Rechargeable Electrostatic Air Filter With Conductive Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air filters in vehicles experience a decline in electrostatic charge and filtering effectiveness as they age, leading to reduced performance over their service life, especially in highly polluted environments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electrically conductive layer in the air filter that can be recharged using an external power source, combined with a conductive terminal for continuous electrostatic charging, maintaining filtering efficiency throughout the filter's life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the air filter uses an open-pored fibrous filter layer to achieve low flow resistance, then the pressure losses are reduced and air flow is improved, but the mechanical filtering effect is weakened and very small particles (less than 0.3 μm) cannot be effectively filtered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameter of the filter layer by applying an electrostatic charge through a conductive layer. This transforms the filter from a purely mechanical filtration system to an electrostatic filtration system, enabling effective capture of very small particles (less than 0.3 μm) while maintaining low flow resistance through the open-pored structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the open-pored fibrous filter layer with a conductive layer to create a composite filter structure. The fibrous layer provides mechanical support and airflow pathways, while the conductive layer provides electrostatic charging capability. This composite structure achieves both low pressure losses and effective particle filtration.
2Reliability
If the air filter relies on electrostatic charge for filtering very small particles, then the filtering effect improves, but the electrostatic charge diminishes quickly as the filter ages and becomes clogged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous electrostatic charging system where the conductive layer remains electrically connected to an external power source throughout the filter's service life. This ensures the electrostatic charge is continuously maintained and replenished, preventing the charge diminishion that occurs in conventional filters as they age and become clogged.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system performs self-recharging through the continuous electrical connection to the power source. The conductive layer automatically receives electrical charge to maintain the electrostatic field, eliminating the need for manual intervention or replacement to restore filtering effectiveness.
3Volume of moving object
If the air filter is designed with minimal installation space in modern air conditioners, then the device compactness is improved, but the filter must exhibit very low flow resistance to convey the desired amount of air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes an open-pored fibrous filter layer that provides high porosity. This porous structure allows for maximum air flow through minimal material thickness, enabling the filter to achieve low flow resistance while maintaining effective particle capture capability through electrostatic charging.
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 solution ensures sustained filtering effectiveness by continuously recharging the electrostatic charge, enhancing the air filter's performance over its entire service life without significantly increasing pressure loss.
Implementation Method 1
the conductive layer can be connected to a high voltage power source with which the filter element can be electrostatically charged
Implementation Method 2
The terminal is a spring contact, in particular in the form of a leaf spring
Data Source
AI summary
An air filter for an air filter assembly in an air conditioner is provided, in particular for filtering out particles, preferably pollutants, from air. The air filter contains a filter element with an electrically conductive layer. The air filter also has a housing that partially encompasses a housing interior into which the filter element is inserted. The air filter also has a terminal on the housing that can be contacted from outside the housing interior, which is made of an electrically conductive material and is connected to the conductive layer of the filter element.