Filter device for air purification, in particular for making viruses innocuous

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter device (1) for making viruses inoccuous, comprising at least one planarly designed, air-permeable carrier body (10) which is designed as a filter body (12) for a room air filter (13). According to the invention, electrical conductors (14, 15) are attached on the planar carrier body (10), between which an electrical potential can be applied. The invention further relates to a module comprising such a filter device (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a filter device for rendering viruses harmless and a method for operating such a filter device, with at least one planar, air-permeable carrier body, which is designed as a filter body for a room air filter. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Filter systems are known for HEPA air filters, which are suitable for filtering very small airborne particles, for example, from the air we breathe. However, HEPA-based filters do not retain viruses, and HEPA H14 air filters, for example, only retain particle conglomerates from 0.3 µm to 0.5 µm in size. Viruses, however, are approximately 0.1 µm in size, which necessitates the use of very fine-mesh filter media. This, however, increases air resistance as air flows through the filter. For larger filter applications, such as for air purification in rooms of larger buildings, very large filter systems are therefore required. The air resistance is further increased by the use of multiple filter media arranged in series, resulting in high energy consumption for large filter systems.

[0003] Filter systems typically consist of multiple filter layers, but these rely on the principle of mechanically retaining airborne particles. However, this approach is insufficient to prevent viral infection, particularly with viruses in the air we breathe. Aerosols, which carry viruses, can pass through purely mechanical filter layers, meaning that conventional, and especially purely mechanical, retention filters do not prevent viruses from passing through.

[0004] HEPA filters are widely used in air purifiers, and these require special measures for filtering air with a virus-reducing effect, such as regularly changing the filter element. A disadvantage is that filters operating on the retention principle, which are also designed to absorb very fine particles, create increased air resistance, leading to higher energy consumption to purify a given volume of air.

[0005] US patent 5,376,168 A discloses an electrostatic filter for integration into a vacuum cleaner. The filter comprises a pair of filament conductors that are insulated from each other and arranged in a substantially parallel, closely adjacent configuration. A circuit is provided for applying an electrical potential difference between the two conductors. This double-filament conductor is preferably arranged in a relatively small volume in a helical configuration forming a random network or in a more regular serpentine configuration. REVELATION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide an improved design of a filter device for rendering viruses harmless, and the filter device is to be designed as a filter body for a room air filter and be advantageously operated.

[0007] This problem is solved starting from a filter device for air purification according to the preamble of claim 1, starting from a method according to claim 12, and starting from a module according to claim 14, each with the characterizing features. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] The invention provides, to solve the problem, that with regard to the filter device, electrical conductors are applied to the planar support body, between which an electrical potential can be applied, and that a voltage source is provided, wherein the electrical conductors on the planar support body are connected to separate poles of the voltage source, wherein, according to the invention, the electrical conductors are arranged to one another and the voltage source is designed to apply such an electrical voltage that an electric field with a field strength in the range of 10⁶ < V / m to 10⁹ < V / m can be generated between the electrical conductors.

[0009] The core concept of the invention lies in the application of topographically defined electrical conductors to a side surface of a planar support body. According to the invention, this support body only needs to be planar and air-permeable; otherwise, it can be any substrate fulfilling these properties, including, in particular, a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric. Based on their manufacturing process, the electrical conductors can occupy a fixed distance from one another on the support body, so that the electric field can be defined in the same way between conductors of different polarities with a predetermined voltage per meter.The electrical conductors can also be incorporated into the carrier body, for example as inserts or as part of a woven or knitted fabric, or the electrical conductors can form the carrier body itself, provided that they are designed as a dimensionally stable structure and can form a surface structure through which air can flow.

[0010] The room air filter according to the invention is preferably a stationary filter with or without its own propeller, which is preferably fixed to buildings but can also be used in mobile devices that can generate an airflow, for example a vacuum cleaner or a mobile air conditioner.

