Air Purifier CO2 Sensor Error Detection for Reliable Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air purifiers fail to detect errors in operation and pinpoint the source of such errors, leading to insufficient air cleaning and potential health risks due to increased carbon dioxide levels, especially in closed environments like high-rise buildings.
Innovation Solution
An air purifier equipped with CO2 sensors at the inlet and outlet, a CO2 adsorption unit with a basic solution, an acid tank, an electrodialysis unit, and a control unit to monitor and compare CO2 levels, pH, turbidity, conductivity, and other parameters to detect and alert users to errors and their sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors and monitoring units are added to detect errors and their sources, then the reliability of error detection improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air purifier is divided into multiple functional modules (CO2 adsorption unit, acid tank, base tank, electrodialysis unit, pump system) with dedicated sensors for each. This segmentation allows targeted error detection in specific components without requiring comprehensive monitoring of the entire system, reducing overall complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously receives data from multiple sensors (CO2 sensors, pH sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors) and compares actual values with expected ranges. When deviations are detected, the system provides feedback to identify the specific faulty component, enabling reliable error detection through systematic feedback loops rather than complex diagnostic algorithms.
2Measurement precision
If CO2 sensors and other monitoring sensors are installed to detect air cleaning effectiveness, then the measurement precision of air quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement and detection functions are extracted as separate, dedicated sensor modules rather than being integrated into the main processing units. CO2 sensors are placed at inlet and outlet, pH sensors monitor the basic solution, and flow sensors track air movement. This extraction allows high-precision measurement without adding complexity to the core air cleaning mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes data from all sensors (CO2, pH, flow, temperature), controls the pump and electrodialysis unit, monitors basic solution levels, and provides user alerts. This multi-functionality consolidates monitoring capabilities into a single unit, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the basic solution mixing and CO2 adsorption process is continuously monitored using sensors, then the manufacturing precision of the cleaning process improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-mixes the basic solution in the base tank before it enters the CO2 adsorption unit, ensuring optimal concentration and pH levels in advance. Flow sensors pre-monitor the solution flow rate, and the control unit adjusts pumping in advance to maintain precise mixing conditions. This preliminary action ensures consistent adsorption efficiency without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during the actual CO2 removal process.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual monitoring and adjustment of the basic solution mixing process is replaced with automated sensors and control. pH sensors continuously measure solution acidity, flow sensors track liquid movement, and the control unit automatically adjusts pumping rates. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with sensor-based automation improves manufacturing precision while the centralized control reduces overall system complexity.
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
Effectively detects and alerts users to air purifier malfunctions, ensuring continuous air quality maintenance by identifying and addressing issues in specific components, thereby maintaining optimal oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide levels.
Implementation Method 1
The air taken through the air inlet is delivered to the CO2 adsorption unit by means of a pump, and is mixed with the basic liquid solution received from the base tank in the CO2 adsorption unit. Thus, the carbon dioxide in the air is adsorbed by the basic solution so as to create carbonate compound.
Implementation Method 2
the air of which the carbon dioxide is adsorbed is sent to the acid tank, and here the carbon dioxide adsorbed from the air is released again, and basic chemicals and acid solution salt are formed
Implementation Method 3
The salt formed in the acid tank is sent to an electrodialysis unit to be separated into acidic and basic solutions again
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an air purifier comprising a body having an air inlet through which the air in the environment is sucked and a clean air outlet through which the cleaned air is released to the environment, a first CO2 sensor which is disposed at the air inlet and a second CO2 sensor which is disposed at the clean air outlet, a CO2 adsorption unit which chemically adsorbs the carbon dioxide in the air by supplying a basic solution, a pump which delivers the ambient air to the CO2 adsorption unit through the air inlet, a base tank which supplies the basic solution to the CO2 adsorption unit, an acid tank wherein the air of which the carbon dioxide is adsorbed is treated with an acidic solution, and an electrodialysis unit which separates the salt components formed after the ambient air is treated with the basic solution and the acidic solution into acid and base.