Sanitizing assembly for an ambient air flow

Abstract

A sanitizing assembly (10) for an ambient air flow (F) comprising, in fluidic communication along an air flow direction (X), both an ionizing filter (11) and a catalytic filter (12).

Description

[0001] “SANITIZING ASSEMBLY FOR AN AMBIENT AIR FLOW”

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a sanitizing assembly for an ambient air flow inside a room. In particular, the sanitizing assembly can be either part of a sanitizing device, or can be embedded in elements of home furniture, appliances, office furniture, including vending machines or suchlike.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Sanitizing devices are usually configured to filter an air flow polluted with contaminants like bioaerosols (bacteria, viruses, moulds, pollen, etc.), volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”), gaseous contaminants (NOx, CO, CO2), fine dust and others.

[0006] Some known sanitizing devices comprise a casing, provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the passage of the air flow, inside which are disposed an ionizing filter and a photocatalytic filter provided with lighting elements for the activation of a photocatalyst material.

[0007] The photocatalytic filter comprises a plurality of flat supports made of, or comprising, a photocatalyst material, arranged parallel to each other and to the air flow direction. The air flow is forced to pass between the flat supports along a path involving multiple passes in opposite directions before exiting through the outlet opening.

[0008] The lighting elements are arranged above and / or to the side of the flat supports of the photocatalytic filter.

[0009] One of the disadvantages of known sanitizing devices is that the lighting elements, as they are disposed, cannot evenly radiate the surface of the media and thus the photocatalyst is activated ineffectively.

[0010] A further disadvantage of known sanitizing devices is that the flat supports have a significant extension in the air flow direction, which greatly increases the overall bulk of such sanitizing devices. This makes them unsuitable for use when space is limited or where aesthetic impact is very7important for the user.

[0011] A further disadvantage of known sanitizing devices is that the layout of the flat supports significantly increases the pressure drop of the air flow, due to the alternating path air has to travel, and therefore a fan is always required to move the air flow in a forced manner.

[0012] A further disadvantage of known sanitizing devices is that the photocatalysts are not suitable for any type of contaminant, just as the lighting elements are also unable of excite all kind of photocatalysts. This makes such sanitizing devices particularly limited in filtration effectiveness when the ambient air is polluted with a wide variety of contaminants.

[0013] There is therefore a need to perfect a sanitizing assembly for an ambient air flow that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0014] One purpose of the present invention, which corresponds to the technical problem to be resolved, is to provide a sanitizing assembly for an ambient air flow that is particularly compact, in terms of bulk, while at the same time it is able to ensure effective filtration of contaminants in the air flow being treated.

[0015] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a sanitizing assembly for ambient air that is able to treat a wide variety of contaminants just changing rapidly its configuration or its operational modes.

[0016] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a sanitizing assembly configured to form part of a sanitizing device, fixed or portable.

[0017] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a sanitizing assembly configured to be easily embedded into elements of home furniture, appliances, for example a cooker hood, office furniture, including vending machines or suchlike.

[0018] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

[0019] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0021] In accordance with the above purposes, and to resolve the technical problem disclosed above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, a sanitizing assembly, according to the present invention, for an ambient air flow comprises, in fluidic communication along an air flow direction, both an ionizing filter and a catalytic filter.

[0022] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, said catalytic filter comprises a containment body inside which are disposed:

[0023] - at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules, each provided with a planar interface layer made of, or comprising, a photocatalyst,

[0024] - at least one first lighting module configured to irradiate first light beams along a first nominal emission direction substantially orthogonal to said interface layers, and

[0025] - at least one second lighting module configured to irradiate second light beams along a second nominal emission direction substantially parallel to said interface layers.

[0026] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said second nominal emission direction is orthogonal to the air flow direction and to said first nominal emission direction.

[0027] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules are positioned parallel to each other and substantially orthogonal to said air flow direction.

[0028] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, at least one first lighting module is positioned upstream of the catalytic filtration module that is first encountered by said air flow, facing its planar interface layer.

[0029] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said at least one second lighting module is positioned between said at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules.

