Air Purifier Hydrogen Venting for Safe Oxygen Enrichment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air purification devices increase hydrogen gas levels during oxygen enrichment, posing safety risks due to potential deflagration and explosion hazards, and fail to maintain optimal indoor oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in high-rise buildings.
Innovation Solution
An air purifier system with a CO2 absorbing unit, acid and base dosing units, a control unit, and a water electrolysis unit that separates oxygen and hydrogen production outside the environment, ensuring hydrogen is discharged safely and maintaining optimal air composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water electrolysis is performed to increase oxygen density in the air purification process, then oxygen supply is improved, but hydrogen gas is released which poses safety risks due to potential deflagration and explosion hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes hydrogen gas from the indoor environment through a dedicated hydrogen discharge system. The water electrolysis unit generates both oxygen and hydrogen, but the hydrogen is immediately channeled through a discharge duct that vents it outside the building, effectively separating the harmful hydrogen from the beneficial oxygen supply process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a condenser as an intermediary component in the water electrolysis system. The condenser processes the water before electrolysis and manages the byproducts, serving as a mediator that enables safe handling of hydrogen gas while maintaining the oxygen generation process. The condenser works in conjunction with the electrolysis unit to control and direct hydrogen release safely.
2Quantity of substance
If carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air to maintain optimal oxygen levels, then air quality is improved, but the process requires complex acid and base dosing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-regulating CO2 absorption system using natural chemical processes. The absorption tower utilizes the inherent reactivity of alkaline substances with carbon dioxide, eliminating the need for complex external dosing systems. The system automatically maintains optimal CO2 levels through passive chemical absorption rather than active mechanical dosing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the CO2 absorption process by using naturally occurring alkaline substances that react with carbon dioxide. This approach transforms the complex acid-base dosing operation into a simpler process based on natural chemical equilibrium and pH balance, reducing system complexity while maintaining effectiveness.
3Quantity of substance
If hydrogen gas is released during air purification to maintain oxygen levels, then oxygen supply is enhanced, but the hydrogen concentration can reach dangerous levels (4% deflagration, 7% explosion)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts hydrogen gas from the indoor air environment through a dedicated discharge system that vents hydrogen outside the building. This prevents hydrogen accumulation to dangerous concentrations while maintaining the oxygen enrichment benefits. The discharge duct actively removes hydrogen before it can reach 4% deflagration or 7% explosion thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system that monitors hydrogen concentration levels in real-time. When hydrogen levels approach unsafe thresholds, the system automatically adjusts the discharge rate or electrolysis operation to maintain safety. This feedback mechanism ensures hydrogen concentration remains well below the 4% deflagration limit while preserving oxygen supply 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
Effectively reduces indoor hydrogen gas levels while enhancing oxygen supply, ensuring safe and healthy indoor air quality by controlling hydrogen release and maintaining optimal oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
Implementation Method 1
a CO2 absorbing unit (6) into which the air is sucked
Implementation Method 2
a water electrolysis unit (11) wherein the water received from the condenser (12) is electrolyzed, comprising an anode receptacle (15) and a cathode receptacle (16)
Implementation Method 3
a condenser (12) and a water electrolysis unit (11) wherein the water received from the condenser (12) is electrolyzed
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to an air purifier (1) suitable to be positioned in the environment wherein the air is to be purified (I), comprises a body (2); an air inlet opening (3) provided on the body (2); a fan (4) which enables the air to be directed through the air inlet opening (3) into the body (2); an air outlet opening (5) which enables the air purified in the body (2) to be released out of the body (2); a CO2 absorbing unit (6) into which the air is sucked; a base dosing unit (8) which supplies a base solution into the CO2 absorbing unit (6); an acid dosing unit (7) which supplies an acid solution into the CO2 absorbing unit (6); a control unit (14) which supplies the base solution and the acid solution to the CO2 absorbing unit (6) in this order; a CO2 tube (10) enabling the CO2 absorbed in the CO2 absorbing unit (6) to be discharged to outside the environment wherein the air is to be purified (D); an electrodialysis unit (9) wherein the salt created in the CO2 absorbing unit (6) is resolved back to acid and base.