Plasma Photocatalyst Air Purification for Ozone-to-OH Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air-tight buildings, indoor air pollution worsens due to home appliances generating pollutants like fine dust, VOCs, and microorganisms, and existing air purifiers face challenges with ozone generation and human health impacts.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization and deodorization apparatus featuring a plasma unit generating OH radicals and ozone, combined with a filter unit and photocatalyst activated by visible light, which converts ozone into OH radicals, reducing pollutant levels and ozone exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If surface discharge induced plasma chemical processing is used to remove indoor pollutants, then pollutant removal efficiency is improved, but ozone generation increases causing harmful effects on human health
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful ozone generated by plasma discharge into beneficial hydroxyl radicals through photocatalytic reaction. The filter unit with photocatalyst layer captures ozone and transforms it into OH radicals under UV irradiation, which then contribute to pollutant degradation. This principle directly resolves the contradiction by transforming the harmful byproduct into a useful active species for enhanced pollutant removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a filter unit with photocatalyst as an intermediary between the plasma discharge unit and the environment. This intermediary captures the harmful ozone from plasma discharge and converts it through photocatalytic reaction, mediating the transformation from harmful ozone to beneficial hydroxyl radicals. The filter unit acts as a bridge that eliminates the harmful effect while preserving and enhancing the pollutant removal function.
2Reliability
If ozone is generated for pollutant removal, then sterilization and deodorization effects are improved, but mandatory ozone controls and health safety requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the plasma discharge unit and the filter unit with photocatalyst into a single integrated air purifier system. The plasma unit generates ozone for sterilization and deodorization, while the integrated filter unit simultaneously converts this ozone into hydroxyl radicals. This merging eliminates the need for separate ozone control systems and multiple standalone devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable sterilization and deodorization effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter unit with photocatalyst performs multiple functions: it filters particulate matter, converts harmful ozone into beneficial hydroxyl radicals, and enhances pollutant degradation through photocatalytic oxidation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control systems and additional devices, thereby reducing system complexity while improving reliability of sterilization and deodorization.
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
Efficient removal of indoor pollutants and reduction of ozone levels, ensuring better air quality and health safety by converting ozone into OH radicals, promoting continuous photocatalytic reactions and easy recyclability.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma unit or device 100 that forms a plasma region to generate a plurality of ions
Implementation Method 2
a photocatalyst applied to the filter unit to perform a photocatalytic reaction
Data Source
AI summary
A sterilization and deodorization apparatus is provided. The sterilization and deodorization apparatus may include a frame that defines an outer appearance of the sterilization and deodorization apparatus, a plasma unit or device disposed on or at one or a first side of the frame, the plasma unit forming a plasma region to generate a plurality of ions, and a filter unit or filter disposed on the other or a second side of the frame which is spaced apart from the frame. The filter unit may include a filter frame having a plurality of through-holes so that air passes therethrough, and a photocatalyst applied to the filter frame to perform photocatalytic reaction.