Air Purification Filter Self-Cleaning Using Contaminant Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air purification apparatuses face rapid degradation in filtration performance due to contaminant buildup in filters, requiring frequent maintenance and high costs.
Innovation Solution
An air purification apparatus with a dual-mode operation, including a filtering mode for contaminant collection and a cleaning mode with temperature-controlled catalysts to remove collected contaminants, enhancing cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is used to collect contaminants in air purification, then air purification performance is improved, but filtering performance rapidly decreases as contaminants accumulate, requiring frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The filter performs self-cleaning by utilizing the collected contaminants as fuel for combustion. The heating unit heats the filter to a temperature that ignites and burns the accumulated contaminants, automatically restoring filter performance without requiring manual intervention or external cleaning resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the filter from normal operating conditions to combustion conditions. By controlling the heating unit to raise the filter temperature to a specific range (typically above the ignition point of organic contaminants), the accumulated contaminants are thermally decomposed and burned off, transforming the filter from a contaminated state to a clean state.
2Reliability
If a filter collects large numbers of contaminants, then air purification is enhanced, but maintenance costs increase due to frequent replacement and cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful accumulated contaminants into a beneficial fuel source for self-cleaning. The contaminants that would normally require expensive disposal and replacement are instead utilized as combustion material, driving the self-cleaning process and eliminating the need for external cleaning resources or filter replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the filter after contaminant accumulation, the system recovers value from the contaminants by burning them off. The combustion process destroys the contaminants and restores the filter to its original clean state, allowing continuous reuse without replacement or external cleaning.
3Productivity
If filtering operation continues without interruption, then air purification efficiency is maintained, but contaminant accumulation degrades filter performance rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic switching between filtering mode and cleaning mode. During filtering mode, contaminants are collected; after a predetermined period or when contamination reaches a threshold, the system automatically switches to cleaning mode where the heating unit activates to burn off contaminants. This periodic cycle maintains consistent filter performance and air purification efficiency over extended operation periods.
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 apparatus achieves selective purification and improved filter cleaning, maintaining effective air purification performance with reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning mode in which at least some of the contaminants collected in the first filter in the filtering mode are removed
Implementation Method 2
a temperature change rate in the first main area is changed before and after the first division time point
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment of the present application, there may be provided an air purification apparatus for purifying polluted air and discharging the purified air, which comprises a main pipe including a first flow path, a second flow path, a first filter, a first main area, and a second main area. The air purification apparatus can operate in a filtering mode in which at least some contaminants contained in the air flowing into the main pipe are collected by the first filter, or a cleaning mode in which at least some of the contaminants collected by the first filter in the filtering mode are removed, wherein an operation section in the cleaning mode of the air purification apparatus includes a firs section and a second section, the first section and the second section are divided on the basis of a first division time point, and the rate of change of temperature in the first main area is varied before and after the first division time point.