Vehicle Cabin Air Filtration Using Agglomeration and Cyclone Pre-Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cabin air filter systems for vehicles face challenges in extending the service life of particle filter elements, particularly in removing smaller particles, which are detrimental to human health and contribute to the loading of HEPA filter elements.

Innovation Solution

The proposed cabin air filter system incorporates a particle agglomeration device upstream of a cyclone separator and a particle filter element, which increases the effective diameter of particles, enhancing the cyclone separator's efficiency and reducing the load on the particle filter element, thereby extending its service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cyclone separator is used for pre-separation, then larger particles (above 5 μm) can be removed efficiently, but smaller particles (below 5 μm) still heavily load the particle filter element

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle filter element service lifeVSAvoidparticle load on filter element

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The particle agglomeration device performs preliminary action by causing particles to clump together before they reach the cyclone separator. This pre-treatment transforms small particles into larger aggregates, enabling the cyclone separator to remove a greater portion of particles that would otherwise burden the filter element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The particle agglomeration device acts as an intermediary between the raw air and the cyclone separator. It modifies the particle characteristics (increasing effective diameter) so that the cyclone separator can more effectively remove particles, thereby reducing the load on the final particle filter element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a particle filter element is used to remove all particles, then cabin air quality is improved, but the filter element requires frequent replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabin air qualityVSAvoidfilter element service life

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The particle removal function is segmented into multiple stages: first, the particle agglomeration device clusters small particles; second, the cyclone separator removes larger aggregates; third, the particle filter element removes remaining particles. This segmentation distributes the particle removal burden across different devices, extending filter element life while maintaining air quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces pure mechanical filtration with a hybrid approach combining particle agglomeration (aerosol physics), cyclonic separation (centrifugal force), and mechanical filtration. This substitution reduces reliance on the mechanical filter element alone, decreasing its loading and extending service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If frequent filter replacement is performed, then particle filtration efficiency is maintained, but maintenance effort and sustainability are negatively impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system recovers particle removal capacity by using the cyclone separator to capture and remove a significant portion of particles before they reach the filter element. This reduces the rate at which the filter element becomes saturated, extending replacement intervals and reducing maintenance frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 configuration significantly increases the service life of the particle filter element, potentially extending replacement intervals to 7 years or more, and reduces the pressure loss and maintenance burden associated with frequent filter replacements.

Implementation Method 1

a particle agglomeration device positioned upstream of the cyclone separator, wherein the particle agglomeration device is adapted to increase an effective diameter of at least a portion of a totality of particles contained in a raw air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectParticle agglomeration: Flocculation

Implementation Method 2

a cyclone separator positioned upstream of the at least one particle filter element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 3

a cyclone separator positioned upstream of the at least one particle filter element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 4

at least one particle filter element comprising a porous particle filtration media adapted to remove at least a portion of the particles contained in a raw air flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250032968A1Cabin air filter system for a vehicle and method for cleaning air supplied to a vehicle cabin

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 MANN HUMMEL GMBH

AI summary

A cabin air filter system for a vehicle, includes at least one particle filter element and a cyclone separator positioned upstream of the at least one particle filter element. The system includes a particle agglomeration device positioned upstream of the cyclone separator. A method for cleaning air to be supplied to a cabin of a vehicle, with the cabin air filter system.