Air purification device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning device (1) for cleaning air, comprising a filter device (2) with an electrically conductive component (4) and an ionizer device (7) for corona discharge. According to the invention, the electrically conductive component (4) is connected to a counter electrode (10) of the ionizer device (7) and at least one electrical resistance (14, 15) is arranged in the connection between the counter electrode (10) and the electrically conductive component (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning air, which includes a filter device for filtering particles from the air and an ionizer device.

[0002] A filter medium can be used to clean air, filtering particles from the air.

[0003] For example, from EP 3 488 933 A1 it is known to combine the filter medium with an electrically conductive component in a filter unit to improve the cleaning effect. The filter unit is electrostatically charged when new. An ionizer is also arranged upstream of the filter unit in an associated cleaning unit. The ionizer has an electrode and a counter electrode, between which a voltage is applied during operation, so that the air or particles contained in the air are ionized.

[0004] The present invention addresses the objective of providing an improved or at least different embodiment of a cleaning device of the type mentioned at the outset. In particular, the present invention addresses the objective of providing an embodiment of the cleaning device that is characterized by increased reliability and / or improved cleaning performance.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. The embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] The present invention is therefore based on the fundamental idea of ​​electrically connecting an electrically conductive component of the filter assembly to a counter electrode of the ionizer assembly in a cleaning device comprising an ionizer assembly and a filter assembly, and of providing at least one electrical resistor in the electrical connection to reduce the electric current / flux between the counter electrode and the electrically conductive component. In particular, the electrical connection can reduce or counteract the age-related degradation of the electrostatic charge of the filter assembly and / or electrostatically charge the filter assembly, thus improving the cleaning effect of the cleaning device.At the same time, the reduced electrical current / flux between the counter electrode and the electrically conductive component limits the electrical charge of the component and thus of the filter device, as well as the voltage between the component and the electrode compared to the voltage between the electrode and counter electrode. Both aspects lead to increased operational reliability of the cleaning device.

[0007] According to the inventive concept, the cleaning device serves to purify air. The cleaning device comprises a filter unit and an ionizer unit. The filter unit includes a filter medium, in particular a dielectric one, for filtering particles from the air, as well as an electrically conductive component. An airflow path passes through the filter unit. The ionizer unit comprises at least one electrode and at least one counter electrode through which the airflow path passes upstream of the filter unit. During operation, an electrical voltage is applied between the at least one electrode and the at least one counter electrode to induce a corona discharge in the air. An electrical path connects the electrically conductive component to at least one of the at least one counter electrode.In this arrangement, a resistor arrangement, hereinafter also referred to as the arrangement, which has at least one electrical resistance, is placed in the electrical path between the counter electrode and the electrically conductive component.

[0008] The connection between the electrically conductive component and the counter electrode via the electrical path can, in principle, be realized by a direct electrical connection, for example, an electrical conductor running directly between the electrically conductive component and the counter electrode. The resistor arrangement is preferably located within this direct electrical connection, particularly within the electrical conductor.

[0009] It is also conceivable that the counter electrode and the electrically conductive component are connected to the same electrical potential, for example, a voltage source, so that the electrical path connects the electrically conductive component and the counter electrode via this potential. In this case, the resistor arrangement is expediently placed between the potential and the electrically conductive component.

[0010] In particular, the counter electrode and the electrically conductive component can be connected to a printed circuit board, for example, of a control unit, such that an electrical path connects them. Specifically, the printed circuit board can include the aforementioned electrical potential, in particular the voltage source, for this purpose.

[0011] It is conceivable to provide a switch in the electrical path that establishes and disconnects the electrical connection between at least one counter electrode and the component as needed.

[0012] The filter device can, in principle, be designed in any way, provided that it cleans the air by capturing particles, preferably also odors.

[0013] For example, the filter device can be designed as a filter insert.

[0014] In particular, the filter unit can be interchangeable in the cleaning unit.

[0015] For example, the filter medium can consist of fibers or contain fibers.

[0016] For example, the electrically conductive component can be activated carbon or contain activated carbon. In particular, the electrically conductive component can be a layer.

[0017] For corona discharge, a voltage in the kilovolt range is advantageously applied between the electrode and counter electrode. For example, the voltage is between -5 kV and -15 kV, particularly -10 kV.

[0018] The arrangement is designed to reduce the electric current between the electrically conductive component and the at least one counter electrode. Accordingly, the arrangement is configured with a specific resistance value.