[0011] The electric field formed when an electric voltage is applied between the two electrical conductors depends on the spatial distance between the electrical conductors of different polarities, and with a minimum shape stability of the planar support body, the distance between the electrical conductors of different polarities can be defined by applying the conductors in such a way that the resulting electric field between the electrical conductors can also be set in a defined manner, according to the invention 10 6< to 10 9< V / m.

[0012] Advantageously, the electrical conductors can be applied essentially across the entire surface, and in particular across the entire surface above the electrical support body, for example in a linear or grid-like pattern. If the flat support body forms an essential component of the filter device, and the filter air is forced or drawn through the support body, carrying viruses with it, the air must pass through the spatial gap between the electrical conductors, meaning the viruses must also pass through this gap. The applied electrical potential exposes the viruses to the electric field and renders them harmless, particularly by damaging their surface.

[0013] Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that so-called spike proteins, for example those of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can be damaged by the action of an electric field. This damage can prevent the virus from entering or attaching to an organic cell, thus preventing the viral replication process from even starting. Consequently, the primary virus-destroying effect of the electrical potential between electrical conductors is an interaction with the viral spike proteins or their surface, which is structurally attacked in such a way that the virus can be rendered harmless, particularly by preventing the virus from attaching to the receptors of the organic cell after exposure to the electric field.

[0014] The interaction between the electric field and the virus's spike proteins can affect the virus in such a way that the mere presence of the electrical potential is sufficient to cause lasting damage, preventing the virus from binding to the ACE2 receptor or other receptors (as is the case with other similarly acting viruses, such as influenza or SARS-CoV-1) of an infected cell. In the general sense of the invention, a further insight is that no plasma needs to be generated between the electrical conductors to affect viruses. Consequently, no ozone, high-energy radiation, or ions are produced, which represents a further advantage.

[0015] It may therefore be sufficient for the virus to undergo irreversible conformational changes upon exposure to an electric field for microseconds, structurally damaging the virus's spike protein to such an extent that the effect described above is produced. The viruses can remain airborne, i.e., without being mechanically filtered out, and are subsequently considered inactive, allowing them to be safely inhaled. This can even lead to an immune response without infection of a human or animal, similar to or based on the effect of a vaccination.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment, the electrical conductors are designed as electrical wires and / or it is provided that the electrical conductors are interwoven, intertwined, or otherwise connected or intertwined with electrically non-conductive threads, in particular polymer threads, to form a planar structure, and / or that the electrical conductors have a round, flat, angular, oval, or polygonal cross-section. The electrical conductors can be mechanically applied to the planar support, in particular by being bonded to it, or the electrical wires can be applied to a surface of the support in a deposition process or in some other way, for example, by electroplating.

[0017] Since the flat carrier body is permeable to air, the air to be cleaned can flow through it, consequently also passing through the spaces between the electrical conductors where the electric field is present. This allows the carrier body with the electrical conductors to be made very thin and / or with a large mesh and / or fine mesh, so that the resulting air resistance when the air to be cleaned flows through it is very low, which significantly reduces the energy required for air purification.

[0018] The electrical conductors advantageously have a spacing of 1 µm to 1 cm and / or 1 µm to 1 mm and / or 2.5 µm to 100 µm and / or 5 µm to 20 µm and / or 8 µm to 12 µm. A spacing of 10 µm between the electrical wires may suffice when a voltage of one volt is applied, as this already generates an electric field on the order of 10⁶ V / m due to the electric charge. Therefore, the wire thickness in the specified range can achieve the effect described above with just a few µm, while significantly higher voltages of up to 10 kV can be used in larger, particularly stationary, room filters.

[0019] According to the invention, the filter device comprises a voltage source, wherein the electrical conductors, between which the electrical potential can be applied, are connected to separate poles of the voltage source on the planar support body. The electrical voltage for the electrical potential between the electrical conductors can be provided by an external voltage supply, for example by means of a mains connection with a power supply unit.