[0030] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a distance between said two distinct catalytic filtration modules is approximately equal to a height of said at least one second lighting module.

[0031] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said at least one first lighting module is connected to a bottom wall and / or to an upper wall, and said at least one second lighting module is connected to a lateral wall, of said containment body.

[0032] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each lighting module comprises a support element on which a certain number of lighting elements are installed, wherein said lighting elements could be configured to emit a respective light beam having a specific wavelength for the activation of a specific photocatalyst. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each photocatalyst can be chosen from semiconductors such as titanium dioxide TiCh, tungsten trioxide WO3, zinc oxide ZnO.

[0033] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said catalytic filter comprises both a first and a second catalytic filtration modules having respective planar interface layer made of, or comprising, titanium dioxide TiCh, two first lighting modules and two second lighting modules provided with respective lighting elements configured to emit a respective light beam having a wavelength in the UV-A region. The wavelength is preferably about 365 nm.

[0034] The couple of first lighting modules is arranged upstream of said first catalytic filtration module on a bottom wall of said containment body, and the couple of second lighting modules is arranged between said first and second catalytic filtration modules on two opposite lateral walls of said containment body facing each other.

[0035] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said lighting modules are fixedly connected to said containment body in order to emit respective light beams along said first and second emission direction.

[0036] According to a variant of the present invention, said at least first and second lighting modules could be swivelly connected to said containment body.

[0037] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each lighting element could be dimmable in order to be able to modify the intensity of the light beams.

[0038] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the planar interface layers of said at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules are made of, or comprising, a respective first and second photocatalyst distinct from each other.

[0039] In accordance with a variant of the present invention, each interface layer is made of, or comprises, more than one photocatalyst respectively, and the activation of the specific photocatalyst occurs due to different wavelengths of said lighting elements.

[0040] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each interface layer could be provided with a tag containing at least information about the photocatalyst comprised in it, and said sanitizing assembly comprises a reader device able at least to read said tag. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said sanitizing assembly comprises a power supply module, electrically connected both to said ionizing filter and to said catalytic filter, and a control module that is configured to manage the activation of said lighting elements, the intensity of their light beams, and their operating time.

[0041] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said control module is connected to said reader device to receive said information, and comprises a memoiy where it is stored a database containing the correlations between the photocatalysts and operating parameters of the said lighting elements.

[0042] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said sanitizing assembly also comprises a ventilation device preferably disposed downstream of said catalytic filter.

[0043] Embodiments of the present invention also refer to a sanitizing device, a cooker hood, a vending machine and an item of furniture, e.g. a desk, comprising a sanitizing assembly as disclosed above.

[0044] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0046] - figs. 1-6 respectively show a perspective and exploded view of a sanitizing device (figs. 1-2), and schematic views of a cooker hood (fig. 3), a vending machine (fig. 4), and items of furniture (figs. 5-6), comprising a sanitizing assembly according to the present invention;

[0047] - fig. 7 is a perspective view7of the sanitizing assembly according to the present invention;

[0048] - fig. 8 is an exploded view of fig. 7;

[0049] - fig. 8a is an enlarged view of a detail of fig. 8;

[0050] - figs. 9 and 10 are two longitudinal sectional views of the sanitizing assembly of fig. 7;

[0051] - figs. 11-15 show schematic views of variants of the present invention.

[0052] We must clarify that in the present description the phraseology and terminology used, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also as described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their function being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0053] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

[0054] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0055] Some possible embodiments of the present invention described with reference to figs. 1-6, and better explained in the following, concern a sanitizing device 100 (figs. 1-2), a cooker hood 200 (fig. 3), a vending machine 300 (fig. 4), and items of furniture 400, 500 (figs. 5-6) comprising a sanitizing assembly 10 able to sanitize an ambient air flow, e.g. inside a room.

[0056] With reference to figs. 7-10, the sanitizing assembly 10 according to the present invention for an ambient air flow F comprises, in sequence, along an air flow direction X, both an ionizing filter 11 and a catalytic filter 12, positioned downstream of the ionizing filter 11, and, optionally, a ventilation device 13.

