Multifunctional device for air purification and improvement of environmental quality

Abstract

This invention relates to a system that purifies and improves air quality by utilizing a microalgal bioreactor with integrated LED lighting to absorb pollutants, eliminate pathogens, and release oxygen-enriched air, while providing a sustainable and scalable solution to address environmental and public health challenges. The system includes a column (1) containing water and microalgae that produces oxygen by absorbing pollutant gases and pathogens from the air, a lighting system (2) consisting of a plurality of LEDs positioned in the column (1), providing the light source for the photosynthesis of microalgae, a pump (3) configured to suck air from the surrounding environment and introduce it into the column where the air bubbles come into direct contact with the microalgae, a photocatalytic filtration system (4) placed at the air inlet, configured to remove particulates, viruses, bacteria and other impurities before the air is treated in the column (1), a two-phase separator (5) configured to collect the microalgal biomass produced, separating part of the process water and reintroducing it into the internal cycle of the column (1), a control panel (8) that monitors microalgae concentration, water quality and pH, and photosynthetic process efficiency.

Description

[0001] SPECIFICATION

[0002] MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE FOR AIR PURIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

[0003] Field of the Invention:

[0004] This invention relates to a system that purifies and improves air quality by utilizing a microalgal bioreactor with integrated LED lighting to absorb pollutants, eliminate pathogens, and release oxygen-enriched air, while providing a sustainable and scalable solution to address environmental and public health challenges.

[0005] Background of the Invention:

[0006] Oxygen is a fundamental element for life on Earth. Every living organism depends on it for survival, from humans and animals to plants and microscopic life forms. The critical role of oxygen in respiration highlights its importance in sustaining biological processes. However, the quality of the air we breathe has become a growing concern due to increasing levels of pollution. This makes the purification of polluted air an essential endeavor for maintaining public health and environmental sustainability.

[0007] Air pollution, caused by industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, deforestation, and other human activities, has drastically reduced air quality in many regions of the world. Pollutants like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter not only degrade the environment but also pose serious health risks. Prolonged exposure to polluted air can lead to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and even premature death. Furthermore, pollution disrupts ecosystems, harming wildlife and reducing the productivity of plants that generate oxygen.

[0008] Purifying polluted air is crucial to counteract the adverse effects of pollution. Clean air enhances overall health, reducing the prevalence of diseases and improving the quality of life. Advanced technologies such as air filtration systems, catalytic converters invehicles, and industrial scrubbers play a significant role in removing harmful particles and gases from the air. But these systems play role on filtration of polluted air, not providing purified oxygen. Therefore, a new invention is needed that can overcome these disadvantages.

[0009] According to a search of the literature, the application CN106976841A discloses an air ionized oxygen purifying apparatus. The invention relates to an air ionized oxygen purifying apparatus, which belongs to the technical field of burners. The air ionized oxygen purifying apparatus is characterized by comprising a plurality of magnets, wherein every two adjacent magnets are arranged in a spacing manner, each magnet is provided with a passage which is used for air to pass through, the ionized four-state airflow passes through the magnets via the passage, and the concentration of oxygen in the airflow can be increased under the effect of a magnetic field of the magnets.

[0010] According to a search of the literature, the application CN203364260U discloses air purifying and oxygen enriching system. The invention relates to an air purifying and oxygen enriching system. The air purifying and oxygen enriching system is formed by connecting an air purifying device and an oxygen enriching device through an oxygen content detecting and master control device. The air purifying device is mainly composed of an air inlet pipeline, a pre-filtering net, a one-level filter, a two-level filtering membrane, a draught fan and an exhaust duct, wherein the air inlet pipeline is communicated with indoor air.

[0011] Summary of the Invention:

[0012] This invention boasts numerous advantages, making it a groundbreaking solution for improving air quality and promoting environmental sustainability.

[0013] Firstly, this system offers a dual benefit of air purification and pathogen elimination. By using microalgae within a water column, the device absorbs harmful pollutants such as CO2, NOx, SOx, and particulate matter while simultaneously capturing viruses andbacteria. This ensures cleaner and safer air, making it highly beneficial for urban and industrial areas prone to heavy pollution. The system also eliminates pathogens like viruses and bacteria, producing oxygen-rich purified air that enhances overall air quality. By reducing pollutants and microbiological agents responsible for respiratory diseases, chronic inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, this invention contributes to improved public health. Additionally, the oxygen-enriched air supports better cognitive functions and reduces stress.

[0014] This system is adaptable for indoor and outdoor use across various environments, including urban areas, industrial plants, and residential spaces. It addresses pollution challenges in both domestic and industrial settings, providing a scalable solution for improving air quality.

[0015] With a 90-120 day operational cycle requiring minimal human intervention, this automated system manages biomass and water efficiently. The collected biomass can be repurposed as biofertilizer or for industrial uses, further enhancing the device’s sustainability.

