Air Processing Device with Thermal Disinfection to Replace UV Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air processing devices face issues with disinfection methods that can be harmful to users and ineffective in penetrating deep into air filters, and may cause material degradation.
Innovation Solution
An air processing device with a heater and ducts to deliver heated air to air processing components, controlled by a controller to operate in different modes for purification, disinfection, humidification, and heating, using valves to direct heated air to specific components based on the mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV light is used for disinfection, then disinfection capability is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to potential damage to eyes and skin and generation of harmful ozone gas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces UV light-based disinfection with a thermal disinfection system using a heater and ductwork to deliver heated air to air processing components. This substitution eliminates the harmful effects of UV radiation while achieving effective disinfection through heat, directly resolving the contradiction between disinfection capability and user safety.
2Reliability
If UV light is used for disinfection, then surface disinfection is improved, but penetration depth deteriorates as UV light cannot penetrate to the centre of air filters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces UV light with heated air delivery system that can physically penetrate throughout the air filter media. The ductwork delivers heated air directly to and through the filter, enabling thermal disinfection to reach the center and internal structures of the filter, thereby resolving the penetration depth limitation of UV light.
3Reliability
If UV light is used for disinfection, then disinfection function is improved, but material durability deteriorates due to photodegradation of surface materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes UV light-based disinfection with thermal disinfection using heated air. This replacement eliminates the photodegradation effect on surface materials while maintaining effective disinfection capability, thereby resolving the contradiction between disinfection function and material durability.
4Reliability
If heated air is delivered to air processing components, then disinfection efficacy is improved, but device complexity increases due to addition of heater and ductwork
Solution Approach 1:
The heater and ductwork system is designed to serve multiple functions: disinfection of air processing components, heating of air for humidification enhancement, and potential standalone heating mode. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing versatile operational capabilities beyond simple disinfection.
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
Enhances disinfection efficacy by heating air filters and water tanks, while minimizing material damage and user harm, and allows for efficient air purification and humidity adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a heater; and the air processing device further comprises one or more ducts adapted for carrying heated air from the heater
Implementation Method 2
one or more ducts adapted for carrying heated air from the heater to one or more of the air processing components
Implementation Method 3
a fan for driving a flow of air through the conduit between the inlet and the outlet
Implementation Method 4
an air filter arranged to filter air passing between the inlet and the outlet
Implementation Method 5
A portion of the cartridge may be inserted into a tray filled with water, which may use capillary forces to wick water through the cartridge
Implementation Method 6
Air passing through duct and through and around the cartridge pad evaporates the moisture wicked into the pad
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
There is provided an air processing device (100) comprising: an inlet (102); an outlet(104); a conduit (106) for air to pass between the inlet and the outlet; a fan (120) for driving a flow of air through the conduit between the inlet and the outlet; at least one air processing component (130) selected from: an air filter (132) arranged to filter air passing between the inlet and the outlet; and one or more components (134, 136) for adjusting a concentration of water vapour within the air passing between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the air processing device further comprises: a heater (142); and one or more ducts (144) for carrying heated air from the heater to one or more of the air processing components and/or the outlet respectively, wherein the ducts are arranged to introduce the heated air into the conduit between the inlet and the outlet.