[0057] The ventilation device 13 is an axial ventilation device. The ventilation device 13 could be a pressure ventilation device, i.e. it is disposed upstream of the ionizing filter 11, or a suction ventilation device, i.e. it is disposed downstream of the catalytic filter 12. Other embodiments could provide to position the ventilation device 13 between the ionizing filter 11 and the catalytic filter 12. In the present example, the ventilation device 13 is of the suction type that is preferred because the ventilation device 13 is less prone to fouling since the air flow F passing through the vane has already been filtered. According to a possible embodiment, the ventilation device 13 has a nominal flow rate of about 180 m3 / h so that the net flow7through the sanitizing assembly 10 is at most 50 m3 / h, suitable for the scope of the latter.

[0058] The sanitizing assembly 10 can be arranged vertically or horizontally therefore the air flow direction X can be a vertical direction or a horizontal direction.

[0059] The ionizing filter 11 is highly efficient at removing airborne particles like PM2.5, fungus, dust, pollen, soot, smoke, while the catalytic filter 12 is highly efficient at decomposing volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) and deactivating viruses and bacteria. Referring to figs. 7-10, the ionizing filter 11 comprises a chassis 14, having a box-shaped structure with lateral walls 15, a bottom wall 16 and an opposite upper wall 17, shaped to contain an electrostatic field generator 18, configured to generate an electrostatic field capable of negatively or positively ionizing the air flow F, and an electrostatic collection filter 19, facing the electrostatic field generator 18 and arranged downstream of it, capable of attracting previously charged contaminants carried by the air flow7F and removing them from the latter.

[0060] According to a variant, the ionizing filter 11 could comprise only the electrostatic collection filter 19.

[0061] The Applicant has experienced that the best configuration for the ionizing filter 11 includes both the electrostatic field generator 18 and the electrostatic collection filter 19. A test has been performed using electronic instrumentation dedicated to the analysis of PM1.0 / PM 2.5 / PM10.0 concentrations in air. The PM2.5 trend is representative of dust / particulate removal in air. Table 1 shows the results of the test performed.

[0062] Table 1

[0063] According to the embodiment of figs. 7-10, wherein the sanitizing assembly 10 is vertically arranged, the electrostatic field generator 18 is disposed close to the bottom wall 16 of the chassis 14 where there is provided an inlet aperture 20 for the air flow F (figs. 7, 9 and 10). The electrostatic collection filter 19 is disposed above the electrostatic field generator 18 close to the upper wall 17 of the chassis 14 where there is provided the outlet aperture 21 for the air flow F (figs. 7, 9 and 10).

[0064] Referring to figs. 7-10, the electrostatic collection filter 19 is removably associated with the chassis 14 in order to be washed or replaced. The electrostatic collection filter 19 can be removed along a direction transverse to the air flow direction X, for example a horizontal direction, from a third aperture 22 made on a lateral wall 15 of the chassis 14 (fig. 8). The electrostatic collection filter 19 can be inserted and removed with respect to the chassis 14 like a drawer. For this porpoise, the electrostatic collection filter 19 can be provided with gripping elements such as a handle 23 (figs. 7-9).

[0065] Optionally, a primary filter 24 can be disposed upstream with respect of the electrostatic field generator 18 with the aim of removing the coarser contaminants carried by the air flow F. The primary filter 24 could be disposed in correspondence of the inlet aperture 20 of the chassis 14, see for example figs. 9 and 10.

[0066] According to possible embodiments, the electrostatic field generator 18 is a charge grid able to generate a corona discharge and to release high energy electrons with a voltage of approximately -10KV, and the electrostatic collection filter 19 is a honeycomb shaped filter. The electrostatic collection filter 19 is formed by layers or rows of tubes, wherein each row contains thin electrode sheets with insulation coating that generate intense electrical fields within the tubes. Charged particles - pollutants, bacteria, germs, viruses - are pulled to the walls of the tubes - and firmly stick.