[0016] The integrated LED lighting system in this invention operates in alternating cycles, ensuring optimal photosynthesis and energy savings. Combined with automation and monitoring systems, this system maintains high efficiency in air purification with minimal energy consumption. The LED lighting system’s alternating cycles (e.g., 2 hours of light followed by 30 minutes of darkness) maximize carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen production while reducing energy consumption. This design strikes a balance between efficiency and sustainability.

[0017] The system can use various high-efficiency microalgal species such as Spirulina maxima and Chlorella sp. , which are well-known for their ability to capture greenhouse gases and perform microbiological sanitization. This flexibility allows the device to optimize performance based on specific environmental needs.By recycling water within the system and requiring minimal external resources, the device operates with a low environmental impact. Its sustainable design minimizes waste and resource consumption.

[0018] Brief Description of the Invention:

[0019] The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, so that the features of the invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated, but the purpose of this is not to limit the invention to these certain regulations. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, changes and equivalences that can be included in the area of the invention defined by the accompanying claims. The details shown should be understood that they are shown only for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are presented in order to provide the most convenient and easily understandable description of both the shaping of methods and the rules and conceptual features of the invention. In these drawings;

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic view of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic view of the present invention.

[0022] The figures to help understand the present invention are numbered as indicated in the attached image and are given below along with their names.

[0023] Description of References:

[0024] 1. Column

[0025] 2. Lightning system

[0026] 3. Pump

[0027] 4. Photocatalytic filtration system

[0028] 5. Two-phase separator

[0029] 6. Biomass tank

[0030] 7. Feeder

[0031] 8. Control panel9. Communication module

[0032] 10. Outlet valve

[0033] Detailed Description of the Invention:

[0034] The present invention is consisted of column (1), lightning system (2), pump (3), photocatalytic filtration system (4), two-phase separator (5), biomass tank (6), feeder (7), control panel (8), communication module (9), outlet valve (10) and water recirculation and filtration system.

[0035] As seen in Figure 1, the system has a column (1) containing 100 liters of water in which an initial concentration of microalgae (e.g., Spirulina maxima) is dispersed. The column (1) is used to produce purified and oxygen-enriched air by absorbing pollutant gases and pathogens from the air sent by pump (3). The light needed by the microalgae in the column (1) is provided by the lighting system consisting of a plurality of LEDs (currently 384 LEDs). The lightning system (2) provides the light source for the photosynthesis of microalgae.

[0036] When the air entered to system, air is filtered by photocatalytic filtration system (4). a photocatalytic filtration system (4) placed at the air inlet, configured to remove particulates, viruses, bacteria and other impurities before the air is treated in the column (1). The photocatalytic filtration system (4) is configured to absorb polluting gases including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and fine particulates (PM). After photosynthesis process is done, biomass is produced and it is collected by a two-stage separator (5). Also, the two-stage separator (5) has a function of separating part of the process water to reuse (reintroducing separated water into the internal cycle of the column (1). Biomass is stored in biomass tank (6) which can be easily mounted and removed from the system. When the microalgae in the column (1) have completed oxygen production, the oxygen can be released into the atmosphere by

[0037]

[0038] In the system, there is a control panel (8) that monitors microalgae concentration, water quality and pH, and photosynthetic process efficiency, ensuring continuous and optimized operation for a period of 90-120 days without the need for maintenance. Furthermore, each of the data from the control panel (8) can be sent to a mobile phone or computer via the communication module (9). Here, the communication module (9) can be Bluetooth, Wi-fi or cellular network.

[0039]

Claims

CLAIMS1- A system for the purification and improvement of air quality, comprising;— a column (1) containing water and microalgae that produces oxygen by absorbing pollutant gases and pathogens from the air,— a lighting system (2) consisting of a plurality of LEDs positioned in the column (1), providing the light source for the photosynthesis of microalgae, — a pump (3) configured to suck air from the surrounding environment and introduce it into the column where the air bubbles come into direct contact with the microalgae,— a photocatalytic filtration system (4) placed at the air inlet, configured to remove particulates, viruses, bacteria and other impurities before the air is treated in the column (1),— a two-phase separator (5) configured to collect the microalgal biomass produced, separating part of the process water and reintroducing it into the internal cycle of the column (1),— a control panel (8) that monitors microalgae concentration, water quality and pH, and photosynthetic process efficiency.2- The system according to Claim 1, wherein it has the photocatalytic filtration system (4) is configured to absorb polluting gases including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOX) and fine particulates (PM).3- The system according to any of the above Claims, wherein it has a outlet valve (10) which is configured to release purified and oxygen-enriched air produced by microalgae.4- The system according to any of the above Claims, wherein it has a biomass tank (6) which can be easily removed and installed to the system for the collected biomass.5- The system according to any of the above Claims, wherein it has a water recirculation and filtration system, which guarantees the stability of the microalgae for the operating cycle.6- The system according to any of the above Claims, wherein it has the lightning system (2) optimized to provide an alternating light cycle.7- The system according to any of the above Claims, wherein it has a communication module (9) integrated to control panel (8).

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