[0019] In this context, arrangements with a resistance value of at least 10 megaohms (10 MOhms) are preferred. An advantageous arrangement has a resistance value between 10 MOhms and 1000 MOhms. For example, the resistance value of the arrangement could be 30 MOhms, 50 MOhms, or 100 MOhms.

[0020] The arrangement can, in principle, have a single electrical resistance.

[0021] In preferred embodiments, the arrangement comprises two electrical resistors connected in series in the electrical path, which are hereinafter also referred to as the first resistor and the second resistor. The resistors thus form a voltage divider.

[0022] In particular, the arrangement can consist of the two resistors and thus correspond to the voltage divider.

[0023] Preferably, the ratio between the resistance values ​​of the resistors is at least 100. That is, the ratio between the resistance value of the first electrical resistor, hereinafter also referred to as the first resistance value, and the resistance value of the second electrical resistor, hereinafter also referred to as the second resistance value, is at least 100. This means that the first resistance value is at least one hundred times the second resistance value.

[0024] Advantageously, the ratio between the first resistance value and the second resistance value is between 100 and 5000. For example, the ratio between the first resistance value and the second resistance value is between 500 and 3000. In particular, the ratio between the first resistance value and the second resistance value can be 1000.

[0025] In preferred embodiments, the first resistor is arranged between the second resistor and the component. It is particularly preferred that the first resistance value is greater than the second resistance value. This results in an efficient reduction of the electric current between the counter electrode and the component.

[0026] In preferred embodiments, the cleaning device includes a control unit with a measuring device. The control unit is configured to determine an electrical voltage across the second resistor and / or the electrical current through the second resistor. The voltage across the component can thus be determined using the known ratio between the first and second resistance values.

[0027] The control unit is preferably designed such that it can also detect, based on the measured voltage and / or current, whether a filter is installed in the cleaning unit. For example, if no voltage is detected at the second resistor, it is recognized that no filter is installed or that a filter is installed incorrectly. This simplifies the operation of the cleaning unit. Furthermore, this significantly simplifies both the initial assembly of the cleaning unit and the replacement of the filter.

[0028] The control unit is preferably designed to recognize, based on the measured voltage and / or current, the type of filter used in the cleaning system. The properties of the electrically conductive component can serve as a reference for the type of filter. In particular, it is conceivable to store corresponding voltages for predefined types of filter systems, so that the type of filter system is recognized by comparing the measured voltage with the stored voltages. This simplifies and improves the operation of the cleaning system. Furthermore, it allows for easy identification of whether a suitable filter system is used in the cleaning system, and consequently, whether an unsuitable filter system is used.

[0029] In particular, it is conceivable that using an unsuitable or inappropriate filter system could generate an error message and / or block or prevent the operation of the cleaning system. This could improve operational reliability.

[0030] Advantageously, the control unit is designed to operate the ionizer based on the measured voltage and / or current. In particular, the operating voltage of the ionizer can be set and / or changed depending on the presence and / or type of filter device.

[0031] It is understood that the filter device can also have two or more electrically conductive components, or at least one electrically conductive component. In this case, at least one of the at least one electrically conductive component is electrically connected to at least one of the at least one counter electrodes via the electrical path.

[0032] The cleaning device can be used in any application.

[0033] The cleaning device can be used, for example, in an air conditioning system, especially in a so-called "HVAC system", where the English abbreviation "HVAC" stands for the English expression "Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning".

[0034] The air conditioning system preferably has at least one heat exchanger through which air flows during operation, so that heat is transferred from the air to the heat exchanger during operation, or vice versa.

[0035] The cleaning device is used particularly in vehicles. Within a vehicle, the cleaning device primarily serves to clean the air supplied to the vehicle's interior. The cleaning device can be a component of such an air conditioning system.

[0036] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0037] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The components of a higher-level unit, such as a device, apparatus, or arrangement, mentioned above and those to be mentioned below, which are designated separately, can form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is depicted differently in the drawings.

[0038] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0039] They show, each schematically Fig. 1 A highly simplified, circuit diagram-like representation of a cleaning device with an ionizer device and a filter device, Fig. 2 a simplified detailed view in the filter setup area, Fig. 3 A highly simplified, circuit diagram-like representation of the cleaning system in a motor vehicle.