[0067] According to the present invention, referring to figs.7-10, the catalytic filter 12 comprises a containment body 25 shaped to define, inside it, a housing compartment 26 in which there are positioned both at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules 27, 28, each provided with a planar interface layer 29, 30 made of, or comprising, a photocatalyst P (shown in fig. 8a), at least one first lighting module 31 configured to irradiate first light beams Bl orthogonally to the interface layers 29, 30 along a first emission direction Y1 parallel to the air flow direction X, and at least one second lighting module 32 configured to irradiate second light beams B2 transverse to the interface layers 29, 30 along a second emission direction Y2.

[0068] The at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules 27, 28 are arranged at a certain distance D from each other along the air flow direction X, see figs. 9 and 10. The distance D between them could be comprised from about 15 mm and about 30 mm, preferably from about 20 mm and about 22 mm.

[0069] The at least one first and second lighting modules 31, 32 are arranged at a certain vertical distance Q from each other, see figs. 9 and 10. The distance Q between them could be comprised from about 45 mm and about 50 mm.

[0070] The second emission direction Y2 is preferably orthogonal to the air flow direction X and to the first emission direction Yl.

[0071] The at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules 27, 28 are parallel to each other and orthogonal to the air flow direction X. This layout advantageously allows the catalytic filter 12 to be compact.

[0072] The containment body 25 has a box-shaped structure with lateral walls 33, a bottom wall 34 and an opposite upper wall 35, and has an inlet aperture 36 on the bottom wall 34 and an outlet aperture 37 on the upper wall 35.

[0073] The containment body 25 is fixed on the top of the chassis 14 of the ionizing filter 11 and is in fluidic communication with the latter through the respective outlet 21 and inlet 36 apertures.

[0074] A chamber is defined between the catalytic filtration modules 27, 28 and the lateral walls 33 of the containment body 25 where the air flow F can slow down and comes into contact for a longer period of time with the planar interface layers 29, 30. The chamber has a height equal to the distance D between the catalytic filtration modules 27. 28.

[0075] The catalytic filtration modules 27, 28 are selectively insertable and removable with respect to the housing compartment 26, from a lateral aperture 48 (fig. 8) made on one of the lateral walls 33 of the containment body 25, for example to be replaced when the photocatalyst P is expired. For this porpoise, each catalytic filtration module 27, 28 can be provided with gripping elements such as a pull handle 38, see for example figs. 7-9.

[0076] The lighting modules 31, 32 are fixedly connected to the containment body 25.

[0077] According to a variant shown in fig. 14, one or more of the lighting modules 31 , 32 could be swivelly connected to the containment body 25 in order to modify the emission directions Yl, Y2. For example, the second lighting modules 32, that transversely radiate the catalytic filtration modules 29, 30, could be slightly tilted, with a tilting angle a, toward the interface layers 29, 30 to activate the photocatalysts P more effectively. The tilting angle a could be varied with respect to a reference plane, for example a horizontal plane when the sanitizing assembly 10 is vertically arranged. With reference to figs. 9 and 10, the at least one second lighting module 32 is arranged between the catalytic filtration modules 27, 28. The at least one second lighting module 32 is connected to one of the lateral walls 33 of the containment body 25.

[0078] According to a possible embodiment, the at least one second lighting module 32 can, in addition, act as a spacer element between the catalytic filtration modules 27, 28. Therefore, the distance D between the catalytic filtration modules 27, 28 could correspond to a height H of the at least one second lighting module 32. Said distance D and height H are measured along the air flow7direction X.

[0079] With reference to figs. 9 and 10, the at least one first lighting module 31 is preferably arranged upstream of the catalytic filtration module 27, that is first encountered by the air flow F and is referred to be the first catalytic filtration module 27. The at least one first lighting module 31 is preferably connected to the bottom wall 34 of the containment body 25 where there is also provided the inlet aperture 36. The inlet aperture 36 could define one or more support elements 39 on the bottom wall 34 transverse to the lateral walls 33, on which the at least one first lighting module 31 is connected.

[0080] However, it is not excluded that the at least one first lighting module 31 could be arranged downstream of the other catalytic filtration module 28, that is second encountered by the air flow F and is referred to be the second catalytic filtration module 28. In this case, the at least one first lighting module 31 could be connected to the upper wall 35 of the containment body 25.

