Air Purification Apparatuses, Systems, and Methods for Removing Particulates, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Nitrous Oxide-Containing Compounds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filtration systems are ineffective in removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrous oxide-containing compounds from enclosed environments, as they cannot address the unique sources and accumulation of these contaminants in spaces like aircraft and terrestrial transportation settings.
Innovation Solution
An air filtration unit incorporating a HEPA filter, a VOC removal unit with photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) using titanium dioxide-based filters illuminated by UV light, and a nitrous oxide-adsorbing filter, all integrated within an air duct system to simultaneously remove particulates, VOCs, and nitrous oxide-containing compounds, with a carbon dioxide sensor and pressure sensor for airflow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple filtration stages are added to remove all contaminants, then air purification effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple filtration functions (particulate removal, VOC removal, nitrous oxide removal) into a single integrated air purification unit with sequential filtration stages. This consolidation maintains comprehensive contaminant removal effectiveness while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate systems
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration system is segmented into distinct functional stages (HEPA filtration, activated carbon filtration, photocatalytic oxidation, and nitrous oxide removal) arranged in sequence. Each stage targets specific contaminant types, allowing for optimized performance of each function while maintaining an organized, manageable system structure
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 effectively reduces VOCs and nitrous oxide concentrations, improving air quality by chemically converting VOCs to non-volatile compounds and adsorbing nitrous oxides, thereby enhancing comfort and reducing maintenance costs in enclosed environments.
Implementation Method 1
a photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) component in the VOC removal unit, and wherein the PCO component includes a plurality of catalyst-loaded filters selected and arranged to maximize illumination of the catalyst-loaded filters
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes configured to illuminate both sides of each photocatalytic oxidation filter module
Implementation Method 3
a nitrous oxide-adsorbing filter that removes nitrous oxide-containing compounds from the airflow
Implementation Method 4
a HEPA filter that removes particulates from the airflow
Data Source
AI summary
Air filtration apparatuses, systems and methods for nitrous oxide and volatile organic compound (VOC) removal and non-VOC particle removal enable the removal of particulates, nitrous oxide-containing compounds, and volatile organic compounds from large volume enclosed environments. Systems incorporate HEPA filtration upstream from UV LED-assisted photo reaction chamber comprising a plurality of baffles having air flow-through airflow spaces are spaced apart along a duct, with a porous and permeable nitrous oxide-adsorbing filter oriented downstream from the UV-assisted photo reaction chamber further filtering the airflow in the system to remove nitrous oxide-containing compounds.