Stream splitter for double-contained pipe system with electrostatic filter and / or ionizer

Abstract

Stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ionizer characterised in that the surface of the folds of the heat exchanger has inner and outer fold ridges made of an electrical insulator, that is an electrically insulating layer (6) dividing the layers into alternating differently charged sections constituting a positively charged collecting electrode (7) and a negatively charged collecting electrode (8); these are powered in a manner known in the state of the art, whereas a charging / ionising electrode (9) known in the state of the art is mechanically embedded on the flange (2) of the stream splitter (1). Entire surface of the heat exchanger constitutes a collecting electrode charged differently from a charging electrode, advantageously powered with a positive charge (7) in a manner known in the state of the art, and on the stream splitters (1) mounted at both ends of the heat exchanger, it has a mechanically mounted, electrically insulating layer (6), while on the flange (2) it has a negatively charging electrode mechanically mounted in a manner known in the state of the art. Stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with electrostatic filter and / or ionizer is made of metallic foil or a selective membrane of unfixed shape enabling the formation of ducts to ensure leak tightness and heat transfer of the foil heat exchanger. The stream splitters and the heat exchangers connected to them can come in so-called tiled / mosaic shape in cross-section, whereby they are connected to each other to form a structure of filtering-recuperation units.

Description

[0001] Stream splitter for double-contained pipe system with electrostatic filter and / or ionizer

[0002] The subject of the invention is a new and innovative stream splitter for doublecontained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ionizer for use in households, in industrial and municipal applications and other applications related to fluid thermodynamics, purification (of contaminants, viruses, pathogens, etc.), filtration and particle separation, as well as heat recuperation in a form of either single heat exchanger or heat exchange and electrostatic filtration units. In effect of this combination, the stream splitter simultaneously acts in a single thermodynamic process and by the same elements of the related design as both a heat exchanger element, an electrostatic filter and an ionization device for use in household, industrial and municipal applications and other applications related to fluid thermodynamics, purification (of contaminants, viruses, pathogens, etc.), filtration and particle separation.

[0003] Various types of electrostatic filters are known to be used in fluid thermodynamics, including for ventilation devices, in industry, both for filtration, measurement and phenomena analysis, as well as separation of various types of particles.

[0004] From the description no. W02013041066, a cylindrical recuperative heat exchanger is known which has medium inlets arranged radially, inlet ducts placed between the outer pipe and the inner pipe, which are arranged radially around the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger. The surfaces of the heat exchangers are coiled in a screw-like shape, placed between the outer pipe and the inner pipe, and delineate mutually separated inlet ducts and oudet ducts.

[0005] From the description no. W02019017831, a heat exchanger is known which has ducts arranged radially, a band and an inner pipe.

[0006] In recuperation systems known in the state of the art, heat exchangers with permanent structures (for example, of sheet metal) are used. This determines the necessity of periodic maintenance (cleaning) of such devices, which entails the exposure of the environment to the negative effects of cleaning preparations, but also to the consequences of the neglect of such maintenance (loss of equipment efficiency, spread of pathogens). This assumption determines the use of filters, especially electrostatic ones, as devices that operate in the opposite logic to that of heat exchangers, assuming that an efficient heat exchanger should be clean, whereas the efficiency of the filter is indicated by its contamination. As a result, recuperation and cleaning devices known in the state of the art constitute structurally separate solutions, sometimes used as combined separate sections equipped with independent airflow drives (energyconsuming, noise-emitting and resulting in electro-waste generation) and complex structures and surfaces, responsible for thermal transfer, as well as attraction and collection of pollutants separately. The production of these devices is expensive, generates industrial waste and requires accuracy that is challenging to achieve.

[0007] The solution according to the invention overcomes a range of these issues by means of a new and original design enabling simultaneous recuperation and electrostatic filtration of fluids, especially air, in a single thermodynamic process, using a single construction and surface acting as both heat exchanger and an electrostatic filter.

