Air Sterilization Ion Generation Without Harmful Hydrogen Ions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air cleaning apparatuses using ion generators that produce both anions and cations are limited in effectively killing bacteria due to the discharge of harmful hydrogen ions and inefficiencies in ion generation, leading to reduced sterilizing performance.
Innovation Solution
A sterilizing method and apparatus that generates cations and anions separately using a cation generator and an anion generator, coupling electrons with cations to produce neutral atoms, which then react with anions to form sterilizing substances like hydrogen atoms and super-oxide anions, effectively neutralizing bacteria without harming humans and improving sterilization efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional ion generator alternately generates anions and cations using AC voltage, then both anions and cations are supplied into the room space, but hydrogen ions harmful to the human body are discharged intact and considerable amounts of anions and cations are coupled before sterilization, reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The ion generator is divided into two separate generators: a cation generator and an anion generator. This segmentation allows independent control and optimization of each ion type, preventing harmful hydrogen ions from being discharged while ensuring sufficient anions are available for sterilization without premature coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of hydrogen ions by introducing a neutralization step where electrons are supplied to neutralize hydrogen ions before they can be discharged into the room space. This transforms the harmful hydrogen ions into harmless neutral atoms, eliminating the health risk while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
2Productivity
If each electrode alternately generates anions and cations, then both ion types are produced, but considerable amounts of anions and cations are coupled before sterilization use, losing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the ion generation into two independent generators operating simultaneously rather than alternately, the system ensures that anions and cations are produced independently without premature coupling. This allows both generators to operate at full capacity, increasing overall ion production while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cation generator and anion generator operate continuously and simultaneously rather than alternately, ensuring a continuous supply of both ion types for sterilization. This eliminates the idle time and coupling losses associated with alternating operation, maintaining constant sterilization effectiveness.
3Loss of time
If each electrode alternately generates anions and cations, then ion generation occurs, but it is impossible to generate sufficient amounts of anions and cations required for sterilization within a short period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The separation into two independent generators allows each generator to specialize in producing one ion type at maximum rate simultaneously, rather than sharing the same electrode time. This doubles the overall ion generation capacity and ensures sufficient quantities of both anions and cations are available for rapid sterilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Simultaneous continuous operation of both cation and anion generators ensures that the full required quantity of both ion types is generated without interruption or delay, enabling rapid sterilization within a short period rather than requiring alternating cycles.
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 method effectively neutralizes bacteria by producing hydrogen atoms and super-oxide anions, preventing exposure to harmful hydrogen ions and enhancing sterilization performance by ensuring sufficient ion availability, resulting in a 99.6% reduction of airborne viruses within 30 minutes.
Implementation Method 1
generating cations and anions using a cation generator and an anion generator, respectively
Implementation Method 2
driving the anion generator, thereby generating electrons and anions
Implementation Method 3
coupling electrons generated from the anion generator with the cations, thereby producing neutral atoms
Implementation Method 4
supplying the neutral atoms and anions to an object to be removed by sterilization, thereby removing the object by a sterilizing substance produced by coupling of the neutral atoms and anions
Implementation Method 5
These compounds are adsorbed to bacteria present in the room air, to thereby oxidize and kill the bacteria
Data Source
AI summary
A sterilizing method and apparatus in which neutral atoms and anions are coupled to produce a sterilizing substance which is, in turn, used to remove an object to be removed by sterilization. The sterilizing apparatus includes a cation generator and an anion generator, which are separate from each other. Also disclosed as an air cleaning method and apparatus using the sterilizing method and apparatus.