Air purifier device with ionizing means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air purifier devices are limited by their durability, weight, and manufacturing properties, and often fail to effectively reduce cations in ambient air while maintaining ionization efficiency, leading to potential motor damage and reduced clean air delivery rates.
Innovation Solution
The air purifier device features a chamber with extendable collector plate electrodes made of non-conductive materials, strategically arranged emitter and collector electrodes, and a fan duct design that enhances air flow and ionization efficiency, reducing turbulence and charge accumulation on the motor, while promoting the emission of anions and attraction of cations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the collector electrode is integrated in the side wall of the chamber, then the device structure is simpler, but the side wall must be made of conductive material which increases weight and limits manufacturing options
Solution Approach 1:
The collector electrode is segmented from the side wall structure. Instead of integrating the collector electrode into the side wall, the patent uses separate collector electrodes that extend from the side wall into the chamber. This allows the side wall to be made of non-conductive plastic material while the collector electrodes are separate conductive elements, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and material constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive collector electrode function is extracted from the side wall structure. The side wall remains as a non-conductive structural element, while separate collector electrodes are positioned within the chamber to perform the electrostatic collection function. This extraction allows the side wall to be made of lightweight plastic material.
2Productivity
If a high voltage electrode is placed close to the motor, then ionization efficiency is improved, but charge accumulation on the motor increases causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The electrostatic field distribution is optimized with local quality variations. Collector electrodes are positioned to create localized collection zones away from the motor area, while emitter electrodes maintain ionization zones. This spatial differentiation allows high ionization efficiency in the chamber while protecting the motor region from charge accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The collector electrodes act as intermediaries between the ionized particles and the chamber walls. Instead of allowing charged particles to directly reach the motor, the collector electrodes intercept and neutralize the charges, preventing motor damage while maintaining ionization efficiency through proper electrode positioning and field design.
3Device complexity
If the side wall is made of conductive material to form the collector electrode, then the device structure is simplified, but manufacturing becomes more difficult and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into non-conductive structural components (side walls made of plastic) and separate conductive functional components (collector electrodes). This segmentation allows the side wall to be manufactured using standard plastic molding techniques, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining the electrostatic collection function through separate electrode elements.
4Productivity
If emitter electrodes are positioned to maximize ionization, then clean air delivery rate increases, but charge accumulation on surrounding components increases causing durability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The electrostatic field is designed with local quality variations where ionization zones are concentrated near emitter electrodes while collection zones are positioned away from sensitive components like the motor. This spatial differentiation allows high clean air delivery rates through effective ionization while preventing charge accumulation on motor and other surrounding components.
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 design results in a more durable, lightweight air purifier with improved ionization efficiency, increased clean air delivery rate, and reduced risk of motor damage, effectively reducing cations in the ambient air and promoting the circulation of ionized particles for enhanced air cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
If an voltage is applied between a first, preferably pointy, emitter electrode and a second plate electrode, the intermediate air will be excited by an electromagnetic, EM, field, such that intermediate airborne particles may become ionized
Implementation Method 2
Ionic air purification is increasingly used indoors. Such air purification utilizes the principle of positively charge particles being attracted by negatively charged surfaces and vice versa
Data Source
AI summary
An air purifier device includes a chamber defined by a side wall arranged to guide an air flow through the air purifier device. The air purifier device further includes at least one emitter electrode and at least one collector plate electrode arranged to ionize airborne particles. The at least one emitter electrode is arranged to extend from the side wall and inwards in the chamber and the at least one collector plate electrode is arranged to extend from the side wall and inwards in the chamber. The air purifier device enables the side wall to be manufactured from e.g. plastic, or other non-conductive or non-magnetic material. This in turn may enable a lower weight of the air purifier device and facilitated manufacturing, as the side walls of the chamber e.g. may be formed by plastic moulding just as many other parts of the air purifier device.