Plate-Type Bipolar Ion Generator for Alternating Ion Air Purification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air purification technologies, such as unipolar ionizers, are ineffective in eliminating odors and improving air quality due to their inability to generate bipolar ions, leading to incomplete purification and potential particle reformation.

Innovation Solution

A bipolar ionizer with a plate-type structure comprising a thermally conductive sheet, porous emitter plates, dielectric barrier plates, and ground plates creates a controlled electric field gradient to generate alternating bipolar ions, effectively improving indoor air quality by exciting oxygen molecules and degrading organic volatiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If unipolar ionization is used for air purification, then dust collection effect is improved, but odor elimination capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collectionVSAvoidodor elimination
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple independent discharge electrodes (positive and negative) arranged in alternating patterns, allowing simultaneous generation of both positive and negative ions through separate discharge channels, thereby achieving both dust collection and odor elimination functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple discharge electrodes with different polarities within a single device structure, merging the functions of positive ion generation (for dust collection) and negative ion generation (for odor elimination) into one integrated air purifier

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If double needle tip bipolar ionizer is used, then odor degradation capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor degradationVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge electrodes use local sharp-pointed structures (needle tips or sharp edges) only at the discharge surfaces where ion generation is needed, while the main body of the electrodes can be simpler in form, thus achieving high ionization efficiency without proportionally increasing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-point needle tip discharge to a planar array of multiple discharge electrodes, distributing the ionization function across a two-dimensional surface, which maintains effective odor degradation while reducing the concentration of complexity in any single location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 bipolar ionizer enhances air purification by capturing smaller inhalable particles and degrading gaseous molecules, such as formaldehyde and ammonia, without the need for additional filters, while also effectively killing bacteria, thus providing a comprehensive air quality improvement.

Implementation Method 1

a bipolar ionizer for air purification, which is a plate-type structure comprising a substrate with a thermally conductive sheet, a first porous emitter plate, a second porous emitter plate... an electric field gradient formed between thermally conductive sheet and the first porous emitter plate is smaller than an electric field gradient formed between the first porous emitter plate and the first ground plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCorona discharge: Corona Discharge

Implementation Method 2

When the emitted electrons reach a certain rate, the oxygen molecules can be excited, converting them to ionic state... a part of the electrons escapes from the surface of the dielectric barrier plate and meets the indoor air molecules

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron extraction and oxygen excitation: Ionisation

Implementation Method 3

the energy of the gas and particles colliding with each other participate in the process of oxidative decomposition... degrading gaseous molecules, such as formaldehyde and ammonia

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 4

an electric field gradient formed between thermally conductive sheet and the first porous emitter plate is smaller than an electric field gradient formed between the first porous emitter plate and the first ground plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric field gradient: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentEP3544130B1Bipolar ion generator for air purification and diffuser using bipolar ion generator
Publication Date: 2021.01.27 SHENZHEN YUAN QI ENVIRONMENTAL ENERGY TECH CO LTD
  • EP3544130B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3544130B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to an ionizer, in particular to an alternating bipolar ionizer, and in particular to an alternating bipolar ionizer for air purification. It is a plate-type structure consisting of a substrate with a thermally conductive sheet, a porous emitter plate, a dielectric barrier plate, and a porous ground plate with ion extraction mechanism all of which are stacked together in sequence. According to the above technical solution, the ground plate and the emitter plate with the ion extraction structure form an electric field with a precise size, and the electrons of the emitter plate are led out of the dielectric barrier plate on a grounding side of the electric field. A part of the electrons meets the grounding pole plate and flows into the ground plate to form a current, and a part of the electrons escapes from the surface of the dielectric barrier plate and meets the indoor air molecules. When the escaped electrons reach a certain rate, the oxygen molecules can be excited to be an ionic state, and the air quality is improved. When AC high-voltage current is input, the bipolar ions are generated alternately, so that a bipolar ionized gas flow can be injected into the air to effectively improve the air quality.