Air purifier using ultraviolet rays
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapid degradation of air quality in Korea due to industrialization and indoor air contamination from fine dust, formaldehyde, and airborne bacteria leads to increased demand for effective air purification methods, with existing air purifiers failing to adequately address these issues.
Innovation Solution
An air purifier design incorporating a UV light emitting diode (LED) unit and a filter unit, where UV LEDs emit UV rays to sterilize the air, and a photocatalyst filter generates radicals for deodorization and decomposition of organic materials, combined with a fluid control structure to optimize air flow and exposure to UV light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If physical filtering or adsorption-filtering is used to purify air, then air purification is achieved, but the purification efficiency is insufficient for severe air contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the purification mechanism from physical filtering to UV light-based sterilization and photocatalytic decomposition. UV LEDs emit ultraviolet light that directly sterilizes airborne bacteria and triggers photocatalytic reactions to decompose organic contaminants, fundamentally changing the purification approach to address severe contamination more effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical filtering system with a light-based system. Instead of using physical barriers (filters) to trap particles, the invention uses UV light emission and photocatalytic chemical reactions to sterilize and decompose contaminants, substituting mechanical filtration with optical and chemical mechanisms
2Reliability
If UV rays are used to sterilize air, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but uniform exposure of air to UV light is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UV light source into multiple UV LEDs arranged in an array rather than using a single UV source. This segmentation allows UV light to be emitted from multiple positions simultaneously, creating more uniform illumination coverage across the air flow path and ensuring all airborne contaminants receive adequate UV exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a photocatalyst filter as an intermediary between the UV light source and the air. The photocatalyst filter absorbs UV light and generates reactive oxygen species that sterilize and decompose contaminants. This intermediary extends the effective treatment zone and ensures uniform exposure as air passes through the filter medium
3Productivity
If a photocatalyst filter is used to generate radicals for deodorization, then decomposition of organic materials is achieved, but the overall air purification system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the UV LED light source with the photocatalyst filter into a single integrated unit. The UV LEDs are positioned behind or within the photocatalyst filter, combining the light emission function and the photocatalytic reaction function into one compact assembly. This reduces system complexity compared to having separate UV sterilization and photocatalytic deodorization 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
The air purifier effectively sterilizes and deodorizes the air by ensuring uniform exposure to UV rays and radicals, improving air purification efficiency and reducing contaminants, thereby alleviating symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED) unit arranged inside the case over the fan along a flow path of air
Implementation Method 2
UV LEDs emit UV rays to sterilize the air
Implementation Method 3
a photocatalyst filter generates radicals for deodorization and decomposition of organic materials
Data Source
AI summary
An air purifier includes a case having an air inlet and an air outlet, a fan disposed adjacent the air inlet, a UV LED unit and a filter unit arranged over the fan along a flow path of air, and a fluid control structure disposed between the fan and the filter unit.