[0081] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in figs. 7- 10, the catalytic filter 12 comprises both two distinct catalytic filtration modules 27, 28, two first lighting modules 31 and two second lighting modules 32. The couple of first lighting modules 31 is arranged upstream of the first catalytic filtration module 27 on the bottom wall 34 of the containment body 25. The couple of second lighting modules 32 is arranged between the first and second catalytic filtration modules 27, 28, on two opposite lateral walls 33 of the containment body 25.

[0082] According to a variant shown in fig. 11 , one of the first lighting modules 31 is arranged upstream of the first catalytic filtration module 27, on the bottom wall 34, and the other one is arranged downstream of the second catalytic filtration module 28, on the upper wall 35.

[0083] According to a variant shown in fig. 12, there is provided more than one first lighting module 31 both disposed on the bottom 34 and the upper 35 wall of the containment body 25.

[0084] According to a variant shown in fig. 13, the two second lighting modules 32 are disposed on two respective adjacent lateral walls 33. In this way, the second lighting modules 32 can emit respective second light beams B2’, B2” along two second emission direction Y2’, Y2" orthogonal to each other.

[0085] According to another variant, there is provided a respective second lighting module 32 on each lateral wall 33 of the containment body 25, as shown in fig. 13 again.

[0086] According to embodiments, each lighting module 31, 32 comprises a support element 31a, 32a on which a certain number N of lighting elements 31b, 32b, e.g. LED diodes, are installed. In the present example, each lighting module 31, 32 is a led strip having a height H.

[0087] The lighting elements 31b, 32b may be aligned, on a single line, at a certain pitch L from each other along a direction of development of the support element 31a, 32a, see fig. 8.

[0088] The pitch L could be comprised between about 25 mm and about 40 mm.

[0089] According to others embodiments, the lighting elements 31b, 32b can be arranged, aligned or staggered, on several parallel lines.

[0090] In the present examples of figs. 8-15, the lighting modules 31, 32 are all illustrated with a number N of lighting elements 31b, 32b equal to three, wherein the pitch L between the lighting elements 31b, 32b is about 36mm.

[0091] However, according to possible embodiments, the number N of lighting elements 31b, 32b could be also different. For example, each lighting modules 31, 32 may be equipped with a different number N of lighting elements 31b, 32b, for example, in relation to their installation position on the containment body 25 and their distance from the catalytic filtration modules 27, 28.

[0092] Each lighting element 31 b, 32b is configured to emit a respective light beam B 1 , B2 having a specific wavelength for the activation of a specific photocatalyst P. The wavelengths X could be comprised in the following intervals: visible light (400-700 nm), UV-A (315-400 nm), UV-B (280-315 nm), UV-C (100-280 nm). According to the example, the light beams B 1 , B2 are emitted with a beam angle of about 120°.

[0093] According to one embodiment, each lighting module 31, 32 can be provided with at least two lighting elements 31b, 32b configured to emit respective light beams B 1 , B2 having a specific wavelength X and ' different from each other. In this way, depending on the photocatalyst P of the interface layers 29, 30, specific lighting elements 31b, 32b can be turned on.

[0094] According to one embodiment, each lighting element 31b, 32b could be also dimmable, i.e. they can be supplied with variable power in order to be able to modify the intensity of the light beams Bl, B2.

[0095] According to one embodiment better shown in fig. 8, each catalytic filtration module 27, 28 comprises an essentially rectangular drawer-shaped frame 40 on which the interface layer 29, 30 is positioned.

[0096] The frame 40 could have two lateral elastic flaps 41 that act as sliding elements during the insertion in, and removal from, the housing compartment 26 which is provided with corresponding guiding elements 42, see fig. 10, made on two opposite lateral walls 33 thereof.

[0097] The interface layer 29, 30 is provided with a plurality of through holes 43, through which the air flow F can flow along the air flow direction X, see for example figs. 8a, 9 and 10.

[0098] The interface layer 29, 30 is made of, or comprises, a photocatalytic material. In the example of figs. 8-15, the interface layer 29, 30 is essentially formed by a flat element, such as a ceramic tile, functionalized with a photocatalyst P. In other words, the interface layer 29, 30 of the present invention is a photocatalytic ceramic tile.

