Air purifier and air purification method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current air purifiers lack a reliable and cost-effective method for in-situ monitoring of gas filter lifetime, often requiring laboratory tests or expensive instruments, which can lead to inaccurate filter condition assessment and potential exposure to air pollution.

Innovation Solution

An air purifier equipped with a concentration sensor having a first and second electrode, exposed to upstream and downstream air flows respectively, processes the concentration difference to determine the gas filter's condition, providing real-time and low-cost filter lifetime indication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If laboratory CADR degradation checks or expensive professional instruments are used to detect gas filter lifetime, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas filter lifetime detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential measurement function from complex laboratory equipment by using a simple differential pressure gauge to measure only the pressure drop across the gas filter, which directly indicates filter loading and lifetime without requiring full CADR degradation testing equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a differential pressure gauge as an intermediary measurement device that indirectly assesses gas filter condition through pressure drop measurement, avoiding the need for direct complex gas concentration analysis while providing reliable lifetime indication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If two independent sensors are employed at both sides of the filter to check pollutant concentration difference, then measurement capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to sensor-to-sensor variation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant concentration difference measurementVSAvoidmeasurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the measurement function into a single differential pressure gauge that directly measures the pressure difference across the filter, eliminating the need for two separate sensors and their associated calibration and matching issues while maintaining measurement reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If airflow accumulation monitoring is used for filter lifetime indication, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates as it does not reflect real filter conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter lifetime monitoring simplicityVSAvoidfilter condition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements real-time feedback monitoring of the actual filter condition through continuous pressure drop measurement, allowing the system to accurately reflect the true filter state and provide dynamic lifetime indication based on actual loading rather than predetermined airflow accumulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution enables accurate, real-time detection of gas filter lifetime, reducing the risk of ineffective filtration and unnecessary filter replacements, ensuring clean air delivery with improved reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a concentration sensor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being exposed to the upstream air flow and the second electrode exposed to the downstream air flow, the concentration sensor providing an output signal based on the difference in concentrations of a target gas at the first and second electrodes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochemical detection:

Data Source

PatentEP3430319B1Air purifier and air purification method
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3430319B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3430319B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3430319B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An air purifier comprise a gas filter between an upstream air flow and a downstream air flow and a concentration sensor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being exposed to the upstream air flow and the second electrode exposed to the downstream air flow, the concentration sensor providing an output signal based on the difference in concentrations of a target gas at the first and second electrodes. The output signal is processed to determine information relating to the condition of the gas filter.