[0020] To simplify the manufacturing process, particularly to increase the already microscopic dimensions of the electrical wires, higher voltages can be applied. This allows for larger spacings and dimensions of the electrical conductors, for example, in larger, permanently installed air purifiers in buildings. The filter unit can include a voltage source that provides, for example, a voltage from 0.1 volts to 10,000 volts and / or from 1 volt to 1,000 volts and / or from 10 volts to 100 volts. The voltage source is designed as a direct current (DC) source or, preferably, as an alternating current (AC) source.

[0021] Within the scope of the invention, the electrical conductors on the planar support can have any desired topography. Advantageously, the electrical conductors of different potentials do not cross each other, although it would still be technically possible to provide a grid structure, in particular a matrix structure, provided that the electrical conductors of different potentials can be insulated from each other, for example, if they have an electrically non-conductive coating. Advantageously, however, it is provided that the electrical conductors between which the electrical potential can be applied are arranged parallel to each other on the planar support, and thus, in particular, in a row-like arrangement.

[0022] If the electrical conductors cross, they can be coated with an electrically non-conductive material, or the electrical conductors can be interwoven with electrically non-conductive threads, for example with polymer threads or polymer fibers, so that they do not touch and the potential can be maintained.

[0023] Since essentially no current, or at least a negligible one, flows and no plasma is generated to utilize the effect of the electrical potential on the viruses, simply providing an electrical potential from a very small voltage source attached to the carrier body is sufficient. The voltage source can be a mains connection, a battery, or an accumulator; however, it is also possible to implement the voltage source as a capacitor that is recharged by an external device, for example, at regular intervals, such as a solar cell, which can also be part of the air purifier.

[0024] The electrical conductors are connected to the voltage source in such a way that adjacent conductors have opposite polarities. Thus, in a row or grid structure, hundreds or even thousands of conductors can be arranged side by side, and the polarity constantly alternates between adjacent conductors.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment of the filter device according to the invention, at least one air-permeable, planar protective body is applied in front of and / or behind the planar support body. Advantageously, at least on the side of the planar support body, a protective body is applied on which the electrical conductors are arranged on the surface of the planar support body.

[0026] The carrier body and / or at least one protective layer are made of a textile or nonwoven fabric, although other materials, particularly air-permeable substrates, can also be used. Furthermore, the carrier body and the protective layer can also be made of biodegradable materials, which makes replacement and / or disposal environmentally friendly, especially compared to conventional air purifiers with HEPA filter elements, where the typically very thin electrical conductors pose no problem during natural disposal, such as composting.

[0027] A further advantage of the filter technology according to the invention is the reduced air resistance for forcing the air to be cleaned through the filter device, since the support body with the electrical conductors and optionally at least one further flat protective body can exhibit significantly lower air resistance at the same airflow rate than, for example, purely mechanically acting retention filters such as HEPA filter elements. In the case of a room air purifier, this can considerably reduce the energy required for operation and thus for air purification. The filter elements according to the invention can be adapted in size to existing conventional filters, e.g., HEPA filters, so that conventional HEPA filters can be replaced by the filters according to the invention without incurring additional costs, especially if a power source is already integrated into the filter element and it can operate independently.

[0028] It is also conceivable that the filter device is designed in such a way that it can be inserted into a holder or a corresponding receptacle in the room air filter, so that when it is inserted the electrical conductors are connected to the voltage source at the same time, similar to the principle of an electrical circuit board.

[0029] The at least one flat protective layer is applied to the entire surface of the carrier body, and the carrier body and the at least one protective layer are connected to each other and preferably lie on top of one another. A special configuration is achieved with a first protective layer on the first side and a second protective layer on the second side of the carrier body, such that these three layers lie on top of each other and form a single filter substrate.

[0030] The structure of the electrical conductors is preferably linear or grid-like, for example, by having all electrical conductors run essentially horizontally or vertically, and by providing additional electrical conductors that connect the electrical conductors at a defined distance from each other to the voltage source. In this way, a conductor structure can be constructed that interlocks like a comb and is connected to the poles of the voltage source on opposite sides.

