Collimated Light Air Purification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air purification systems are inefficient in removing small airborne particulates like viruses and bacteria, as physical filters clog easily and ultraviolet light purification methods are hindered by particulate accumulation, leading to reduced effectiveness and increased energy costs.
Innovation Solution
An air purification apparatus with a chamber featuring reflective surfaces and a collimated light source that directs a beam of light energy, combined with a charge generation system to repel particles from the walls and a rotating beam redirector to ensure thorough exposure of particulates to the energy field, increasing the likelihood of destruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical filters are used to trap dust and particulates, then particle removal is achieved, but air flow decreases due to clogging and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical filtration systems with a photonic sterilization system that uses collimated light beams to destroy pathogens and particulates in place, eliminating the need for physical filters that clog and require maintenance. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining high particle removal efficiency without the air flow degradation associated with mechanical filters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from physical trapping to photonic destruction by using specific light parameters (collimated beams with sufficient energy density) to alter the state of particulates and pathogens, converting them from a filtration problem to an energy-based destruction problem that doesn't impede air flow.
2Reliability
If ultraviolet lights are used to sterilize air, then pathogen destruction is achieved, but particulates accumulate on the emission source reducing light intensity and effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sterilization function from the emission source itself, using collimated light beams that travel through the air volume to destroy pathogens in place rather than relying on intensity at a fixed emission point. This removes the accumulation problem that plagues UV systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces collimated light beams as an intermediary mechanism that transfers energy through the air volume without requiring the emission source to be in direct contact with particulates. This intermediary approach prevents accumulation on the source while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
3Reliability
If ultraviolet systems slow air to increase pathogen exposure time, then sterilization effectiveness improves, but energy expenses significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses continuous collimated light beams that maintain sufficient energy density throughout the air volume, allowing sterilization to occur continuously without needing to slow air flow. The useful action (sterilization) continues at full air flow rate, eliminating the energy-intensive slowing step.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can operate with periodic or continuous collimated light beams that are timed or positioned to ensure adequate exposure, replacing the need for continuous air slowing with targeted energy delivery that maintains effectiveness at normal air flow rates.
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 solution achieves high efficiency in sterilizing air by ensuring that nearly all particulates, regardless of size, collide with the energy field, resulting in 99.98% to 99.99% neutralization, while maintaining airflow and reducing maintenance and energy costs.
Implementation Method 1
a collimated light source configured to direct a beam of collimated light energy into the chamber
Implementation Method 2
a charge generation system configured to impart a charge to the one or more walls, to repel particles contained within the interior volume from the one or more walls
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the walls comprises a reflective surface facing inwardly towards the interior volume
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to an air purification apparatuses and methods for air purification. The air purification apparatuses pass air through energy beams that form one or more fields of energy within a chamber to produce an outflow of sterilized air. In some aspects, a charge generation system is implemented to repel particles from the chamber walls. In some aspects, the fields of energy extend across substantially an entirety of the cross sectional area of the interior volume of the chamber and longitudinally within the chamber. In some aspects, a controller is configured to rotate a beam of collimated light energy within the chamber at a rotational velocity corresponding to at least V/W, wherein V is the linear velocity of a particle within the chamber along the longitudinal axis, and W is the width of the beam of collimated light energy.