Air purifier and passive humidity module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air purifiers and humidifiers occupy space and can spill water when bumped, and refilling them increases the risk of water spillage, restricting airflow and reducing the clean air delivery rate (CADR).
Innovation Solution
A passive humidity module with a housing assembly, wick filter reservoir, and airflow path that adds humidity to air without significantly impacting the CADR, featuring a water tank supported by the housing, gutters connecting to the wick filter reservoir, and a wick filter that absorbs water, allowing air to flow through and pick up moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a combined air purifier and humidifier is used, then space is saved and both functions are available, but water spillage risk increases when the unit is bumped or moved
Solution Approach 1:
The humidifier is designed as a separate, removable module that can be detached from the air purifier. This segmentation allows the water-containing component to be independently handled, reducing spillage risk during movement while maintaining the space-saving benefit of combination when both functions are needed simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The water tank is extracted as a separate removable component from the humidifier module. This allows users to easily remove and secure the water tank separately, eliminating the spillage hazard during transport while preserving the integrated design benefits during normal operation
2Ease of operation
If water is poured directly into the humidifier body for refilling, then the process is simple, but water spillage risk increases and may contaminate the air purifier
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank is designed to be completely removable from the humidifier module, allowing users to fill it separately away from the air purifier unit. This extraction eliminates the risk of spilling water into the air purifier during refilling while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The gutter structure acts as an intermediary water transmission channel with spill prevention features. It provides a controlled path for water flow from the tank to the wick filter reservoir, preventing direct pouring and eliminating spillage risk during the water transfer process
3Quantity of substance
If the humidifier uses a traditional water storage design, then humidity addition is effective, but airflow restriction occurs and clean air delivery rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wick filter is positioned specifically within the airflow path where it can locally provide moisture to the passing air without blocking the overall flow. This localized moisture addition maintains high CADR while achieving effective humidification through the wick's capillary action
Solution Approach 2:
The wick filter uses porous material that allows air to pass through while retaining water through capillary action. This porous structure enables simultaneous airflow and moisture transfer, maintaining clean air delivery rate while adding humidity to the air stream
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 maintains a high clean air delivery rate while adding humidity, reducing the risk of water spillage and improving airflow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The wick filter may be supported by the housing assembly and disposed within the wick filter reservoir. The wick filter is configured to absorb water from the wick filter reservoir.
Implementation Method 2
The air flows near the wick filter from which it picks up moisture, and then the air exits the passive humidity module through the air outlet.
Data Source
AI summary
An air purifier and a passive humidity module for inside air. The air purifier includes a housing and an air purifier air outlet. The passive humidity module is disposed at least partially on the air purifier air outlet. The passive humidity module includes a housing assembly defining an air inlet and an air outlet, a water tank supported by the housing assembly, a wick filter reservoir fluidly coupled to the water tank, at least one gutter fluidly coupled to the water tank, and a wick filter disposed in the wick filter reservoir and supported by the housing assembly. The air inlet is at least partially aligned with the air purifier air outlet. The passive humidity module includes an airflow path flowing between the water tank and the wick filter, and fluidly connecting the air inlet and the air outlet.