entire air purification process within the flow channel 231 through the housing 10 and the media tube 23, such as the accumulation of dust within the flow channel 231, to gain a more intuitive understanding. Furthermore, because glass itself has excellent conductivity and insulation properties, and its surface is smooth, it can be cleaned directly by spraying, soaking, or using a soft brush, improving the cleaning effect and reducing the difficulty of cleaning large amounts of dust adhering to the inner wall of the media tube 23.

[0064] After cleaning, place the media tube 23 in a ventilated place to air dry or use a hot air drying device to dry it, so that the media tube 23 can be reused.

[0065] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the plasma generating mechanism 20 further includes an electrical connector 30, through which both the high-voltage electrode 21 and the low-voltage electrode 22 are connected to the same power supply 200.

[0066] The air purifier 100 also includes a housing for housing the casing 10, power supply 200, and other components. When the power supply 200 is located far from the plasma generator 20, it can be electrically connected using the electrical connector 30, allowing users to rationally plan the internal space of the air purifier 100. Furthermore, it facilitates replacement if any of the high-voltage electrode 21, low-voltage electrode 22, or electrical connector 30 is damaged, reducing maintenance costs.

[0067] Of course, in other embodiments, the air purification device 100 typically also includes a filter element disposed within the housing and located at the air inlet 11 of the housing 10. Outside air first passes through the filter element, where larger particles are filtered out, before entering the air inlet 11. This pre-filtration by the filter element improves the air purification effect.

[0068] In some embodiments, both the high-voltage electrode 21 and the low-voltage electrode 22 are installed inside the wall of the dielectric tube 23 by a sputtering coating process or a screen printing process.

[0069] Electrode fabrication using sputtering offers advantages such as strong film adhesion, compatibility with high-melting-point materials, controllable thickness and composition, and support for the use of various materials. Electrode fabrication using screen printing, on the other hand, offers advantages such as low cost, simple process, mass production capability, stable electrode performance, and wide applicability.

[0070] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0071] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An air purification device, characterized in that, include: The casing has an air inlet. A plasma generating mechanism is installed inside the housing. The plasma generating mechanism includes a high-voltage electrode, a low-voltage electrode, and a dielectric tube. The dielectric tube has a flow channel that is connected to the air inlet. The high-voltage electrode and the low-voltage electrode are located inside the wall of the dielectric tube and are disposed on both sides of the flow channel. The high-voltage electrode discharges in the dielectric tube to generate plasma to purify the air in the flow channel.

2. The air purification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing has an air outlet communicating with the air inlet. The air outlet and the air inlet are arranged opposite to each other along a first direction. The flow channel extends along the first direction and communicates between the air outlet and the air inlet.

3. The air purification device according to claim 2, characterized in that, Along the first direction, the flow channel is a curved flow channel.

4. The air purification device according to claim 3, characterized in that, Along the first direction, the shape of the tube wall, the high-voltage electrode, and the low-voltage electrode are all configured as curves.

5. The air purification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing is provided with multiple air inlets, all of which are located on the same surface of the housing and are spaced apart. Each air inlet corresponds to a medium pipe.

6. The air purification device according to claim 5, characterized in that, All the air inlets are arranged in an array.

7. The air purification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The medium tube is detachably installed inside the housing.

8. The air purification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the medium tube and the housing are constructed of transparent glass.

9. The air purification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plasma generating mechanism also includes an electrical connector, through which both the high-voltage electrode and the low-voltage electrode are connected to the same power source.

10. The air purification device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the high-voltage electrode and the low-voltage electrode are installed inside the wall of the dielectric tube by sputtering or screen printing.

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