[0099] The interface layer 29 of the first catalytic filtration module 27 is made of, or comprises, at least a first photocatalyst Pl and the interface layer 30 of the second catalytic filtration module 28 is made of, or comprises, at least a second photocatalyst P2.

[0100] According to one embodiment, the second photocatalyst P2 could be the same as the first photocatalyst Pl . In this way, the catalytic filtration capacity of specific contaminants sensitive to that photocatalyst Pl, P2 can be multiplied. Such configuration can be advantageous when it is known the most prevalent contaminant present in the air flow F.

[0101] According to another embodiment, the second photocatalyst P2 could be different from the first photocatalyst Pl. Such configuration can be advantageous when it is not known the most prevalent contaminant present in the air flow F so that there is a need to catch different types of contaminants.

[0102] According to a possible embodiment, each interface layer 29, 30 could be made of, or could comprise, more than one photocatalyst Pl’, ..., Plnand P2’, ..., P2nrespectively, and the activation of the specific photocatalyst Pl’, ..., Plnand P2’, ..., P2noccurs due to the different wavelengths X’, ..., Xnof the lighting elements 31b, 32b.

[0103] According to possible embodiments, the photocatalyst P can be chosen from semiconductors such as titanium dioxide TiCh, tungsten trioxide WO3, zinc oxide ZnO. According with a preferred embodiment, the photocatalyst P can be titanium dioxide TiC or tungsten trioxide WO3.

[0104] According to possible embodiments, the spectral responsive region of the photocatalyst P for its activation can be improved by dye sensitization, doping with atoms of transition metals, or by creating oxygen vacancies.

[0105] Tests have been performed both to check the inactivation efficiencies of different photocatalysts P to virus and bacteria, more specifically to SARS-CoV- 2, along with different wavelengths of the lighting elements 31b, 32b (see Table 3 shown below), and the decomposition efficiencies of volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) and formaldehyde (HCHO) relative to different layout of the catalytic filter 12 (see Table 4 shown below).

[0106] Tests have been performed according to a testing method comprising the following steps:

[0107] - providing a test equipment, wherein the test equipment comprises a test volume, having a prismatic shape with a height of 1 ,5m and a base with sides of 2m and 2.5m respectively, and sensors / detectors disposed at a center of vertical walls of the test volume projecting from the shortest side of the base, at a height of 0.5m from the latter. In particular, electronic sensors are disposed at the center of a first vertical wall to detect PM, VOCs and formaldehyde while means to perform vial measurements for VOCs and formaldehyde are positioned in correspondence of the center of a second, e.g. opposite, vertical wall. - Positioning the sanitization assembly 10 inside the test volume, at a height of 20cm above the center of the base.

[0108] - turning on the sanitization assembly 10 and performing the measurements.

[0109] Table 2 summarizes the parameters taken into consideration to perform the tests. Table 2

[0110] Table 3

[0111] Referring to Table 3, the Applicant has experienced that an interface layer 29,

[0112] 30 made of, or comprising, titanium dioxide TiCh irradiated with light beams Bl, B2 with a wavelength A in the UV-C region (around 275 nm) is able to remove 99.9% of virus and bacteria in the air flow F after only 1 minute. Similar results have been obtained with a wavelength X in the UV-A region (around 365 nm) in an exposition time of 2.5 minutes for 99.9% removal.

[0113] Table 4

[0114] Referring to Table 4, the Applicant has experienced good results already with a single interface layer 29, 30 made of, or comprising, titanium dioxide TiCh irradiated with light beams Bl, B2 with a wavelength X in the UV-C region or in the UV-A region, w7herein VOCs / Isobutylene are reduced of about 15% in 1 hour and about 100% in 4 hours. Formaldehydes remain stable and not generated.

[0115] Surprisingly, the Applicant has experienced the best results with a catalytic filter 12 comprising two TiOz interface layers 29, 30 and four LEDs, i.e. the lighting elements 31b, 32b, emitting in the UV-A region, wherein VOCs are reduced of about 15-20% in 1 hour and about 100% in 4 hours, and formaldehydes show a reduction.