[0008] In constructions of electrostatic filters known in the state of the art, sections of differently charged electrodes (charging and collecting electrodes) are arranged relative to the direction of incoming streams in a manner consistent with their flow direction (the fluid first flows through the charging electrode section and then through the collecting electrode section), or in parallel layout relative to the streams of arranged plane electrodes charged differently and separated by the fluid flowing between them, subject to the interaction of electric fields and attraction.

[0009] In the solution according to the invention, insulators known in the state of the art are applied as elements of the layers / structure of the stream splitter and / or heat exchanger to be divided into differendy charged and isolated charging and collecting electrodes, which allows electrostatic charging and attraction (collection) of particles, impurities and pathogens contained in the flowing fluid.

[0010] The design of the stream splitter involves replacing parts of the electrical conductors with insulators, maintaining the continuity of the layer / structure and attaching them to each other by means of connections known in the state of the art such as welding, bonding, crimping, mechanical bonding and suchlike; into differently charged sections or section assemblies acting as charging electrodes (electrifying) and collecting electrodes (attracting), which enables electrostatic purification of the fluids flowing through the stream splitter and the structures connected to it, and simultaneous filtration and / or fractionating of the molecules contained. In the state of the art, the separation of parts of layers or structure elements by using electrically insulating elements involves protecting various components from direct contact with electric current or electrical conduction. Insulating elements are used to separate parts or surfaces with different electrical potentials to prevent the flow of electricity between them. Examples of electrically insulating elements include plastics, ceramics, glass, porcelain, rubber and other materials characterised by high electrical resistance. These materials are typically used as shields, insulators, base plates or spacers that separate components or layers with different electrical potentials.

[0011] The essence of the invention lies in the fact that the surface of the heat exchanger ridges has inner and outer folds made of an electrical insulator, that is an electrically insulating layer that divides the layers into alternating differently charged sections so that that they constitute a positively charged collecting electrode and a negatively charged collecting electrode; these are powered in a manner known in the state of the art, and on the flange of the stream splitter, a charging / ionizing electrode known in the state of the art is mechanically embedded in a manner known in the state of the art; whereby around the inner pipe and longitudinal axis, consecutive layers are arranged alternately, as follows: an electrically insulating layer, a layer being a charging electrode with a positive charge, an electrically insulating layer, a layer being a collecting electrode with a negative charge; whereby the two stream splitters are connected by a culvert pipe, whereas on the outer side of each stream splitter a flange is placed on which the charging and / or ionising electrodes known in the state of the art are mechanically embedded; whereby the folds placed between the stream splitters are divided by an electrically insulating layer into differently charged sections constituting a positively charged collecting electrode and / or a negatively charged collecting electrode.

[0012] In a variation of the invention, the essence of the invention lies in the fact that the entire surface of the heat exchanger constitutes a collecting electrode charged differently to the charging electrode, advantageously powered with positive charge in a manner known in the state of the art, whereas on the stream splitters mounted at both ends of the heat exchanger, an electrically insulating layer is mechanically embedded, whereas on the flange, a negatively charging electrode is mechanically embedded in a manner known in the state of the art; whereby the stream splitters mounted to both ends of the heat exchanger are advantageously made of an electrically insulating layer.

[0013] Advantageously, the stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ionizer is made of metallic foil or a selective membrane with a non-fixed shape enabling the formation of ducts with which to ensure leak tightness and heat transfer of the foil heat exchanger.

[0014] Advantageously, the stream splitters and the heat exchangers connected to them may come with a so-called tiled / mosaic shape in the cross-section, whereby they are connected to each other to form a structure of filter and recuperator units.

[0015] In the solution according to the invention, electrical insulators isolate parts of the stream splitter and heat exchanger layers into charging electrodes and simultaneous heat exchange and electrostatic capturing surfaces. The heat exchanger and / or stream splitter is made of a material that is both electrically and thermally conductive, which enables recuperation and filtration in one thermodynamic process.

