Photocatalytic oxidation device for treatment of air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air purification systems, including HEPA filtration, activated carbon filters, ionizers, and UVGI, face limitations such as filter clogging, inability to treat surface contaminants, and suboptimal destruction of airborne contaminants like bacteria and VOCs, particularly due to inefficient photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) systems that struggle with air-catalyst interaction and oxidizer distribution.
Innovation Solution
A structurally and dimensionally optimized PCO device with a frame, cell panels, and UV lamp configuration that ensures effective irradiation of photocatalysts, generation of oxidizers, and interaction with airflow, minimizing airflow restriction, featuring apertures, reflectors, and photocatalytic coatings to enhance contaminant removal and surface treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional PCO systems use close positioning of catalyst and UV lamp to maximize oxidizer generation, then contaminant destruction effectiveness is improved, but airflow restriction increases and power consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional linear arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration where the UV lamp is suspended within an interior chamber formed by frame and cell panels. This spatial reorganization allows the catalyst-coated cell panels to surround the lamp, maximizing surface area exposure to UV radiation while maintaining open airflow paths through the structure, thereby achieving high oxidizer generation efficiency without excessive airflow restriction or power consumption
2Reliability
If conventional PCO systems increase catalyst surface area to improve contaminant treatment, then oxidizer generation is enhanced, but airflow restriction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cell panels are coated with photocatalytic material on their interior surfaces, creating a porous-like structure that provides extensive catalyst surface area within a compact volume. This allows maximized oxidizer generation while the open-cell structure and apertures maintain unobstructed airflow paths, preventing excessive pressure drop and maintaining high airflow rates
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional PCO systems use brief UV exposure to treat airborne contaminants, then energy consumption is reduced, but treatment effectiveness against bacteria and mold spores is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates oxidizers through continuous UV irradiation of the catalyst-coated cell panels before airborne contaminants arrive. This creates a reservoir of reactive oxidizing species that immediately attack contaminants upon contact, providing enhanced treatment effectiveness against resistant organisms like mold spores and bacteria without requiring prolonged direct UV exposure, thus maintaining low energy consumption
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 optimized PCO device achieves more effective contaminant purification per watt and volume, improving airflow interaction and oxidizer distribution, leading to enhanced contaminant destruction and surface treatment without excessive power consumption or airflow disruption.
Implementation Method 1
PCO systems direct UV light onto a catalyst material. Water molecules in the ambient air then interact with the UV light and the catalyst to generate a variety of oxidizers such as hydroxyl radicals
Implementation Method 2
The UV light is typically tuned to short-wave UV light (UV-C light)
Implementation Method 3
The oxidizers can then attack organic molecule contaminants and degrade them into less harmful substances
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a photocatalytic oxidation device that includes a frame and a pair of opposing photocatalytic cell panels. An ultraviolet lamp is disposed within an interior chamber and, when activated, causes the generation of oxidizers at the cell panels. Air is passable through apertures of the cell panels and thus may be moved through the device. The device is structurally configured and dimensionally optimized to provide effective photocatalytic activity without overly restricting airflow.