[0031] It has proven particularly advantageous to manufacture filter devices with a sandwich structure, such that the flat carrier body has a protective body on both sides, and the flat carrier body is enclosed with the electrical conductors between the flat protective bodies in such a way that they are protected from external influences.

[0032] It is also advantageous if the air-permeable, flat carrier body and the flat protective bodies are washable, and in particular are connected to each other in such a way that wet cleaning of the filter device does not damage the sandwich structure with the electrical conductors.

[0033] To produce the parallel metallic wires in the most cost-effective way possible, they could be provided as a woven or textile material, running horizontally or vertically and interwoven with, for example, polymer wires that run perpendicular to the metallic wires, such as warp and weft. This creates a checkered pattern in which parallel metallic wires are held in place by non-conductive polymer wires that are also parallel but run perpendicular to the metallic wires. Filters of the required length and width can then be cut from a single sheet of material. A combing machine, for example, can then lift half of the metallic wires on one edge and the other half, alternating between them, on the opposite edge, creating small bulges. The bulges on each edge are then joined by another metallic wire, perhaps by soldering.This is how the filter is produced according to the invention. This method could be implemented using existing industrial capacities.

[0034] The planar support body and / or the at least one planar protective body can be arranged in a filter housing, wherein the electrical conductors are designed or arranged in a grid-like form and extend over at least a part of the planar support body or substantially over the entire planar support body and / or the planar protective body, in any case in the area through which the support body or the protective body is permeated by the air to be cleaned.

[0035] The voltage source can include a ballast with which the voltage across the electrical conductors is switched or pulsed. If several carrier bodies with their respective electrical conductors are arranged one behind the other in the room air filter, through which air flows sequentially, they can be energized simultaneously, or the energization, and thus the application of the electrical potential, can be switched and, in particular, sequential, so that viruses in the air to be purified are exposed to the electrical potential multiple times, or that the electrical conductors on the successive carrier bodies are energized sequentially, so that the viruses, when passing through the carrier bodies, traverse an electric field at least once and are manipulated by it according to the invention. The pulses can be applied in such a way that the pulses are superimposed with a stationary potential, so that the viruses always pass through the electrical conductors under the influence of a field.However, short pulses of < 1 microsecond can generate much higher fields, about 10 8< V / m or higher, so that with pulse superposition even further improved manipulation of the viruses can be achieved.

[0036] It would also be conceivable to provide a carrier body coated on both sides with a flat metallic conductor, with the metallic coating forming an electrical conductor on each side. The carrier body, for example in the form of a film or the like, together with the two metallic conductor layers, is perforated, for example with a pulsed laser, through which the filtered air can pass. The electrical potential between the electrical conductors in the form of the metallic conductor layers can then be applied, so that when viruses pass through the holes of the perforation, they are effectively damaged by the electrical potential between the metallic conductor layers.

[0037] The object of the invention is further achieved by means of a method for operating a filter device for rendering viruses harmless according to the above description, with at least one planar, air-permeable carrier body, which is designed as a filter body for a room air filter, wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: applying an electrical voltage by means of the voltage source such that an electric field with a field strength in the range of 10⁶ < V / m to 10⁹ < V / m is generated between the electrical conductors, passing an airflow through the carrier body and thus through the spaces between the electrical conductors, and acting upon viruses that are moved between the electrical conductors by the airflow by the electrical potential.The steps of applying an electrical potential and passing an airflow through the carrier body and thus through the spaces between the electrical conductors, as well as the effect of the electrical potential on viruses that are carried by the airflow between the electrical conductors, can be carried out continuously. In particular, the air purifier can be positioned as a stationary air purifier in a room, as a permanent installation in a building, or even in a vehicle, in an electrical appliance such as a vacuum cleaner, or, for example, in a stationary or mobile air conditioner.