[0016] The stream splitter comes with an electrically insulating layer with a continuously charging electrode mechanically mounted onto the flange in a manner known in the state of the art, whereas the ducts of the heat exchanger connected to the stream splitter constitute a collecting electrode charged differently from the charging electrode. Both the charging electrode and the collecting electrode are electrically powered in a manner known in the state of the art; advantageously, the stream splitters are made of an electrically insulating layer.

[0017] In a variant with alternating charging, onto the flange of the stream splitter, a charging electrode is mechanically embedded in a manner known in the state of the art, the electrode charges alternately in negative-positive cycles varying periodically in time. The fluid, together with molecules and pathogens, flowing through the field of the alternately charging electrode becomes electrically charged; this results in attracting contaminants and pathogens to the electrodes with a charge opposite to that of the collecting electrode; these electrodes comprise the walls of the heat exchanger ducts separated from each other by an insulator constituting the ridges of these ducts.

[0018] In a variation of the invention, the charging electrode simultaneously functions as an ionising electrode. The ioniser / charging electrode known in the state of the art is made of thin wire elements mounted permanently, e.g. as a clamping ring onto the flange of the stream splitter. The fluid flowing through the electrode is subjected to the ionisation known in the state of the art, as a result of which molecule ions, together with impurities, are attracted to the collecting electrodes with the opposite charge.

[0019] The design of the stream splitter comes with a charging electrode which can act as an ioniser. The ionizer, known in the state of the art, being an ionizing section made of thin wire elements is mounted permanently e.g. in the form of a clamping ring, onto the flange of the stream splitter. In this construction, this section attached to the flange of the stream splitter and isolated in a manner known in the state of the art, e.g. by a washer / insulating layer, constitutes a charging electrode, while the stream splitter or heat exchanger made of the two most distant stream splitters and the ducts / folds connecting them constitutes a collecting / cleaning electrode. In the solution according to the invention, whether the charging electrode is placed on one side or both sides of the heat exchanger, it constitutes both a heat exchanger and a collecting electrode (attracting molecules, impurities and pathogens to the duct / fold dividers). It is advantageous when the collecting section being a heat exchanger made of stream splitters and connecting ducts / folds as a collecting electrode is structurally / constructionally divided within the ducts / folds of the heat exchanger into alternating duct planes (dividers) parallel to each other and charged with opposite charges, and the duct planes (dividers) connecting them are made of electrical insulators. This design of the collecting electrode, which is also a heat exchanger, captures electrostatically the molecules of pollutants contained in the fluid flowing through the heat exchanger ducts, both positively and negatively charged, attracting them to the electrode planes / duct dividers of the heat exchanger charged opposite to the electrostatic charges of the pollutants, molecules and pathogens.

[0020] The heat exchanger made of stream splitters and connecting ducts / folds is structurally / constructionally divided within the ducts / folds of the heat exchanger into alternating duct planes (dividers) located parallel or near-parallel relative to each other and charged with opposite charges, whereas the duct ridge planes connecting them are made of electrical insulators.

[0021] In a variation of the invention with constant charging, the charging electrode electrically charges the molecules contained in the flowing fluid, while the heat exchanger made of stream spliters and connecting channels / folds is not divisible and constitutes a collecting electrode charged differently to the charging electrode.

[0022] In a variation of the invention with alternating charging, the electric charge in the charging electrode field alternates periodically in time, while the surface of the heat exchanger folds has an insulating layer between the stream spliters that electrically divides the structure into positively charged collecting electrodes or sections thereof and / or negatively charged collecting electrodes or sections thereof. The fold ridge is made of an electrical insulator known in the state of the art, that is an electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating elements constitute electrically isolated areas, so that some of the layers being collecting electrodes are positively charged and some are negatively charged. The layers are charged with alternating charges, i.e. consecutive layers are arranged around a longitudinal axis, as follows: an electrically insulating layer, followed by a layer which is a collecting electrode with a constant positive or negative charge, then an electrically insulating layer, then a layer which constitutes a collecting electrode with a constant charge opposite to that of the collecting electrode from which it is separated by an insulating layer. A socket for supplying the charging electrode and a socket for supplying the filtering electrode are embedded, in a manner known in the state of the art, on the device according to the invention. An ionising electrode known in the state of the art is mechanically mounted onto the flange of the stream spliter. The electrodes are provided with an electrical cable and are powered by electricity in a manner known in the state of the art.

