Flat Meandering Air Purifier with Dispersed Photocatalyst Light Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air purifiers with photocatalysts face challenges in reducing size while maintaining efficient degradation of organic matter due to the large cross-sectional area required for a rod-shaped light source and cylindrical photocatalytic sheet configuration.
Innovation Solution
An air purifier design featuring a flat, meandering air passage with a catalyst member having a flat mesh shape and dispersed light sources on the inner wall, which allows for efficient contact between air and photocatalyst, and reduces the device's size by utilizing a labyrinth structure and recessed light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rod-shaped light source and cylindrical photocatalytic sheet are disposed perpendicularly to air flow, then the photocatalyst can be activated and organic matter can be degraded, but the cross-sectional area of the air passage becomes large, making it difficult to reduce the device size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional rod-shaped light source and cylindrical photocatalytic sheet configuration to a two-dimensional flat plate configuration. The light source is changed from a rod extending perpendicularly to the air flow to a flat plate disposed substantially parallel to the air flow direction, with the photocatalytic layer formed on its surface. This dimensional change allows the air passage cross-sectional area to be reduced while maintaining effective photocatalyst activation and organic matter degradation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The flat plate light source is divided into multiple light-emitting regions that are dispersed along the air flow direction. This segmentation allows for more uniform irradiation of the photocatalytic layer and enables the air passage to be designed with a more compact cross-section, as the light emission is distributed across multiple zones rather than concentrated in a single rod structure
2Volume of stationary object
If the air passage cross-sectional area is reduced to make the device smaller, then the device size is reduced, but it becomes difficult to effectively irradiate the photocatalyst with light and bring air into contact with the photocatalyst
Solution Approach 1:
The flat plate light source is designed with multiple light-emitting regions dispersed along the air flow direction, creating localized zones of high light intensity where the photocatalytic reaction is most active. This local quality distribution ensures that even in a compact air passage, the photocatalyst receives sufficient irradiation at multiple points along the flow path, maintaining reliable activation and degradation effectiveness despite the reduced overall device size
Solution Approach 2:
The flat plate configuration with dispersed light-emitting regions enables continuous irradiation of the photocatalytic layer along the entire air flow path. As air passes through the air passage, it is continuously exposed to activated photocatalyst across multiple light-emitting zones, ensuring uninterrupted degradation action throughout the compact device, thereby maintaining reliability despite the reduced size
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 design enables a compact air purifier that efficiently degrades organic matter, ensuring effective air contact with the photocatalyst and uniform airflow, while preventing the device from increasing in size.
Implementation Method 1
Air purifiers that exert a deodorization effect and a sterilization effect by degrading organic matter by means of a photocatalyst
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust fan configured to suction air out of the air passage
Data Source
AI summary
An air purifier according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: an air passage defined between a first inner wall surface and a second inner wall surface that are planar and face each other, having a flat passage cross section in which a distance between the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface is small, and meandering in a plane parallel to the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface; a catalyst member including a support having a flat mesh shape, and a photocatalyst supported on the support, the catalyst member being disposed parallel to the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface in the air passage; and a plurality of light sources dispersed on the second inner wall surface, and configured to irradiate the catalyst member with light that activates the photocatalyst.