Catalyst-Sleeved Air Ionization for Ozone-Limited Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air ionization systems often generate insufficient ionization levels to effectively clean and sanitize air due to ozone concerns, lack configurability and intelligent control, and are complex, expensive, and difficult to service.
Innovation Solution
An air ionization unit with an ozone dampening catalyst surrounding the ionization tube, which removes ozone created during ionization, and a controller that measures air quality parameters and adjusts ionization levels, integrated with a modular design for easy replacement and intelligent control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air ionization is used to clean and sanitize air, then air purification effectiveness is improved, but ozone generation creates harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using the ozone generated during ionization not as waste to be eliminated, but as a useful disinfectant. The system generates ozone through ionization, then uses UV-C irradiation to convert it into singlet oxygen, which serves as a powerful antimicrobial agent for sanitizing air, water, and surfaces without the harmful effects of traditional ozone exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UV-C irradiation as an intermediary substance/process between ionization and sanitization. The UV-C light acts as a mediator that transforms ozone into singlet oxygen, enabling the system to achieve sanitization through a controlled chemical transformation rather than direct ozone contact, thus eliminating harmful ozone exposure while maintaining purification effectiveness.
2Productivity
If ionization levels are increased to improve air cleaning, then air purification effectiveness is improved, but ozone generation increases creating harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful ozone byproduct into a beneficial singlet oxygen disinfectant through UV-C irradiation. This allows the system to operate at high ionization levels for improved air cleaning efficiency while transforming the proportional increase in ozone generation into increased singlet oxygen production for enhanced sanitization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
UV-C irradiation serves as the intermediary mechanism that decouples the relationship between ionization level and harmful ozone exposure. By introducing this transformation step, the system can increase ionization levels for better productivity while the UV-C mediator converts all ozone into beneficial singlet oxygen, eliminating the harmful effect regardless of ionization intensity.
3Ease of repair
If modular design is used to simplify servicing, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air treatment system into distinct modular components: an ionization module that generates ions and ozone, a UV-C irradiation module that converts ozone to singlet oxygen, and separate airflow pathways. This segmentation allows each module to be independently serviced, replaced, or maintained without affecting the entire system, greatly improving ease of repair despite the increased structural complexity of having multiple specialized modules.
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 solution achieves enhanced air filtration and sanitization with higher negative ionization levels, improved configurability, and reduced complexity and cost, while ensuring safe ozone levels and easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an ozone dampening catalyst surrounding the ionization tube. The ozone dampening catalyst removes much or all of the ozone created by ionizing molecules in the air
Implementation Method 2
air is drawn into an ionization module through a filter that may be contained in the module. The filtered air is then expelled, preferably by a fan, outward into a space between the ionization tube and the ozone dampening catalyst. The air is ionized in a standard manner
Data Source
AI summary
Ionization systems configured with a catalyst-bearing sleeve provide improved filtration while keeping ozone levels within acceptable limits. Modular configurations provide for serviceability and replaceability. System controls monitor particulates, temperature, humidity, and other relevant factors and adjust an ionization level accordingly for optimal performance.