[0023] The layers are divided into electrodes and electrode sections comprising electrical conductors with the same electrostatic properties (supplied with the same current characteristics) and electrically insulating layers. The insulators isolate the surfaces of the electrical conductors being electrodes, which are made of materials of good electrical and thermal conductivity by means of connections known in the state of the art, such as welding, bonding, crimping, splicing or other mechanical connections. Fixing the electrically separating elements involves placing them between the conductive elements so that the construction of the layers maintains the continuity necessary for the leak tightness required in heat exchangers. Through this, the layers acquire new and different electrical, electrostatic, electromagnetic and thermal properties. The differences between the layers result from the differences between the materials used with different electrical conductivity properties. Conductors comprise electrically conductive materials known in the state of the art, e.g. copper, aluminium or silver. Insulators, on the other hand, comprise non-electrically conductive materials known in the state of the art, e.g. glass, rubber, plastic.

[0024] In a variation of the invention with alternate charging, the stream splitter and heat exchanger according to the invention will act as an electrostatic filter (collecting electrode) by separating the layers of the stream splitter / heat exchanger into positively and negatively charged electrodes and electrode sections by placing electrically insulating elements known in the state of the art between the layers. The separation of the layers is achieved by using electrical insulators known in the state of the art, e.g. plastic.

[0025] In a variation of the invention with constant charging, the surface of the folds of the heat exchanger constitutes a uniform layer being a collecting electrode and is powered in a manner known in the state of the art. The electrically insulating layer is attached to or forms the stream splitters in a manner known in the state of the art. A charging and / or ionising electrode is mechanically mounted on the flange of the stream splitter. The heat exchanger is made of a material that has both good thermal and electrical conductivity features. An electrical supply is provided to the heat exchanger in a manner known in the state of the art with a charge opposite to that of the charging electrode.

[0026] In a variation of the invention offering simultaneous electrostatic recuperation and filtration, the unit comes with an electrostatic filter composed of a charging electrode and a collecting electrode, thereby forming a new structure that recuperates and electrostatically purifies the fluid in a single thermodynamic process and uses the same surfaces for simultaneous recuperation and electrostatic filtration.

[0027] In a variation of heat exchange and electrostatic filtration units, the stream splitters and heat exchangers connected to them come in so-called tiled / mosaic shape, thereby providing a repetitive layout that enables the units to be arranged in a regular pattern of tightly adjacent devices filling an entire surface or area. The mosaic shapes of the simultaneous electrostatic filtration and recuperation units represent squares, hexagons, triangles, pentagons, rhomboids and parallelograms in the cross-section of these units. They are integrated into the new design of the heat exchange and filtration units by apposing their edges and planes in such a way that they adhere tightly and connect the individual ducts of fluid feed and return into collector modules known in the state of the art. The design of simultaneous electrostatic filtration and heat recuperation units combined in this way enables the adjustment of capacity and efficiency of the entire system to be adapted to demand.

[0028] In the solution according to the invention, the most distant stream splitters can be connected to each other by a heat exchanger only, or by a heat exchanger and a culvert pipe. The stiffness of the structure is ensured by the material of which it is made and of which the culvert pipe is made. The culvert pipe stiffens the structure and enables the installation to pass through the heat exchanger, as well as enabling its use as a by-pass.