[0116] The best configuration has been chosen taking into account that:

[0117] - TiOz photocatalyst is preferred to WOs photocatalyst for cost effectiveness;

[0118] - the use of UV-A provides the best compromise between performance and cost of photocatalytic acceleration both for VOCs / Isobutylene and virus / bacteria decomposition. A best wavelength of 365 nm in the UV-A spectrum was identified;

[0119] - the use of two interface layers (ceramic tiles) made of, or comprising, titanium dioxide TiCh and two pairs of lighting modules (4 UV-A strip LEDs) enables the remotion of viruses and VOCs. By keeping the arrangement and positioning of the lighting modules unchanged according to appropriate studies, photocatalysis also makes possible a regression of formaldehydes in the environment.

[0120] According to a possible embodiment shown in fig. 15, each interface layer 29, 30 could be provided with a tag 44 containing at least information about the photocatalyst P comprised in it, and the sanitizing assembly 10 could comprise a reader device 45 able at least to read the tag 44. Tags 44 may either be read-only, having an assigned serial number that is used as a key into a database, or may be read / write, where interface layer 29, 30 specific data can be written into the tag. For example, if the tag is of the read / write type, it is possible to record information about the operating time of each catalytic filtration module 27, 28.

[0121] According to the embodiments, see fig. 9, the sanitizing assembly 10 also comprises a power supply module 46 electrically connected both to the ionizing filter 11, the catalytic filter 12 and, if present, the ventilation device 13. The power supply module 46 can be connected to the power grid, to solar power systems, and / or or to a battery that can be part of the sanitizing assembly 10.

[0122] The sanitizing assembly 10 also comprises a control module 47 connected to the power supply module 46 and configured to control the activation of the ionizing filter 11, the lighting elements 31b, 32b of the lighting module 31, 32 of the catalytic filter 12 and, if present, the ventilation device 13 to vary the flow rate.

[0123] More specifically, the control module 47 can manage the activation of the lighting elements 31b, 32b (on-off), in order to use the lighting elements 31b, 32b with the desired wavelength, the intensity of light beams B, the operating time of the lighting elements 31b, 32b, the order of activation of the lighting elements 31b, 32b, and other operating parameters.

[0124] According to a possible embodiment, shown in fig. 15, the control module 47 can be connected to the reader device 45 and comprise a memory where it is stored a database containing the correlations between the photocatalysts P and the operating parameters of the lighting elements 31b, 32b. The operating parameters of the lighting elements 31b, 32b could also depend on the flow rate of the air flow F.

[0125] For example purposes only, the sanitizing assembly 10, without the ventilation device 13, may be cube shaped with an overall bulk that could be around 145 mm in height and 147 mm in width and thickness.

[0126] With reference once again to figs. 1-6, embodiments of the present invention refer to possible applications of the above-described sanitizing assembly 10 and all its possible combinable embodiments.

[0127] With reference to figs. 1-2 the sanitizing device 100 comprises a case 110, a sanitizing assembly 10 disposed inside the case 110, and a user interface 111 connected to the control module 47 of the sanitizing assembly 10.

[0128] The case 110 comprises a cylindrical shell 112 and a support base 113 on which the sanitizing assembly 10 is fixed. The support base 113 has support feet 114 that can distance the sanitizing assembly 10 from an installation surface, allowing the air flow F to enter from below.

[0129] The cylindrical shell 112 has side openings 115 to allow air to flow out and one or more shield elements 116 removably connected to a lateral surface of the cylindrical shell 112 mainly for aesthetic porpoise (hide the apertures 22, 48).

[0130] With reference to fig. 3, the cooker hood 200 is configured to allow a flow air recirculation inside an installation room, for example a kitchen, and comprises a sanitizing assembly 10 which could be positioned inside an extraction pipe 210 of the cooker hood 200.

[0131] With reference to fig. 4, the vending machine 300 comprises a machine body 310 inside which a sanitizing assembly 10 is positioned.

