air purifier

Abstract

A method for sterilizing an interior surface of an air cleaner or a filter media within an air cleaner by exposing the surface or the filter media to an ion cloud.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved air cleaner.

Background Art

[0002] U.S. Patent No. 2007034082 discloses an air cleaner including an ionization assembly that operates to charge particulate material in an air stream passing through the cleaner. The charged particulate material is disposed downstream of the ionization assembly and is attracted and retained by a filter element having a charge opposite to that of the charged particulate material. The cleaned air passing through the filter is directed out of the device, optionally in combination with a fragrance added to the cleaned air stream. The ionization assembly has a grounding member disposed adjacent to the ionization member to hold electrons generated by the ionization assembly within the cleaner and thus prevent electrostatic discharge outside the cleaner. The air stream is angled by a fan and directed substantially laminarly through the cleaner so as to increase the efficiency of the cleaner.

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 2002141131 discloses an improved air ionizer device including an air inlet, a high voltage source, an electrode electrically connected to the high voltage source for generating ions, and an air outlet. An air mover is provided to cause air to flow into the air ionizer through the air inlet and out of the air ionizer through the air outlet. A perforated filter including a conductive material is electrically coupled to at least one of the voltage source and ground. The filter is positioned over at least one of the air inlet, the air outlet, and the electrode such that air flowing into the air inlet, out of the air outlet, or through the electrode flows through the filter. In a preferred embodiment, the filter comprises a metal grid or screen.

[0004] International Publication No. 2018 / 058716 discloses an integrated fresh air purifier comprising a housing (1), an indoor return air inlet (21), an outdoor fresh air outlet (22), a fresh air delivery outlet (2), an indoor return air exhaust outlet (12), and a power supply control device located within the housing (1). The housing (1) sequentially contains a first-stage filter (3), a heat exchange core (4), an exhaust fan (5), a second-stage filter (6), an ion cloud dust removal module, a blower (9), and a third-stage filter (10). The exhaust fan (5), the ion cloud dust removal module, and the blower (9) are electrically connected to the power supply control device. This integrated device combines ventilation and air purification functions, is plug-and-play, easy to install and maintain, and does not cause structural problems such as damage to the room by installing air pipes. It has a high negative ion generation rate, a long transport distance, powerful dust removal and disinfection effects, and does not generate ozone during operation, thus maintaining a healthy environment.

[0005] Chinese Patent No. 105823131 discloses a combined fresh air purification system for teaching purposes. The combined fresh air purification system comprises an air treatment assembly. The air treatment assembly comprises a fresh air ventilator and an air purifier. By independently arranging the fresh air ventilator and the air purifier and fixing them in different locations within the room, they can be combined to control the indoor air quality. According to the combined fresh air purification system for teaching purposes, the combination of a constant-oxygen air purifier and a clean fresh air ventilator can create a constantly clean, oxygen-constant, energy-saving, and green eco-classroom, providing students with a safe and clean learning environment.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 2005055990 discloses an air cleaner and a method for controlling the operation of the air cleaner. The air cleaner includes a cabinet having an inlet and an outlet; a filter assembly for removing dust and odor particles from indoor air; a fan; a sensor assembly for sensing the composition of indoor air; a supply assembly for supplying at least one of the deficient components of the indoor air to the clean air; and a controller for controlling the supply assembly based on data relating to the composition of the indoor air. In another embodiment, a method for controlling the operation of the air cleaner includes the steps of sensing indoor air; measuring the deficient components of the indoor air and their amounts; and supplying at least one of the deficient components of the indoor air to the clean air.

[0007] Despite the existence of conventional technologies, there is still a need for improved air purifiers, particularly those that are more hygienic throughout their service life.

[0008] Air purifiers work by filtering the surrounding air through filters. Therefore, theoretically, anything in the air can be captured by the filter. There are various types of filtration methods, from particulate filters to gas filters, but capturing microorganisms trapped in the airflow is an inevitable consequence of the function of air purifiers.