[0029] The solution according to the invention is shown in the attached illustrations, Figs 1 - 7 in which:

[0030] Fig. 1 shows stream splitters with different charging electrodes

[0031] Fig. 2 and 2a show the stream splitters and the ducts connecting them functioning as a heat exchanger and an electrostatic filter

[0032] Fig. 3 and 3a show a scheme for the construction of a heat exchanger and electrostatic filter with bidirectional electrostatic filtration for countercurrent streams

[0033] Fig. 4 shows a splitter system with a centre pipe, in isometric perspective

[0034] Fig. 5 shows splitters with fold markings, in isometric perspective

[0035] Fig. 5a shows a close-up view of detail A indicated in Fig. 5.

[0036] Fig. 6 shows the heat exchanger that constitutes the collecting electrode and charging electrode.

[0037] Fig. 7 shows an assembly of hexagonal devices for simultaneous electrostatic filtration and recuperation.

[0038] A stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or an ioniser is shown in implementation examples that do not limit the invention: E x a m p l e l:

[0039] A stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ioniser comes with a socket for supplying the charging electrode / ionising electrode (9) and a socket for supplying the collecting electrode (5), which are mounted on the stream splitters (1) in the manner known in the state of the art. The surface of the heat exchanger has a fold ridge made of an electrical insulator, that is an electrically insulating layer (6). The outer and inner fold ridges of the heat exchanger are advantageously made of an insulator, e.g. rubber, and divide the heat exchanger layers into differently charged sections constituting a positively charged collecting electrode

[0040] (7) and a negatively charged collecting electrode (8). Around the inner tube (3) and the longitudinal axis, alternating and repeating layers are arranged, i.e. an electrically insulating layer (6), a layer being a positively charged collecting electrode (7), an electrically insulating layer (6), a layer being a negatively charged collecting electrode

[0041] (8). The layer (6) isolates the individual sections from each other. On the flange (2) of the stream splitter (1), a charging / ionising electrode (9) in the form of a mesh, wires or other thin elements known in the state of the art is mechanically embedded.

[0042] E x a m p l e 2:

[0043] A stream splitter for a double-contained pipe system with an electrostatic filter and / or ioniser comes with a charging electrode supply socket (4) and a collecting electrode supply socket (5) embedded on the stream splitters (1) in a manner known in the state of the art. The surface of the heat exchanger has a fold ridge made of an electrical insulator, that is an electrically insulating layer (6). The fold ridges are advantageously made of plastic or other insulating material and divide the layers into differently charged sections constituting a positively charged collecting electrode (7) and a negatively charged collecting electrode (8). The layer (6) isolates the individual sections from each other.

[0044] E x a m p l e 3:

[0045] A stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ioniser comes with a socket for supplying the charging electrode (4) and a socket for supplying the collecting electrode (5) embedded on the stream splitters (1) in a manner known in the state of the art. The surface of the heat exchanger has a fold ridge of an electrical insulator, that is an electrically insulating layer (6). The fold ridges are advantageously made of plastic and divide the layers into differently charged sections constituting a positively charged collecting electrode (7) and a negatively charged collecting electrode (8). The layer (6) isolates the individual sections from each other. A charging / ionising electrode (9) in the form of mesh, wires or other thin rigid electrical conductors known in the state of the art is mechanically embedded, in a manner known in the state of the art on the flange (2) of the stream splitter (1).

[0046] E x a m p 1 e 4:

[0047] The solution according to the invention is made as in example 3, except that it comes with two stream splitters (1) connected by a culvert pipe (10). The culvert pipe (10) serves both as the stiffening of the construction of the device as well as a culvert enabling the necessary high and low-voltage electrical installations, tendons, pushers and other elements to be distributed within the device, in the required manner. Two splitters (1) are mounted on this pipe, with a flange (2) on the outer side of each splitter. In the axis of the exchanger, between the exchangers (1), folds are placed, which have a fold ridge made of an electrical insulator, that is an electrically insulating layer (6). The fold ridges are advantageously made of rigid plastic and divide the layer into differently charged sections that constitute a positively charged collecting electrode (7) and a negatively charged collecting electrode (8). The layer (6) isolates the individual sections from each other. An ionising electrode (9) in the form of wires or other thin rigid electrical conductors known in the state of the art is mechanically embedded on the flanges (2) of the stream splitters.

