Vehicle Cabin Air Ionizer Layout for Uniform Particle Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cabin air filtration systems are inadequate in effectively removing pollutants due to inefficient particle charging and adherence to filters, particularly in high air pollution environments.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air cleaning system with an ionizing unit comprising a tube-like collector electrode and a centrally positioned emitter electrode, creating a uniform ionization field that charges particles, allowing a majority of the air flow to pass through and enhance particle adherence to a dielectric filter medium, thereby improving air quality within the cabin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ionizing parts with small-diameter wires and parallel plates are used, then the system can charge particles, but the ionization field uniformity is poor and particle charging efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional small-diameter wires and parallel plates with a corona wire positioned at the center of a cylindrical collector electrode. This curved/cylindrical geometry creates a more uniform radial electric field distribution compared to flat parallel plates, improving both ionization field uniformity and particle charging efficiency throughout the air flow cross-section.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional parallel plate configuration to a three-dimensional cylindrical configuration with the corona wire at the center axis. This dimensional change allows the electric field to radiate uniformly in all radial directions, creating consistent ionization across the entire cross-section of the air flow, thereby improving field uniformity and charging efficiency.
2Reliability
If the filter unit is designed to capture charged particles, then air cleanliness improves, but the system complexity increases with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the ionizing unit and filter unit into a single combined air cleaning system with a unified housing. The corona wire, collector electrode, and filter medium are arranged in sequence within one compact structure, eliminating the need for separate ionizing and filtering devices while achieving both particle charging and capture functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The combined unit serves multiple functions: the corona wire generates ions, the collector electrode conducts air flow and collects ions, and the filter medium captures charged particles. This multi-functional integration within a single device reduces system complexity while maintaining effective air cleaning performance.
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 system significantly increases the ionization rate of particles, leading to improved air cleanliness by ensuring a higher percentage of charged particles adhere to the filter, resulting in cleaner air delivered to the cabin, even at increased air flow rates and compact designs.
Implementation Method 1
Corona discharges occur at the emitter electrode, whereby molecules in the air get charged (ionized) and turn into ions
Implementation Method 2
When the ionizing unit is in use, a voltage may be applied over the emitter electrode and the collector electrode, whereby an electric field is obtained between the emitter electrode and the collector electrode. Corona discharges occur at the emitter electrode, whereby molecules in the air get charged (ionized) and turn into ions
Implementation Method 3
a voltage may be applied over the emitter electrode and the collector electrode, whereby an electric field is obtained between the emitter electrode and the collector electrode
Implementation Method 4
The ions travel in the electric field towards the collector electrode and collide with particles present in the air flow conducted by the collector electrode, whereby these particles get charged (ionized)
Implementation Method 5
The filter unit comprises a filter medium adapted to attract at least some of the charged particles
Implementation Method 6
increases the amount of particles adhering to the filter
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is provided including a cabin, a conduit arranged to conduct a flow of air from outside the vehicle to the cabin, and a filter unit arranged to filter at least a portion of the flow of air before it enters the cabin. Further, an ionizing unit is arranged in the conduit upstream of the filter unit as seen in the direction of the flow of air so as to charge particles present in the flow of air and transmit at least a major part of the charged particles towards the filter unit. The at least one collector electrode has a tube-like shape arranged to conduct at least a portion of the flow of air, and the at least one emitter electrode is arranged at a central axis of the tube-like shaped collector electrode, whereby a more uniform ionization field is provided.