[0009] Furthermore, a common feature of air purifiers is the presence of various sensors that indicate whether particulate matter has been removed, as their primary focus is on removing pollutants from the surrounding air. Consequently, it is also quite common for air purifiers to operate in automatic mode, as the presence of particulate matter affects the speed of the airflow through the device. Therefore, when the air quality is good, it is possible and often desirable to keep the purifier in idle or standby mode to save energy. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 2007034082 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 2002141131 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2018 / 058716 [Patent Document 4] Chinese Patent No. 105823131 Specification [Patent Document 5] U.S. Patent No. 2005055990 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] However, if the air does not pass through the microorganisms trapped by the filter, these can rapidly multiply and form a biofilm, which can negatively impact the effective lifespan of the filter and potentially cause health problems for users who habitually use it in their home environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] Therefore, in the first embodiment, a method is provided for sterilizing the inner surface of an air purifier or the filter medium inside an air purifier by exposing the inner surface or the filter medium inside the air purifier to an ion cloud.

[0013] Preferably, the air purifier includes an ionizer configured to generate an ion cloud on the inner surface or the filter medium.

[0014] The air purifier includes an ionizer. Preferably, the ionizer includes a corona discharge tip and a receiving electrode. When the corona discharge tip is exposed to an appropriate voltage, the corona discharge tip generates an ion cloud between the tip and the receiving electrode or ground electrode.

[0015] The cleaning device may further include an ionizer disposed outside the cleaning device. When the ionizer is disposed outside the device, it is preferably disposed on the upper surface of the device. Positioning the external ionizer on the upper surface of the device means that household dust particles are likely to aggregate as they are ionized and thus charged as they fall through the air towards the ground. As they aggregate more, the household dust particles are more easily entrained by the air circulation pattern generated by the device and thus more easily filtered.

[0016] The ionizer disposed inside the device is preferably located in front of the particulate filter removable in the air flow direction.

[0017] Preferably, the device includes an internal ionizer and an external ionizer. The external ionizer facilitates the aggregation of household dust particles, and the internal ionizer facilitates the capture of the aggregated dust particles by the removable particulate filter. In both cases, ionization enables a lower density filtration medium and a low air velocity (fan) speed.

[0018] The ionizer used includes an emitter electrode and a ground electrode. The emitter electrode preferably emits an ion cloud between the emitter and the receiver when an appropriate voltage in the range of -10 to 10 kV, more preferably -8 to 8 kV, is applied.

[0019] [[ID=1(5]] The emitter electrode is preferably a point, tip, or multiple tips or points, such as a brush, and is in electrical communication with a voltage source. <(

[0020] The receiving electrode is preferably a ring-shaped metal part such that the ion cloud resulting when ions are expended away from the emitter and then pulled towards the receiver becomes three-dimensional.

[0021] Preferably, the emitter is disposed at the center between the receivers in the form of a ring. The emitter may be disposed to face the air flow during use or away from the air flow, but preferably the emitter faces the surface to be sterilized, for example, the inner wall or the filter medium.

[0022] In an alternatively preferred embodiment, the ionizer is disposed on a removable filter medium. In such an embodiment, the filter medium comprises at least the emitting electrode. The receiving electrode may be part of the cleaner or part of the filter medium, but in either case, the removable filter medium comprises means for electrically communicating with the cleaner so that the ionizer can generate an ion field when the filter medium is placed in the working configuration. In such an embodiment, both the cleaner and the filter comprise an electrical connector that cooperates to pass electricity from the cleaner to the ionizer disposed on the filter, i.e., both the emitter and the receiver.

[0023] Preferably, the ionizer comprises a corona discharge tip disposed within 15 cm of the surface to be sterilized.

