Charged Nonwoven Filter Media for Sustained Dust Capture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Air purifiers using nonwoven fabrics with electret fibers face reduced dust collection performance when electret fibers become covered with dust, and such filters are more expensive than those without electret fibers.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a first electrode with a power input terminal on the surface of the nonwoven fabric, allowing continuous charging of the fabric even when electret fibers are covered with dust, thereby maintaining electrostatic dust collection effectiveness over time, and using a laminated nonwoven fabric structure with different fiber layers for enhanced dust capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electret fibers are used in the nonwoven fabric to enhance dust collection effect, then dust collection performance is improved, but the cost increases and the fibers become covered with dust over time reducing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust collection performanceVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive electret fibers with a cheaper nonwoven fabric that can be continuously recharged. The filtering medium uses ordinary nonwoven fabric combined with a charging electrode system, eliminating the need for costly electret materials while maintaining dust collection effectiveness through periodic electrical charging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the filtering medium by introducing a power supply system that can dynamically recharge the nonwoven fabric. By applying electrical voltage to the charging electrode, the fabric's electrostatic properties are restored, allowing repeated use without degradation of performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If electret fibers are used to provide electrostatic force for dust collection, then dust collection effect is enhanced, but the electrostatic force diminishes when fibers are covered with dust

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust collection effectVSAvoidduration of electrostatic force

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a power supply system that can continuously or periodically recharge the nonwoven fabric. The charging electrode connected to the power supply maintains the electrostatic charge on the fabric, ensuring continuous dust collection effectiveness without the degradation that occurs in electret fiber systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The filtering medium system includes an integrated charging mechanism where the power supply automatically recharges the nonwoven fabric as needed. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain its own electrostatic properties without external intervention, extending the duration of effective operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple nonwoven fabric is used instead of electret fibers, then cost is reduced, but electrostatic dust collection capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidelectrostatic dust collection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a simple nonwoven fabric with a charging electrode and power supply system to create an integrated filtering medium. This merging of components allows the use of inexpensive fabric while restoring and maintaining electrostatic dust collection capabilities through the added charging mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the permanent electrostatic charge of electret fibers with a dynamic electrical charging system. Instead of relying on the inherent properties of expensive electret materials, the system uses a power supply to generate and maintain the necessary electrostatic field, substituting one mechanism for another more flexible and cost-effective approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enables long-term maintenance of dust collection efficiency using electrostatic forces without the need for electret fibers, while reducing the cost and improving the durability of the filtering medium by using cheaper materials and a layered fiber structure.

Implementation Method 1

The first electrode has an input terminal of power. Power is input from the input terminal of the first electrode, and thus the nonwoven fabric can be charged along with the first electrode. Therefore, even in a case where the nonwoven fabric does not contain electret fibers, fibers forming the nonwoven fabric can capture dust by using an electrostatic force.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic force: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS10168059B2Filtering medium and air purifier

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A filtering medium includes a nonwoven fabric and a first electrode having an input terminal of power. The first electrode is provided on a surface of the nonwoven fabric. Alternatively, in a case where the nonwoven fabric has a plurality of fiber layers, the first electrode may be provided between the fiber layers. An air purifier includes the filtering medium disposed between a sucker and a discharger of a gas, and an output terminal via which power is output to the first electrode of the filtering medium.