[0038] The effect of the electrical potential between the electrical conductors on the viruses triggers an interaction of the electrical voltage on an external structure of the viruses, in particular such that the spike proteins of the viruses are manipulated by the effect of the electrical potential between the electrical conductors, thus preventing a subsequent connection of the viruses with human or animal cells.

[0039] Within the scope of the invention, it is also conceivable that a module with a filter device according to the invention is provided for carrying out a method that is designed for subsequent or interchangeable installation in a room air filter, in particular a stationary room air filter. For example, the module can have the shape and size of conventional filter mats, which can then be easily replaced with the filter device according to the invention.

[0040] Furthermore, the invention relates to an air purifier with at least one or more filter devices configured according to the above description. In particular, the invention relates to an air purifier with at least one or more filter devices for neutralizing viruses, comprising at least one flat, air-permeable carrier body configured as a filter body and forming the filter-active part of the air purifier, wherein electrical conductors are applied to the flat carrier body, between which an electrical potential can be applied. The further features and advantages described above in connection with the filter device also apply to the air purifier according to the invention. PREFERRED EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

[0041] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below, together with a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures. The figures show: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a filter device designed as a room air filter according to the invention with a carrier body and with electrical conductors applied to it, Figure 2 is an embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention in a perspective view, Figure 3 is an embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention as a filter body in a room air filter, Figure 4 is another possible embodiment for the arrangement of the electrical conductors on the carrier body and Figure 5 is another possible embodiment for the formation of the electrical conductors on a carrier body.

[0042] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the filter device 1 for air purification, which has as an essential component a flat carrier body 10, which has an exemplary rectangular shape, so that the flat carrier body 10 can be used as a room air filter 13.

[0043] On the flat carrier body 10, electrical conductors 14 and 15 are applied to the visible side as an example, each connected to the terminals of a voltage source 16. Due to their respective terminal connections to the voltage source 16, the electrical conductors 14 and 15 have an electrical potential relative to each other, which can range, for example, from 0.1 volts to 10,000 volts, depending on the size of the filter device 1 and the distance between the electrical conductors 14 and 15 with their different electrical potentials.

[0044] The structure of the electrical conductors 14 and 15 in relation to each other is arranged in a row, with the electrical conductors 14 on the left side being connected to each other and attached to the positive terminal of the voltage source 16, and the electrical conductors 15 on the right side being connected to each other and attached to the negative terminal of the voltage source 16.

[0045] The electrical conductors 15 run in the spaces between the electrical conductors 14, and conversely, the electrical conductors 14 run in the spaces between the electrical conductors 15, i.e., alternately, and the respective electrical conductors 14 and 15 are each connected to the positive terminal and negative terminal of the voltage source 16 via a common conductor, respectively. The distance between the electrical conductors 14 and 15 can be, for example, 1 µm to 100 µm, preferably about 10 µm. The embodiment according to Figure 1The diagram is shown only schematically, and the electrical conductors 14 and 15 essentially cover the entire surface of the planar support body 10 and have a very planar, dense structure in relation to each other, which is shown significantly enlarged and minimized only for graphical purposes.

[0046] The room air filter 13 can also have several carrier bodies 10, which are successively flowed through with the air to be cleaned.

[0047] Figure 2Figure 1 shows the filter device 1 in a perspective, expanded view with a flat support body 10 positioned centrally between two flat protective bodies 17 and 18. Electrical conductors 14 and 15 are shown arranged in a line on the flat support body 10 and are located on the side of the flat support body 10 where the flat protective body 17 is positioned. In the ready-to-use state of the filter device 1, the flat protective bodies 17 and 18 are directly connected to the flat support body 10, so that all flat bodies 10, 17, and 18 are in full contact with one another.

[0048] The electrical conductors 14 and 15 are connected to the voltage source 16 in a manner not shown in detail, and the voltage source 16 can be equipped with a ballast 21 with which the voltage on the electrical conductors 14 and 15 can be modulated, clocked or pulsed, for example, or the voltage is increased relative to the voltage of the voltage source 16, for example electronically stepped up.

