Air purifier and a method of purifying air
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Household electrostatic air purifiers require frequent manual cleaning of collector plates to maintain high purification efficiency, which is inconvenient and can lead to decreased performance if not regularly done.
Innovation Solution
An integrated washing system within the air purifier that automatically dispenses a cleansing solution onto the electrostatic collector plates and uses a dual-mode fan system for both aspiration and drying, eliminating the need for plate disassembly and reducing maintenance complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning of collector plates is performed at regular intervals, then purification efficiency is maintained, but user convenience deteriorates and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air purifier performs self-cleaning through an automated washing system that sprays cleansing solution onto the collector plates and uses the fan system to blow water away, eliminating the need for manual disassembly and cleaning by the user while maintaining purification efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The washing system is pre-configured within the housing to automatically clean the collector plates before significant dirt accumulation occurs, ensuring purification efficiency is maintained without requiring user intervention at cleaning time
2Ease of manufacture
If collector plates are cleaned by disassembly and soaking, then thorough cleaning is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated washing system automatically cleans the collector plates by spraying cleansing solution and using the fan to blow water away, eliminating the need for user disassembly and soaking processes while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The washing system combines the cleansing solution dispensing mechanism and the fan-driven water removal function into a single integrated cleaning cycle, simplifying the maintenance process while achieving thorough cleaning
3Reliability
If additional filters are added to improve purification, then purification efficiency increases, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrostatic precipitator system performs multiple functions - ionization of particles, electrostatic trapping of charged particles, and self-cleaning of collector plates - eliminating the need for additional mechanical filters while maintaining high purification efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The automated washing system maintains the electrostatic precipitator's performance by self-cleaning the collector plates, ensuring the system continues to achieve sufficient purification without requiring additional filters
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 ensures easier and more efficient cleaning, maintaining high collector plate performance without the need for additional filters, as the ionizer and electrostatic precipitator can achieve sufficient purification, and reduces user effort and time required for cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
an ionization chamber arranged for charging impurity particles in the incoming air
Implementation Method 2
electrostatic collector plates located above the ionization chamber and arranged for trapping the charged impurity particles
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air purifier comprising: an ionization chamber arranged for charging impurity particles in the incoming air;electrostatic collector plates located after the ionization chamber and arranged for trapping the charged impurity particles. The air purifier further comprises a washing system above the electrostatic collector plates, which washing system is arranged for dispensing a cleansing solution onto the electrostatic collector plates;a fan system capable of two-mode action: a purification mode of aspirating air to be purified upwards,into the ionization chamber and subsequently through the electrostatic collector plates, and a drying mode of blowing air in the opposite direction.