Method and apparatus for purifying air from biological agents and volatile organic compounds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic air purifiers are ineffective in removing chemical and biological pollutants such as VOCs, formaldehyde, bacteria, and viruses, and often require dedicated units in each room, leading to resource wastage or compromised air quality.
Innovation Solution
A compact, quiet air purifier using a MOH/H2O2 reagent in a gas/liquid contactor with a perforated membrane to convert air into bubbles for treatment, reducing CO2, VOCs, and microbiological loads, and optionally integrating with traditional purifiers or HVAC systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple dedicated air purifier units are deployed in each room, then air quality can be maintained, but resource wastage occurs and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a single air purifier unit with multi-functional capabilities: HEPA filtration for particles, activated carbon adsorption for VOCs, and MOH/H2O2 chemical reaction for biological contaminants and formaldehyde. This universal design allows one unit to perform the functions previously requiring multiple specialized devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the air purification function into distinct stages handled by different components within a single unit: mechanical filtration stage, chemical adsorption stage, and chemical reaction stage. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific contaminant types while working together in an integrated 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
Effectively reduces chemical and biological contaminants, including at least 99.9% virus removal, down to 400-700 ppm CO2, and enriches oxygen, while being compact and adaptable to multiple rooms.
Implementation Method 1
an aqueous alkali hydroxide/H2O2 solution...is a powerful oxidizer that could be used to serve several useful purposes: absorbing carbon dioxide from flue gases; destroying bulk carbon tetrachloride and other chlorinated methane and ethane compounds
Implementation Method 2
absorbing carbon dioxide from flue gases
Implementation Method 3
passing the air through a perforated membrane installed in the gas/liquid contactor below the surface level of the aqueous alkali hydroxide/H2O2 solution, such that bubbles produced travel through said solution
Implementation Method 4
an aqueous alkali hydroxide/H2O2 solution...has been previously reported as a generator of the superoxide radical anion (O2—·)...is a powerful oxidizer that could be used to serve several useful purposes: destroying bulk carbon tetrachloride and other chlorinated methane and ethane compounds; remediating soil from diesel oil and crude oil contaminants
Data Source
AI summary
A method for improving indoor air quality in a room, comprising drawing air from the room and guiding the air into a gas/liquid contactor charged with aqueous alkali hydroxide/H2O2 solution, passing the air through a perforated membrane installed in the gas/liquid contactor below the surface level of the aqueous alkali hydroxide/H2O2 solution, such that bubbles produced travel through said solution, and getting treated air with improved quality from said gas/liquid contactor, said treated air is characterized by having: reduced carbon dioxide levels; and/or reduced VOC levels; and/or reduced microbiological load. An air purifier to carry out the method is also provided.