Air cleaning device and method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air cleaning devices suffer from charge bypass and filtration bypass issues due to mis-matched cross-sectional areas and spatial separation of components, leading to reduced particle capture efficiency and increased energy consumption, noise, and turbulence.

Innovation Solution

An air cleaning device design where the particle charger and air mover are hermetically sealed together upstream of the filter, eliminating the need for additional housing or ductwork, ensuring all air passes through the charging zone for complete particle charging and minimizing bypass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the particle charger and air mover are spatially separated with additional housing or ductwork, then the device can accommodate larger components, but charge bypass and filtration bypass occur reducing particle capture efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent sizeVSAvoidparticle capture efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The particle charger housing and air mover casing are hermetically sealed together to form an integrated assembly with no gaps or bypass paths. This merging eliminates charge bypass and filtration bypass while maintaining the functional separation of components, achieving both compact integration and high particle capture efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the particle charger and air mover are hermetically sealed together, then charge bypass is eliminated improving particle capture efficiency, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle capture efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The particle charger housing and air mover casing are hermetically sealed together to form an integrated assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate housing components and complex ductwork, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while ensuring charge bypass elimination through the seamless integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional housing or ductwork is used to connect particle charger and air mover, then component mis-matching is accommodated, but turbulence and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent compatibilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The particle charger housing and air mover casing are hermetically sealed together with matched cross-sectional areas, eliminating the need for additional housing or ductwork. This direct integration removes turbulence-generating interfaces and minimizes pressure drops, reducing energy consumption while maintaining component compatibility through precise dimensional matching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If additional housing or ductwork is used to connect particle charger and air mover, then component mis-matching is accommodated, but noise and turbulence increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent compatibilityVSAvoidnoise and turbulence
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The particle charger housing and air mover casing are hermetically sealed together to form a seamless integrated assembly. This merging eliminates intermediate ductwork and housing interfaces that generate turbulence and noise, achieving both component compatibility through matched dimensions and minimal harmful factors through direct fluid coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This configuration achieves 99.9% particle removal efficiency by eliminating charge bypass and reducing turbulence, energy consumption, and noise, while maintaining a high degree of air purity.

Implementation Method 1

an electrode arrangement therein for generating air ions in the air stream, the particle charger having a particle charging zone within which, in use, aerosol particles in the air stream are electrically charged via collision with the air ions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCorona discharge: Corona Discharge

Implementation Method 2

a filter for precipitating electrically charged aerosol particles from the air stream moving through the device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic precipitation: Electrostatic Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP3365093B1Air cleaning device and method
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 DARWIN TECH
  • EP3365093B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3365093B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3365093B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air cleaning device for removing aerosol particles from an air stream comprising: a particle charger comprising a housing and an electrode arrangement therein for generating air ions in the air stream, the particle charger having a particle charging zone within which, in use, aerosol particles in the air stream are electrically charged via collision with the air ions; a filter for precipitating electrically charged aerosol particles from the air stream moving through the device; and an air mover, comprising a casing, for moving the air stream through the device; wherein the particle charger and the air mover are provided upstream of the filter; and wherein the housing of the particle charger is hermetically sealed to the casing of the air mover in the direction of air flow through the device, such that the particle charger and the air mover are intimately coupled together, whereby all air entering the device has to pass through both the particle charger and the air mover.