[0040] A cleaning device 1, shown as an example in the figures, serves to clean air. An airflow path P passes through the cleaning device 1. The cleaning device 1 has a filter device 2 for cleaning the air. As shown in Fig. As simplified in Figure 3, the filter device 2 comprises a dielectric filter medium 3 for filtering particles from the air and an electrically conductive component 4. The filter device 2 is preferably electrostatically charged when new. In the illustrated embodiments, the electrically conductive component 4 is, by way of example, made of activated carbon 5 and is designed as a layer 8 arranged on the filter medium 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter medium 3 is made of folded fibers. The filter device 2 can be designed as a replaceable filter element 6. The cleaning device 1 also includes an ionizer device 7. The ionizer device 7, as shown, Fig. 1 can be removed, at least one electrode 9 and at least one counter electrode 10. In the example of the Fig. Figure 1 shows that, for the sake of simplicity and purely as an example, the ionizer device 7 has two electrodes 9 and two counter electrodes 10. During operation, a voltage for corona discharge in air is applied between at least one electrode 9 and at least one counter electrode 10. In the illustrated embodiments, this voltage is provided by a voltage source 11 of the ionizer device 7. During operation, the voltage between at least one electrode 9 and at least one counter electrode 10 for corona discharge in air is, for example, between -5 kV and -15 kV, in particular -10 kV. Fig. As can be seen from Figure 1, the flow path P leads through the at least one electrode 9 and the at least one counter electrode 10, as well as through the filter device 2, wherein the at least one electrode 9 and the at least one counter electrode 10 are arranged upstream of the filter device 2. Fig. As can be seen from 1, at least one electrode 9 can be arranged between at least one counter electrode 10 and the filter device 2.

[0041] The electrically conductive component 4 is connected by means of, for example, a Fig. The electrical path 12 shown in Figure 1 is electrically connected to the counter electrode 10. In the illustrated embodiments, the electrical path 12 is designed as an electrical conductor 13. This makes it possible to rebuild the electrostatic charge of the filter device 2, which decreases due to aging and degradation, by transferring charge to the electrically conductive component 4.

[0042] How Fig. As can be seen from the electrical path 12, a resistor arrangement 16, having at least one electrical resistance 14, 15, is arranged between the counter electrode 10 and the electrically conductive component 4. The resistor arrangement 16 is hereinafter also referred to simply as arrangement 16. This results in a reduced electric current between the counter electrode 10 and the electrically conductive component 4. This prevents excessive electrostatic charging of the filter device 2. This results in an improved cleaning effect of the cleaning device 1.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiments, the resistance value of the arrangement 16 is at least 10 MOhm (megaohms). For example, the resistance value of the arrangement 16 is between 10 MOhm and 1000 MOhm, in particular 30 MOhm, 50 MOhm, or 100 MOhm.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiments, the arrangement 16 comprises two electrical resistors 14 and 15, namely a first electrical resistor 14 and a second electrical resistor 15. The resistors 14 and 15 are arranged in series in the electrical path 12 and thus form a voltage divider 17. The ratio between the resistance value of the first electrical resistor 14, hereinafter also referred to as the first resistance value, and the resistance value of the second electrical resistor 15, hereinafter also referred to as the second resistance value, is preferably at least 100. In the illustrated embodiments, the ratio between the first resistance value and the second resistance value is between 500 and 3000. In particular, the ratio is approximately 1000. The first resistor 14 can be arranged between the second resistor 15 and the electrically conductive component 4.

[0045] The voltage divider 17 makes it possible to determine the electrical voltage between the counter electrode 10 and the electrically conductive component 4 and / or the electrical current between the counter electrode 10 and the electrically conductive component 4. For this purpose, the cleaning device 1 in the illustrated embodiments and as shown Fig. Figure 1, in simplified terms, shows a control device 18 comprising a measuring device 19. The control device 18 is configured to determine an electrical voltage across the second electrical resistor 15 and / or the electrical current through the second electrical resistor 15. In the illustrated embodiments, the control device 18 is configured to determine the electrical voltage across the second resistor 15. For this purpose, the measuring device 19 can be configured as a voltmeter 20.

[0046] The control unit 18 can also be designed to detect, based on the measured voltage, whether a filter unit 2 is installed in the cleaning unit 1. In the absence of voltage, it can be determined that no filter unit 2 is installed in the cleaning unit 1, or that an existing filter unit 2 is installed incorrectly, for example, with the wrong orientation. Likewise, it can be determined, for example, due to a missing voltage, that an incorrect or unsuitable filter unit 2 is installed because of a missing electrical connection to the electrically conductive component 4.

