Air Purification via Multi-Stage Bubble Crushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air purification methods are inefficient in removing small particles and biological agents, often leading to secondary pollution and health risks, and are not suitable for high-throughput applications in industrial or public environments.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage air bubble crushing system submerged in liquid, which repeatedly crushes air bubbles into smaller ones to maximize air-liquid contact, effectively trapping airborne debris and dissolving gases, while also serving as a humidifier and disinfectant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional porous filter materials are used, then filtration is achieved, but particles smaller than filter pores cannot be removed and secondary pollution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses porous materials as the filter medium, but addresses the limitation by combining it with electrostatic charge mechanisms. The porous structure provides physical filtration while the electrostatic charge captures sub-micron particles that would otherwise pass through, eliminating secondary pollution from incomplete filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs electrostatic charge (a form of strong electrical field) to accelerate particle capture. The electrostatically charged porous material creates strong electrical forces that attract and capture charged or polarizable particles, including viruses and sub-micron debris, enhancing filtration efficiency beyond what passive porous materials achieve alone.
2Manufacturing precision
If electrical static air purification is used, then filtration is achieved, but unhealthy ozone gas is generated and efficiency deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electrostatic charge as a controlled electrical field mechanism rather than high-voltage corona discharge. This approach provides consistent electrostatic attraction for particle capture without generating harmful ozone, solving the dual problem of maintaining filtration efficiency while eliminating harmful byproducts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable or replaceable filter cartridge containing the porous material with electrostatic charge. When efficiency deteriorates or the filter becomes saturated, the entire cartridge is replaced rather than attempting to regenerate or clean it, ensuring consistent performance without the need for complex regeneration systems that might generate ozone.
3Manufacturing precision
If water mist or air-water surface contact systems are used, then some purification is achieved, but throughput is low and the system is costly and wasteful
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous filter medium that allows high-volume air flow while maintaining effective particle capture. The porous structure provides extensive surface area for filtration without creating high resistance to airflow, enabling both high purification effectiveness and high throughput simultaneously, unlike water mist systems that require significant energy and create backpressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs air flow through the porous medium (pneumatic principle) rather than liquid-based systems. This approach maintains breathability and high throughput while achieving effective particle removal, avoiding the water consumption, cost, and throughput limitations of water mist or air-water contact systems.
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 approach provides a high-efficiency, high-throughput air purification system capable of removing particles of all sizes and dissolving harmful gases without secondary contamination, suitable for industrial and public spaces, and can kill biological agents, improving air quality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
transport large volume of air through a filtration medium consisted of multi-stages of air bubble crushing structures submerged in a body of liquid where incoming air bubbles being repeatedly crushed into smaller and smaller bubbles
Implementation Method 2
prolong air bubble travel time in the liquid to maximize air-liquid contact area in order to trap any sizes of airborne debris and dissolve most of dissolvable gases into the liquid
Implementation Method 3
trap any sizes of airborne debris and dissolve most of dissolvable gases into the liquid
Implementation Method 4
dissolve most of dissolvable gases into the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A method of air purification and apparatus uses thorough air-bath to trap airborne debris and gaseous molecules in the liquid. Incoming air are reduced repeatedly and thoroughly at various stages into tiny air bubbles in contact with liquid in the apparatus where airborne materials and gaseous molecules are trapped in the liquid. This cleaning system can effectively remove small or large airborne debris and gaseous molecules, in contrast to cleaning effectiveness limited by the filter pore sizes in traditional filter system. The liquid can be water, water mixed with any designed substances or other type of liquid phase of materials. In exemplary case, water is used as a part of filtration medium, the apparatus thus can be served as both air purifier and humidifier. A relatively high humidity in the air would help to trap more airborne debris, which makes the air purification apparatus more efficient.