Ejector Air Filtration for Local Pathogen-Controlled Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation systems fail to effectively address the spread of air contaminants and pathogens in high occupancy enclosed spaces, as they do not adequately filter out local air pollutants and can recirculate them, leading to health and comfort issues.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a high-velocity air stream to entrain ambient air from nearby sources, which is then filtered and purified before being reintroduced into the ventilation system, using a mixing chamber with air treatment components to remove contaminants and pathogens, without the need for local fans or compressors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional air flow controllers and outlet diffusers are used to deliver centrally cleaned air, then air can be supplied to occupied spaces, but air contaminants and pathogens can still be circulated locally by airflow patterns and occupant movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the air supply system into multiple personal air outlets (PAOs) at individual occupant locations, each with its own ejector device. This segmentation allows localized air treatment rather than relying on a single central system, preventing cross-contamination between occupants while maintaining adequate air supply to each person.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector device acts as an intermediary between the central air supply system and the occupant breathing zone. It receives pressurized air from the central system and uses it to entrain and mix with local ambient air, creating a controlled airflow that delivers clean air directly to the occupant while filtering out local contaminants before they can be recirculated.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high volume air flow is used to dilute air contaminants to safe levels, then air quality can be improved, but energy costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector device is a passive device that uses the momentum of pressurized air from the central system to automatically entrain and mix ambient air. No additional energy input is required at the personal outlet level - the system self-regulates the air mixing ratio based on the pressure differential, providing high volume air flow for contaminant dilution without additional energy costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic principles where pressurized air from the central system creates a jet flow that entrains surrounding ambient air through pressure differential. This pneumatic mixing mechanism naturally produces high volume air flow for effective contaminant dilution without requiring additional mechanical power input at the distribution point.
3Temperature
If ventilation air is delivered through central HVAC systems, then thermal conditioning can be provided, but air boundary layers entrain contaminants into the occupant breathing zone
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by treating the air supply at each individual occupant location rather than uniformly throughout the space. Each personal air outlet receives thermally conditioned air from the central system and locally mixes it with ambient air in a controlled manner, ensuring that clean, conditioned air is delivered directly to each occupant's breathing zone while preventing local contaminant entrainment.
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 approach provides cleaner, more efficient air distribution, reducing the spread of pathogens and improving air quality by leveraging the momentum of the primary air stream to draw in and treat ambient air, thereby enhancing occupant comfort and health while reducing energy costs.
Implementation Method 1
The system employs a high-velocity air stream to entrain ambient air from nearby sources
Implementation Method 2
which is then filtered and purified before being reintroduced into the ventilation system, using a mixing chamber with air treatment components
Data Source
AI summary
Ejector devices and systems are provided, that entrain ambient air within a primary stream of pressurized air, for use in a variety of applications including aircraft, buildings and other stationary structures. The ejector draws ambient air through an air treatment means such as a filter before its entrainment within the primary stream. The combined streams are then delivered to a ventilation system, an air curtain or other suitable recipient of treated, thermally conditioned air. The systems include diffusers, air curtain systems and variable air volume ventilation systems for aircraft and other vehicles.