[0047] The control unit 18 can alternatively or additionally be designed to recognize, based on the measured voltage, which type of filter device 2 is used in the cleaning device 1. The type of filter device 2 can be deduced from the dependence of the measured voltage on the electrically conductive component 2. This recognition can be achieved, for example, by storing corresponding voltages for different types of filter devices 2, comparing the measured voltage with these stored voltages to determine the corresponding type of filter device 2.

[0048] The cleaning device 1, in particular the ionizer device 7, can be operated based on the measured voltage and / or the detection of the presence and / or type of filter device 2. For example, the voltage applied between the at least one electrode 9 and the at least one counter electrode 10 can be adjusted depending on the type of filter device 2 used. It is also possible to deactivate the ionizer device 7 if a filter device 2 is missing and / or unsuitable, and alternatively or additionally to output an error message. The control device 18 is designed accordingly. In particular, the control device 18 is connected to the voltage source 11.

[0049] The cleaning device 1 can, as in Fig. Figure 3, simplified, shows the air conditioning system being used in an air conditioning system 100 and / or in a vehicle 200. The vehicle 200 can include the air conditioning system 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the air cleaned by the cleaning device 1 flows into an interior 201 of the vehicle 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the air conditioning system 100 has at least one heat exchanger 101 for heat transfer with the air, wherein in Fig. Figure 3 shows, for the sake of simplicity, a single heat exchanger 101, which is arranged purely by way of example downstream of the cleaning device 1. The heat transfer unit 101 can be integrated into a cyclic process 102, through which a fluid, for example a refrigerant or a coolant, circulates fluidically separated from the air during operation of the air conditioning system 101. Reference symbol list 1 cleaning facility 2 Filter system 3 Filter medium 4 conductive components 5 activated charcoal 6 filter inserts 7 Ionizer device 8 layers 9 electrode 10 Counter electrode 11 Voltage source 12 electrical path 13 electrical line 14 first electrical resistance 15 second electrical resistance 16 Arrangement 17 voltage dividers 18 Control unit 19 Measuring device 20 voltage meters 100 air conditioners 101 Heat exchangers 102 Cycle 200 vehicles 201 Interior P Flow path QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 488 933 A1

[0003]

Claims

Cleaning device (1) for cleaning air, in particular for a vehicle (200), - comprising a filter device (2), in particular a filter element (6), for cleaning the air, through which a flow path (P) of the air leads, - wherein the filter device (2) comprises a filter medium (3) for filtering particles from the air and an electrically conductive component (4), - comprising an ionizer device (7) through which the flow path (P) leads upstream of the filter device (2), - wherein the ionizer device (7) comprises at least one electrode (9) and at least one counter electrode (10), between which a voltage is applied during operation for corona discharge in the air, - wherein the electrically conductive component (4) is electrically connected to at least one of the at least one counter electrodes (10) by means of an electrical path (12), - comprising a resistance arrangement (16) comprising at least one electrical resistance (14, 15),which is arranged in the electrical path (12) between the at least one counter electrode (10) and the electrically conductive component (4). Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the resistance arrangement (16) has a resistance value of at least 10 MOhm. Cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the resistance arrangement (16) has two electrical resistors (14, 15) arranged in series in the electrical path (12), namely a first electrical resistor (14) and a second electrical resistor (15), which form a voltage divider (17). Cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that the ratio between a first resistance value of the first resistor (14) and a second resistance value of the second resistor (15) is at least 100. Cleaning device according to claim 4, characterized in that the ratio between the first resistance value and the second resistance is at least 100 and 5000, in particular between 500 and 3000. Cleaning device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the first electrical resistor (14) is arranged between the second electrical resistor (15) and the component (4). Cleaning device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the cleaning device (1) has a control device (18) with a measuring device (19) which is designed in such a way that it determines an electrical voltage at the second electrical resistor (15) and / or the electrical current through the second electrical resistor (15). Cleaning device according to claim 7, characterized in that the control device (18) is designed in such a way that it recognizes, on the basis of the determined voltage and / or the determined electric current, whether a filter device (2) is used in the cleaning device (1). Cleaning device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the control device (18) is designed in such a way that it recognizes, on the basis of the determined voltage and / or the determined electric current, which type of filter device (2) is used in the cleaning device (1). Cleaning device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the control device (18) is designed such that it operates the ionizer device (7) on the basis of the determined voltage and / or the determined electric current, in particular depending on the presence and / or the type of filter device (2).

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