[0132] With reference to fig. 5, an item of furniture is shown, in this case a desk 400 comprising a support plane 410 with a through hole 411, and a sanitizing assembly 10 positioned inside the through hole 411.

[0133] With reference to fig. 6, another item of furniture is shown, in this case a wardrobe 500 comprising a containing body 510, doors 511 and a sanitizing assembly 10 positioned on a top wall of the containing body 510.

[0134] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the sanitizing assembly for an ambient air flow as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0135] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of a sanitizing assembly for an ambient air flow, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0136] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the same claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sanitizing assembly (10) for an ambient air flow (F) comprising, in fluidic communication along an air flow direction (X), both an ionizing filter (11) and a catalytic filter (12), characterized in that said catalytic filter (12) comprises a containment body (25) in which are disposed:- at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules (27, 28), each provided with a planar interface layer (29, 30) made of, or comprising, a photocatalyst (P),- at least one first lighting module (31) configured to irradiate first light beams (Bl) along a first nominal emission direction (Yl) substantially orthogonal to said interface layers (29, 30),- at least one second lighting module (32) configured to irradiate second light beams (B2) along a second nominal emission direction (Y2) substantially parallel to said interface layers (29, 30).

2. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said second emission direction (Y2) is orthogonal to the air flow direction (X) and to said first emission direction (Yl).

3. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules (27, 28) are positioned parallel to each other and orthogonal to said air flow direction (X).

4. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in any claim from 1 to 3, characterized in that said at least one first lighting module (31) is positioned upstream of the catalytic filtration module (27, 28) that is first encountered by said air flow (F), facing its planar interface layer (29, 30).

5. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in any claim from 1 to 4, characterized in that said at least one second lighting module (32) is positioned between said at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules (27, 28).

6. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in any claim from 1 to 5, characterized in that each lighting module (31, 32) comprises a support element (31a, 32a) on which a certain number (N) of lighting elements (31b, 32b) are installed, and are configured to emit a respective light beam (Bl, B2) having a specific wavelength (X) for the activation of a specific photocatalyst (P).

7. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in any claim from 1 to 6, characterized in that said catalytic filter (12) comprises both a first and a second catalytic filtration modules(27, 28) having respective planar interface layer (29, 30) made of, or comprising, titanium dioxide TiCh, two first lighting modules (31) and two second lighting modules (32) provided with respective lighting elements (31b, 32b) configured to emit a respective light beam (B 1 , B2) having a wavelength (A) in the UV-A region, wherein the couple of first lighting modules (31) is arranged upstream of said first catalytic filtration module (27) on a bottom wall (34) of said body (25), and the couple of second lighting modules (32) is arranged between said first and second catalytic filtration modules (27, 28) on two opposite lateral walls (33) of said body (25) facing each other.

8. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that each lighting element (31b, 32b) is dimmable in order to be able to modify the intensity of the light beams (Bl, B2).

9. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in any claim from 1 to 8, characterized in that the planar interface layers (29, 30) of said at least two distinct catalytic filtration modules (27, 28) are made of, or comprising, a respective first and second photocatalyst (Pl, P2) distinct from each other.

10. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in any claim from 6 to 9, characterized in that comprises a power supply module (46), electrically connected both to said ionizing filter (11) and to said catalytic filter (12), and a control module (47) that is configured to manage the activation of said lighting elements (31b, 32b), the intensity of their light beams (B) and their operating time.

11. Sanitizing assembly (10) as in any claim from 1 to 10, characterized in that comprises a ventilation device (13) disposed downstream of said catalytic filter (12).

12. Sanitizing device (100) comprising a case (110), a sanitizing assembly (10), according to any of the previous claim from 1 to 11, disposed inside said case (110), and a user interface (111) connected to a control module (47) of said sanitizing assembly (10).

13. Cooker hood (200) comprising an extraction pipe (210) and a sanitizing assembly (10), according to any of the previous claim from 1 to 11, disposed along said extraction pipe (210).

14. Vending machine (200) comprising a machine body (310) containing a sanitizing assembly (10), according to any of the previous claim from 1 to 11.

15. Item of furniture comprising a sanitizing assembly (10), according to any of the previous claim from 1 to 11.

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