Active Power Cell Apertures for UV Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air filtration systems, including those using ultraviolet light for photocatalytic oxidation, fail to effectively expose surface contaminants, resulting in low rates of photocatalytic oxidation and air purification.
Innovation Solution
An active photocatalytic oxidation system with a power cell having multiple rows of specially treated and coated apertures arranged transversely to maximize ultraviolet light exposure, forming a honeycomb-like structure around a UV light source to enhance photocatalytic oxidation and purification rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional particle filters are used with a centrally located UV light source, then the system structure is simple, but the UV light fails to adequately expose the surfaces of the filters resulting in low photocatalytic oxidation rates
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into multiple segments with apertures arranged in transverse rows, allowing UV light to penetrate through and expose both front and back surfaces of each segment, thereby increasing photocatalytic oxidation rate without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The apertures are arranged in transverse rows extending through the filter thickness, creating a three-dimensional light exposure pathway that enables UV light to reach surfaces from multiple directions, increasing effective exposure area
2Productivity
If conventional filtration systems are used, then the system design is straightforward, but surface contaminants are not effectively addressed resulting in low air purification efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The power cell is segmented into multiple rows of apertures that create numerous internal surfaces exposed to UV light, enabling simultaneous treatment of both passing air and surface contaminants, thereby increasing air purification rate
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse aperture structure acts as an intermediary that allows UV light to penetrate deep into the filter medium, exposing contaminants on internal surfaces to photocatalytic oxidation, thereby enhancing overall purification efficiency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system significantly increases the rates of photocatalytic oxidation and air purification by optimizing UV exposure to the active power cells, producing oxidizers like hydroxyl radicals, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, super oxides, or low-level ozone, outperforming conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
systems and methods of using ultraviolet light to oxidize and purify the ambient environment using photocatalytic oxidation
Implementation Method 2
The UV light in such systems fail to adequately expose the surfaces of conventional particle filters and, thus, such systems typically yield rates of photocatalytic oxidation and air filtration that are relatively low
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure could generally provide an active oxidation and purifying system to maximize the rate of photocatalytic oxidation and ambient air filtration by structurally optimizing the system to maximize potential ultraviolet (UV) light exposure to the surface and apertures of the active power cells. In one example, the active power cells could include a plurality of apertures disposed in a transverse manner from the first surface to the second surface of the active power cell. For example, the first set of the apertures could be disposed about 45 degrees relative to a median axis along the first and second surfaces, while a second set of apertures could be disposed about negative 45 degrees relative to the same median axis.