Electrostatic Sterilization Spraying for Low-Maintenance Air Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air purification methods, such as filter-type air conditioners and spray-type odor removers, are inefficient and cumbersome, leading to increased maintenance costs, noise, and contamination risks due to fungi and bacteria growth, while electrostatic spraying systems face issues with nozzle interference and complexity, requiring separate components for atomization and discharge.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization device that converts a liquid-phase base solution into a discharge solution using an electric field, atomizes it into micro-sized droplets, and discharges it with hydroxide ions (OH−) for sterilization and purification, eliminating the need for separate deodorants or air conditioners, and minimizing device size and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter method is used for air purification, then harmful substances can be removed from air, but maintenance cost increases and dust collection performance decreases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical filter system with an electrostatic spraying system that generates charged droplets to neutralize and remove harmful substances. Instead of using a physical filter that clogs and requires maintenance, the system uses electrostatically charged droplets that can be generated continuously without mechanical wear or clogging, thereby eliminating maintenance costs and performance degradation over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of the base solution from liquid-phase to micro-sized droplets through electrostatic spraying, and further to nano-sized droplets with high charge. This parameter change enables the solution to be dispersed as fine particles that can effectively remove harmful substances without requiring a physical filter, thus avoiding maintenance issues associated with filters.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter is mounted inside air conditioners for sterilization and deodorization, then air quality can be improved, but noise is generated during air passing through the filter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical filter system with an electrostatic spraying system that generates charged droplets. This substitution eliminates the mechanical resistance and turbulence caused by air passing through a filter, thereby removing the noise generation issue while maintaining the air purification and sterilization functions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If spray-type odor removers are used for sterilization and deodorization, then air can be purified, but users must spray deodorant directly which causes inconvenience and strong smell
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated electrostatic spraying system that operates without direct user intervention. The system automatically generates and discharges charged droplets into the air, eliminating the need for users to manually spray deodorant. This self-service approach improves user convenience by removing the hassle of direct spraying and reduces exposure to strong smells through automated, controlled discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the base solution into micro-sized and then nano-sized charged droplets through electrostatic spraying. This parameter change allows the solution to be dispersed as ultra-fine particles that can be effectively discharged into the air without requiring direct user contact or exposure to strong concentrations, thereby improving user convenience and reducing smell exposure.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional electrostatic spray systems are used, then sterilization can be achieved, but device complexity increases due to separate atomization and discharge components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the atomization function and electrostatic discharge function into a single integrated electrostatic spray unit. Instead of having separate components for generating droplets and applying electrostatic charge, the system combines these functions in one unit that directly converts liquid-phase base solution into charged micro-sized or nano-sized droplets. This integration significantly reduces device complexity while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
5Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional electrostatic spray systems are used, then discharge solution can be generated, but nozzle interference occurs making mass production difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex nozzle system from the electrostatic spray unit and replaces it with a simplified structure that uses an absorption member to supply base solution to a discharge part. This extraction of the nozzle component eliminates the interference issues between multiple nozzles and simplifies the manufacturing process, enabling easier mass production while maintaining the ability to generate charged discharge solution.
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 device efficiently sterilizes and purifies air by electrostatically spraying nano-sized droplets with hydroxide ions, reducing contamination risks, maintenance costs, and user inconvenience, while preventing nozzle interference and simplifying management.
Implementation Method 1
an electrostatic spray unit (1200) configured to convert a liquid-phase base solution stored in a housing (1100) into a discharge solution having a sterilization function using hydroxide ions (OH−)
Implementation Method 2
the discharge solution having hydroxide ions (OH−) is discharged by the electric field generated due to a voltage difference between a voltage application device and a discharge part
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a sterilization device. The sterilization device includes a housing in which a liquid-phase base solution is accommodated, an electrode unit spaced mounted inside the housing by being spaced apart from a surface of the base solution and configured to receive a voltage, and a spraying unit spaced apart from the electrode unit and provided with a plate in which at least one coupling hole is formed, the spraying unit being provided with at least one nozzle which is coupled to the coupling hole and which protrudes through an upper surface and a lower surface of the plate. By performing electrostatic spraying, bacteria and bad odors in the air are capable of being removed.