[0049] Figure 3Figure 1 shows the filter device 1 as a component of a room air filter 13, through which, for example, air to be cleaned can flow horizontally, as indicated by the arrows. The filter device 1 is shown with the flat support body 10 and with the attached electrical conductors 14, 15, wherein the protective bodies 17 and 18 are laterally attached to the surfaces of the flat support body 10. The room air filter 13 has a housing 11 in which the filter body 12 is received, comprising the support body 10 with the attached electrical conductors 14, 15 and with the protective bodies 17 and 18. The filter device 1 is thus designed as a filter-active element of a room air filter 13 or constitutes the room air filter 13 itself. The illustration shows the support body 10 with the electrical conductors 14, 15 as the filter body 12, which is received in a separate form within the housing 11.

[0050] If the airflow through the room air filter is horizontal, as shown in the image, the air first passes through the flat protective body 17 and then the flat support body 10, before finally passing through the flat protective body 18. The air flowing through the filter device 1 is forced through the spaces between the electrical conductors 14 and 15. If an electrical voltage is applied between these conductors, an interaction of the resulting electrical potential with the viruses in the air flowing through can be generated, thus neutralizing them. In the direction of airflow, the housing 11 has filter inserts, which are, for example, designed as fabric filters.

[0051] Figure 4Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of a carrier body 10 with a fabric, which is manufactured, for example, in the warp-weft manner, wherein the weft threads form the electrical conductors 14, 15, while the warp threads are non-conductive, for example, by being made of a polymer wire, and the electrical conductors 14, 15 are formed by means of metallic wires. The warp and weft threads can be provided as a fabric, wherein, before or after the fabric is applied to the carrier body 10, every second electrical conductor 14 is connected, for example, to the positive terminal, and the electrical conductors 15 in between are connected to the negative terminal. The fabric can, for example, be die-cut from a web of fabric to match the dimensions of the carrier body 10.

[0052] Figure 5This represents another possible embodiment of a carrier body 10, which is coated on both sides with a planar metallic conductor forming the electrical conductors 14 and 15. The carrier body 10, for example designed as a film or the like, is provided with a perforation 22, for example using a pulsed laser, together with the two metallic conductor layers, through which the filter air can pass. The electrical potential between the electrical conductors 14 and 15 in the form of the metallic conductor layers can be applied, so that when viruses pass through the holes of the perforation, they are effectively damaged by the electrical potential between the metallic conductor layers.

[0053] The invention is not limited in its implementation to the preferred embodiment described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable which utilize the solution presented even in fundamentally different embodiments, the invention being defined by the accompanying claims.

[0054] All features and / or advantages arising from the claims, the description or the drawings, including design details or spatial arrangements, can be essential to the invention both individually and in various combinations, without deviating from the scope of protection of the claims. Reference symbol list:

[0055] 1 Filter unit 10. Surface carrier body 11. Filter housing 12. Filter body 13. Room air filter 14. Electrical conductor 15. Electrical conductor 16. Voltage source 17. Surface protective body 18. Surface protective body 19. Solar cell 20. Mounting body 21. Ballast 22. Perforation 23. Filter insert

Claims

1. Filter device (1) for rendering viruses harmless, having at least one flat, air-permeable carrier body (10) which is designed as a filter body (12) for a room air filter (13), electrical conductors (14, 15), between which an electrical potential can be applied, and a voltage source (16) being provided, the electrical conductors (14, 15) being connected on the flat carrier body (10) to separate poles of the voltage source (16) in each case, characterised in that the electrical conductors (14, 15) are arranged relative to one another and the voltage source (16) is designed to apply an electrical voltage such that an electric field with a field strength in the range from 106V / m to 109V / m can be generated between the electrical conductors (14, 15).