[0048] E x a m p l e s:

[0049] A stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ionizer has a socket for supplying a charging electrode (4) and a socket for supplying a collecting electrode (5) embedded on the stream splitters (1) in a manner known in the state of the art. The surface of the folds of the heat exchanger constitutes a positively charged collecting electrode (7). The stream splitters (1) are made of a layer (6). The flange (2) comes with a charging electrode (9) mechanically mounted in a maimer known in the state of the art. The surface of the exchanger folds is made of metallic foil, thereby ensuring the temporary nature of the solution typical of filtration processes. E x a m p l e 6:

[0050] A stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with electrostatic filter and / or ioniser constructed as in example 1 with the difference being that several stream splitters and the heat exchangers connected to them come in so-called tiled / mosaic shape, thereby providing a repetitive layout that enables the units to be arranged in a regular pattern of tighdy adjacent units. The edges and planes of the stream splitters are apposed in such a way as to ensure that they tighdy adhere to each other and that the individual fluid feed and return ducts are combined into collector modules known in the state of the art. The design of devices combined in such a way for simultaneous electrostatic filtration and heat recuperation enables the capacity and efficiency of the entire unit to be adapted to the demand

Claims

Patent claims1. Stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ionizer with a heat exchanger, an electrically insulating layer, a flange, an inner pipe, characterised in that the surface of the folds of the heat exchanger has inner and outer fold ridges made of an electrical insulator, that is an electrically insulating layer (6) dividing the layers into alternating differently charged sections constituting a positively charged collecting electrode (7) and a negatively charged collecting electrode (8); these are powered in a manner known in the state of the art, whereas a charging / ionising electrode (9) known in the state of the art is mechanically embedded on the flange (2) of the stream splitter (1).

2. Stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with electrostatic filter and / or ionizer, characterized in that the entire surface of the heat exchanger constitutes a collecting electrode charged differently from a charging electrode, advantageously powered with a positive charge (7) in a manner known in the state of the art, and on the stream splitters (1) mounted at both ends of the heat exchanger, it has a mechanically mounted, electrically insulating layer (6), while on the flange (2) it has a negatively charging electrode mechanically mounted in a manner known in the state of the art.

3. Stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ionizer, according to claim 2, characterised in that the stream splitters (1) fixed at both ends of the heat exchanger are made of an electrically insulating layer (6).

4. Stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ionizer according to claim 1, characterised in that alternating and repeating layers are arranged around the inner pipe (3) and the longitudinal axis, i.e. an electrically insulating layer (6), a layer being a collecting electrode with aconstant positive charge (7), an electrically insulating layer (6), a layer being a collecting electrode with a constant negative charge (8).

5. Stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ionizer according to claims 1 or 4, characterised in that the two stream splitters (1) are connected by a culvert pipe (10), and on the outer side of each of the splitters, a flange (2) is placed, on which the charging and / or ionising electrodes (9) known in the state of the art are mechanically embedded; whereby the folds located between the splitters are divided by an electrically insulating layer (6) into differently charged sections constituting a positively charged collecting electrode (7) and / or a negatively charged collecting electrode (8).

6. Stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with electrostatic filter and / or ionizer according to claims 1 or 2, or 3, or, 4, or 5, characterised in that it is made of metallic foil or a selective membrane of unfixed shape enabling the formation of ducts to ensure leak tightness and heat transfer of the foil heat exchanger.

7. Stream splitter for double-contained pipe systems with an electrostatic filter and / or ionizer according to claims 1 or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, characterised in that the stream splitters and the heat exchangers connected to them can come in so-called tiled / mosaic shape in cross-section, whereby they are connected to each other to form a structure of filtering-recuperation units.

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