[0024] In a second aspect, a method for sterilizing the inner surface or filter medium of an air cleaner is provided, the air cleaner comprising an ionizer, a removable particulate or gas filter, an air flow generator, means for controlling the air flow generator, a first air flow setting having an air filtration air flow rate, and a second air flow setting correlated with the sterilization of the inner surface of the air cleaner and / or the removable particulate or gas filter.

[0025] In a third aspect, an air cleaner is provided comprising a removable filter medium, an air flow generator, and an ionizer, the cleaner comprising at least one air flow setting and a further setting for activating the ionizer such that the filter medium receives an air flow at a medium velocity of 0.1 - 1.2 cm -1 in the absence of an air flow or in combination with the air flow setting.

[0026] The airflow velocity measured by a removable filter is known in the art as the medium velocity. The medium velocity is the speed at which air moves through the filter. The medium velocity must be precisely controlled to ensure that the maximum amount of particles is captured. If the velocity is too high, many contaminants will pass straight through without being filtered. If the velocity is too low, the air purifier will not reach the furthest corners of the room fast enough to be effective.

[0027] In a fourth embodiment, an air purifier is provided comprising a removable filter medium, an airflow generator and an ionizer, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. Surprisingly, the inventors found that the air draft required to kill microorganisms is significantly lower than the air draft required for air filtration. Furthermore, the inventors found that the sterilization properties are improved by exposing the surface to an air draft and then to an ionizer, or vice versa.

[0028] Preferably, the air purifier includes a removable filter medium, which may be a particulate filter or a gas filter.

[0029] Preferably, the airflow velocity (medium velocity) measured with a removable filter is measured with respect to at least 0.1 cm² in the filter medium. -1 Measurements on the filter medium are taken from the fan-side spatial center point of the filter medium surface. If multiple filter media are present, the surface taken for air draft measurement is the one closest to the airflow generator and therefore the first to receive the air draft.

[0030] More preferably, the airflow velocity measured by a removable filter is 0.1–1.2 cm -1 Most preferably, the airflow velocity measured by a removable filter is 0.2 to 1.1 cm -1 That is the case.

[0031] Preferably, when in sterilization mode, the airflow generator generates an airflow for 1 second to 10 hours that is sufficient to sterilize the inner surface and / or filter medium of the air purifier. Similarly, when in sterilization mode, the air purifier generates an airflow that is sufficient to sterilize the inner surface and / or filter medium in the absence of airflow or in the absence of airflow of 0.1 to 1.2 cm -1 Ion clouds are generated for 1 second to 10 hours in the presence of only low air velocities, as measured.

[0032] Preferably, ionization (A) and low-speed airflow (0.1-1.2 cm -1 Steps (B) are performed exclusively, and more preferably sequentially. This means that the surface to be sterilized is first exposed to an air draft, and then, when the air draft is stopped, the surface is exposed to a burst of ionization. Similarly, ionization may be performed before the air draft.

[0033] Furthermore, it is preferable that the sequence of air draft and subsequent ionization, or vice versa, is repeated so that the surface to be sterilized is intermittently subjected to both air draft and ionization.

[0034] Preferably, (A) has a duration of 1 minute to 10 hours.

[0035] Preferably, (B) has a duration of 1 minute to 10 hours.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, an air purifier is provided comprising a removable particulate or gas filter, an airflow generator, means for controlling the airflow generator, a first airflow setting having an air filtration airflow velocity, a second airflow setting correlated with sterilization of the inner surface of the air purifier and / or the removable particulate or gas filter, and an ionizer.

[0037] Preferably, the air purifier has an operable mode for sterilizing the internal surface or filter medium, thereby causing an air draft to correspond to the second airflow setting, which is activated either before or after the ionization period. More preferably, the ionization is performed without airflow or in conjunction with the second airflow setting.

[0038] The inventors have surprisingly discovered that a combination of moderate airflow and ionization treatment can prevent the growth of microorganisms and dramatically reduce the prevalence of live microorganisms blown into the ambient air and released into the environment during filter replacement.