2. Filter device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the electrical conductors (14, 15) are designed as electrical wires and / or in that the electrical conductors (14, 15) are interwoven, knitted or otherwise connected to electrically non-conductive threads, in particular polymer threads, to form a flat structure and / or in that the electrical conductors (14, 15) have a round, flat, angular, oval or polygonal cross-section.

3. Filter device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the electrical conductors (14, 15) have a spacing of 1µm to 1cm and / or of 1µm to 1mm and / or of 2.5µm to 100µm and / or of 5µm to 20µm and / or of 8µm to 12µm.

4. Filter device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the electrical conductors (14, 15) have cross-sectional dimensions of 1µm to 5mm and / or 2.5µm to 1mm and / or from 5µm to 100µm and / or from 8µm to 12µm.

5. Filter device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the electrical conductors (14, 15), between which the electrical potential can be applied, are applied to the flat carrier body (10) parallel to one another and / or extending in rows relative to one another and / or in that the electrical conductors (14, 15) have an electrically non-conductive coating.

6. Filter device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the voltage source (16) has a voltage of from 0.1V to 10,000V and / or from 1V to 1,000V and / or from 10V to 100V and / or wherein the voltage source (16) is a DC voltage source or an AC voltage source.

7. Filter device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plurality of flat, air-permeable carrier bodies (10) are provided with electrical conductors (14, 15) applied thereto, between which an electrical potential can be applied, and / or wherein at least one air-permeable protective body (17, 18) extending over a surface is arranged and / or applied in front of and / or behind the flat carrier body or bodies (10).

8. Filter device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the two-dimensional carrier body (10) and / or the at least one two-dimensional protective body (17, 18) are applied to one another and / or wherein the carrier body (10) and / or the at least one protective body (17, 18) are formed from a textile or from a fiber fleece and / or wherein the electrical conductors (14, 15) are arranged between the two-dimensional carrier body (10) and / or the at least one two-dimensional protective body (17, 18).

9. Filter device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one flat support body (10) and / or the at least one flat protective body (17, 18) are arranged in a filter housing (11), the electrical conductors (14, 15) being designed or arranged in the form of a grid and extending over at least part of the flat support body (10) or essentially over the entire flat support body (10) and / or the flat protective body (17, 18), the support body (10) and the protective bodies (17, 18) being designed in such a way that they are acted upon by the air to be cleaned essentially from planes orthogonal to their planes of extension, 18), the support body (10) and the protective bodies (17, 18) being designed in such a way that the air to be cleaned can be applied to them essentially from a direction orthogonal to their planes of extension.

10. Filter device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the voltage source (16) is designed as a mains connection, a battery, an accumulator, an electrical capacitor or a solar cell and / or wherein the voltage source (16) is connected to a ballast (21).

11. Filter device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the electrical voltage is applied to the electrical conductors (14, 15) in a pulsed or clocked manner, in particular by means of control by the ballast (21), wherein, in the case of a plurality of carrier bodies (10), the electrical conductors (14, 15) applied to these can be energized simultaneously or successively.

12. A method of operating a filter device (1) for rendering viruses harmless according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising at least the following steps: - Application of such an electrical voltage by means of the voltage source (16) that an electrical field with a field strength in the range from 106V / m to 109V / m is generated between the electrical conductors (14, 15), - Flow of air through the carrier body (10) and thus through the spaces between the electrical conductors (14, 15), - Effect of the electrical potential on viruses that are moved between the electrical conductors (14, 15) by the pleasure current.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that with the action of the electrical potential between the electrical conductors (14, 15) on the viruses, an interaction of the electrical voltage or of the electrical potential or electrical field on an outer structure of the viruses is carried out, in particular in that the viruses have spike proteins, the spike proteins being manipulated by the action of the electrical potential between the electrical conductors (14, 15) on the viruses in such a way that a subsequent connection of the viruses to organic cells is prevented.

14. Module with a filter device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11 for carrying out a method according to claim 12 or 13, designed for subsequent or replacement arrangement in a room air filter (13), in particular a stationary room air filter (13).

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