Air Ionizer Using Air Amplifier to Reduce Particulate Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ionizers in manufacturing and cleanroom environments generate sub-micron particulates due to worn brushes in motors, which contaminate devices and components, and previous solutions like increased distance, reduced operation time, and filtration systems have limited effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An air ionizer design that uses an air amplifier to supply amplified airflow, which is then neutralized by an air neutralization system before exit, eliminating the need for motors and reducing particulate emission by combining pressurized gas with ambient airflow within a housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a brushed motor is used to generate airflow through the ionizer, then airflow is generated, but sub-micron particulates are ejected from the ionizer due to worn brushes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the motor component entirely from the ionizer system, extracting the source of particulate contamination. Instead of using a brushed motor to generate airflow, the system relies on natural convection and air pressure differentials to move air through the ionization elements, thereby eliminating brush wear and particulate emission while maintaining ionizer functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical motor-driven airflow system with a passive airflow system based on pressure differentials and convection currents. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical moving parts that generate particulates, using instead the natural movement of air caused by temperature and pressure variations to achieve the required airflow through the ionizer.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If additional filtration systems are added to the ionizer, then particulate reduction is attempted, but effectiveness is limited due to workstation location compared to ionizer location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for complex filtration systems by eliminating the source of particulates (the motor) in the first place. This preventive approach is more effective than adding filtration downstream, as it addresses the root cause rather than attempting to filter already-contaminated air, and works independently of workstation positioning.
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 solution effectively minimizes particulate contamination by creating a clean, ionized airflow without motor-generated particulates, suitable for use in cleanroom environments and ensuring electrostatic discharge reduction.
Implementation Method 1
A pressurized gas may be injected into an internal portion of the air amplifier where it is mixed with an ambient airflow before exiting the air amplifier as an amplified airflow
Implementation Method 2
The air amplifier is used to supply an amplified airflow that may then be passed through an air neutralization system thereby neutralizing the amplified airflow before exiting the housing
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus for art ionizer according to various aspects of the present invention include an amplifier disposed within an open ended housing. The air amplifier is used to supply an amplified airflow that may then be passed through an air neutralization system thereby neutralizing the amplified airflow before exiting the housing. A pressurized gas may be injected into an internal portion of the air amplifier where it is mixed with an ambient airflow before exiting the air amplifier as an amplified airflow.