[0039] Such microorganisms include Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, spores, molds and fungi, and any viruses found within such microorganisms.

[0040] The inventors have surprisingly found that by providing a slow air draft followed by a burst of ionization, or vice versa, the survival rate of microorganisms on the inner surfaces of an air purifier, particularly on the filter medium, can be dramatically reduced. While the purifier is operating, the risk of microorganisms growing and multiplying on the filter does not increase. However, if the purifier is in idle or standby mode and conditions are favorable, microorganisms will grow.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air purifier checks for conditions that may promote microbial growth, and if such conditions are thought to be present, activates an airflow generator and / or ionizer to destroy microorganisms on the filter or even on the inner surface of the air purifier. Preferred means for evaluating whether conditions promote microbial growth include humidity sensors and temperature sensors.

[0042] If the processor determines that conditions promote microbial growth, it will provide instructions, for example, by visual or audible signals, or electronically to a remote device such as a mobile phone, thereby notifying the user that an airflow generator and / or ionizer should be used, or it will automatically operate a fan or impeller at a low speed as described herein, which is sufficient to prevent microbial growth or to directly destroy the microorganisms.

[0043] Preferably, the air purifier has a first mode, the options being: no action, where conditions determined by humidity and temperature sensors are such that no or little microbial growth is expected; alert by electronic signal to a mobile device to alert the user that conditions are favorable for microorganisms and to allow the user the option to activate the fan; and a warning level, which warns the user that microbial growth is likely to occur and strongly recommends that the user activate the fan or impeller.

[0044] The second mode can operate similarly in that the instructions are determined by inputs from temperature and humidity sensors, but instead of warnings or alerts, the machine automatically turns on when conditions are likely to cause microbial growth.

[0045] Of course, the user may choose one of these two modes as appropriate.

[0046] Temperature sensors are well known in this art and are commercially available from Sensirion. A suitable example of a temperature sensor is the STS3x series.

[0047] Humidity sensors are well known in this art and are commercially available from Sensirion. A suitable example of a humidity sensor is the SHT3x series.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, means for controlling the airflow generator based on input from the sensor are performed automatically, for example, by a processor. In such an embodiment, the sensor continuously or intermittently senses temperature and / or humidity and sends the information back to the processor. The processor determines, based on at least temperature or humidity, whether the conditions promote microbial growth. Preferably, the processor determines, based on both temperature and humidity, whether the conditions promote microbial growth. More preferably, the processor determines the likelihood of microbial growth based on further parameters such as geographical location, time of day, week, month or season, or pollution level, as well as any specific conditions occurring, such as a viral pandemic or bushfire, and any combination thereof.

[0049] For example, in Asia, the humid season is typically defined by the monsoon, which occurs in summer. In contrast, summers in Europe and North America are characterized by drier weather. Similarly, the hemispheres have different seasonal characteristics.

[0050] Preferably, the geographical location is determined by GPS or the air purifier's WIFI capability. This may also be provided by user input during the setup process.

[0051] The air purifier is powered by any suitable power source, including an internal power source, such as a battery, and an external power source. The power is used to drive the motor, which powers at least the airflow generator and ionizer, if present.

[0052] Preferably, the filter medium includes at least one of carbon, activated carbon, nonwoven fabric, thermoplastic material, thermosetting material, porous foam, fiberglass, paper, high-loft spunbond web, low-loft spunbond web, meltblown web, and / or meltblown medium having bimodal fiber diameters.

[0053] Preferably, the removable particulate filter is a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. While the filter section of an air purifier is a crucial part of its function, it should be understood that air purifiers are not typically manufactured with filters already installed. They are, in fact, almost always manufactured separately, and most importantly, often by commercial companies different from the manufacturer of the air purifier itself. It is also typical for filter manufacturers to produce filters for different air purifier models made by different manufacturers. The particulate filter should be contrasted with a pre-filter or any dust filter present. Preferably, the filter is pre-charged before being applied to the air purifier.

