Closed-Space Air Purifier With UV and Permanganate Ethylene Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air purification systems for closed storage/transport spaces are inefficient in handling and dimensioning filter materials to effectively remove ethylene and other contaminants, leading to plant spoilage and accumulation of harmful substances.
Innovation Solution
An air purifier system with a filter system comprising UV-activated photocatalysts and potassium permanganate, housed in crates for easy adjustment and replacement, combined with ethylene sensors and data transmission for continuous monitoring and ventilation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a photocatalyst alone is used for air purification, then the system is simple, but it is not particularly effective for removing ethylene
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a photocatalyst (titanium dioxide) with potassium permanganate in a single filter system. The photocatalyst handles general air purification while potassium permanganate specifically targets ethylene removal, creating a synergistic effect that resolves the contradiction between system simplicity and ethylene removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system uses composite material structure where potassium permanganate is combined with titanium dioxide photocatalyst. This composite approach allows the system to leverage the ethylene-specific removal capability of potassium permanganate while maintaining the broad-spectrum purification ability of the photocatalyst, achieving high productivity without excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If filter materials are fixed in the air purifier, then the system is stable, but it is difficult to adjust and replace for different storage/transport spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system is segmented into removable crates that can be easily taken out and replaced. Each crate contains specific filter materials (potassium permanganate, photocatalyst) and can be independently handled, allowing users to adjust or replace filter materials without disassembling the entire air purifier, thus maintaining system stability while improving ease of operation.
3Volume of moving object
If the air purifier uses a compact design, then it saves space, but it is difficult to accommodate sufficient filter material for effective purification
Solution Approach 1:
The filter crates are designed to nest within the air purifier housing, maximizing space utilization. The compact crate structure allows sufficient filter material capacity while maintaining a compact overall device size, resolving the contradiction between compact design and purification effectiveness.
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 system significantly enhances ethylene removal and eliminates bacteria, viruses, mould, and VOC gases, reducing plant spoilage by continuously monitoring and adjusting to ethylene concentration, with easy maintenance and scalability.
Implementation Method 1
When ultra-violet radiation with a wavelength of less than 400 nm is directed at a surface of a selected semiconductor, for example titanium dioxide (TiO2) or zinc oxide (ZnO), the energy of the photons excites the electrons from the valence band to the conduction band. As a consequence, the short carbon chain of the ethylene breaks up very readily in a spontaneous chemical reaction on or very close to the surface of the semiconductor. The end products of the reaction are carbon dioxide and water.
Implementation Method 2
a fan configured to suck air from the storage/transport space via the air inlet opening into the flow channel inside the air purifier and to blow purified air via the air outlet opening back into the storage/transport space
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for purifying air in a closed storage/transport space, which system comprises an air purifier (10) comprising - a casing with an air inlet opening (11) and an air outlet opening (12), wherein an air flow channel lies between the air inlet opening (11) and the air outlet opening (12) inside the casing, - a fan (22) configured to suck air from the storage/transport space via the air inlet opening (11) into the flow channel inside the air purifier (10) and to blow purified air via the air outlet opening (12) back into the storage/transport space, - a filter system arranged in the flow channel in such a manner that air flows through the filter system, wherein the filter system comprises, as chemical filter material, both a UV-activated photocatalyst and a chemical filter material comprising potassium permanganate, and - a UV-emitting light source (23) for activating the photocatalyst of the filter system. The filter system comprises a main filter (26), which forms a cassette that comprises at least two crates, wherein the filter material accommodated in the first crate contains potassium permanganate and the second crate contains a selected chemical filter material, and air is made to flow through the crates.