[0054] A pre-filter is a filter with low air resistance that also functions as a poke guard to prevent the user from touching the volute or impeller assembly. Pre-filters are not intended to have a significant effect on air purification. They do not have the air resistance or particle entrainment capabilities of dedicated particulate filters. Preferably, the pre-filter is not a HEPA filter.

[0055] The purifier of the present invention also comprises a fan or impeller. The fan may be a bladeless fan or an axial fan, but a radial fan is preferred. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0056] [Figure 1] This figure shows a cross-section of one embodiment. [Figure 2] This schematic diagram illustrates how the ionized filter, generated by the ionizer configuration, immerses the filter in the ion flow during use. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0057] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the following, and Figure 1 shows a cross-section of one embodiment.

[0058] More specifically, Figure 1 shows an air purifier (1) comprising a housing (2) and a fan (3) housed in a volute (4). The fan (3) is shown in a simplified form without attempting to describe its physical characteristics or arrangement. The volute (4) has an outlet (5) through which air passes from the fan (3) to a filter (6). The filters (6) are connected at their upper edges (7) to form a vertex. The volute outlet (5) also comprises an ion emitter (9) and an ion receiver (8) for generating an ion field (not shown) extending toward the filter (6).

[0059] During use, air enters the air purifier from the surroundings through an air inlet (10) fixed to a pre-filter (12), which acts as an initial filter to prevent large items carried in the airflow from entering and blocking the internal mechanisms of the device, but also acts as a poke guard.

[0060] Next, an airflow is generated by the fan (3), and the air passes through the volute to the filter (6), where it is cleaned.

[0061] Next, the air exits through outlet (13). Similarly, outlet (13) is also secured by a pre-filter (11).

[0062] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing how the ion filter generated by the ionizer configuration immerses the filter in an ion flow during use. A volute (4) and a corona discharge tip (9) are shown, and the corona discharge tip (9) generates an ion flow between the tip (9) and the receiving electrode (8) when the appropriate voltage is applied to the tip (9).

[0063] The ion cloud (20) extends away from the tip (9), immersing the filter (6) and providing a sterilization effect.

[0064] [Example 1] The following experiment demonstrates the effect of ionization alone on the viability of microorganisms on a substrate, in this case a particulate filter. To release an ion flow, the ionizer was set to -5kV.

[0065] In this experiment, the airflow applied to the substrate was 0. The microorganisms used were Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the incubation period for biofilm formation was 5 days. result:

[0066] [Table 1]

[0067] [Table 2]

[0068] Conclusion: The closer the ionizer emitter is to the substrate, the better its effect on microbial survival. Furthermore, an ionization burst of approximately 2 hours is most optimal.

Claims

1. 1. A method for sterilizing a filter media in an air cleaner by exposing the filter media to an ion cloud, comprising: The method of claim 1, wherein the air purifier comprises an ionizer configured to generate an ion cloud on the filter media.

2. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ionizer comprises a corona discharge tip located within 15 cm of the filter media.

3. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the air cleaner comprises a removable particulate or gas filter, an airflow generator, means for controlling the airflow generator, a first airflow setting having an air filtered airflow velocity, and a second airflow setting that correlates with sterilization of an internal surface of the air cleaner and / or a removable particulate or gas filter.

4. An air purifier comprising a removable filter media, an airflow generator, and an ionizer, at least one airflow setting; 4. The air purifier of claim 3, comprising a further setting in which the ionizer is activated in the absence of air flow or in combination with an air flow setting such that the filter media is subjected to an air flow of 0.1 to 1.2 cm / s.

5. 5. The air purifier of claim 3 or 4, comprising a removable filter media, an airflow generator and ionizer, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor.

6. The air purifier of claim 5 , wherein the ionizer is disposed on the removable filter media.

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