Reusable Sensor Port for Air Purification Filter ESLI
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Air purifying filters lack effective end-of-service-life-indicators (ESLI) that do not disrupt airflow and can provide early warnings for residual life, as embedded sensors within the sorbent bed can cause false signals and reduce filter lifespan, and are often discarded with the cartridge, increasing costs and complicating sensor placement.
Innovation Solution
A sensor post housing with removable chemical sensors and a signal conditioning board is positioned within the sorbent bed, allowing for early detection of contaminant concentrations and providing proactive ESLI, enabling earlier warnings and reusable sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical sensors are integrated into the sorbent bed to provide ESLI, then end-of-service-life indication is improved, but airflow disturbance and false signals occur
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is segmented from the sorbent bed by placing it in a separate holder that is positioned within the filter housing but distinct from the sorbent material. This allows the sensor to detect contaminants without being embedded in the sorbent bed, thereby avoiding airflow disturbance while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A holder structure serves as an intermediary between the sensor and the sorbent bed. The holder positions the sensor at a distance from the sorbent material, allowing the sensor to detect contaminants in the airflow without direct contact with the sorbent bed, thus avoiding false signals while maintaining ESLI functionality.
2Reliability
If sensors are embedded in the sorbent bed to provide ESLI, then detection capability is improved, but filter service life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is extracted from the sorbent bed and placed in a separate holder within the filter housing. This extraction eliminates the harmful interaction between the sensor and sorbent material that caused reduced service life, while the sensor remains positioned to detect contaminants effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is segmented into a separate holder component rather than being integrated into the sorbent bed. This segmentation allows the sensor to function independently without degrading the sorbent material or reducing filter service life, while maintaining detection capability.
3Reliability
If sensors are disposed with the cartridge at end of service, then detection function is maintained, but costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor and its holder are designed to be recovered and reused after the filter cartridge is replaced. The holder can be removed from the filter housing and the sensor can be replaced or reused, eliminating the need to discard the entire assembly with the cartridge, thereby reducing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed with dynamic replaceability - the sensor can be easily removed and replaced in the holder without replacing the entire filter assembly. This dynamic design allows cost-effective maintenance by replacing only the sensor component rather than the entire cartridge.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are mounted at various bed locations to provide comprehensive detection, then detection coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder structure serves multiple functions: it positions the sensor, provides structural support, and enables easy removal and replacement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for complex mounting mechanisms while maintaining the ability to position sensors at optimal locations for comprehensive detection.
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 provides earlier and more reliable end-of-service-life indications, enhancing user safety by predicting residual life before contaminant breakthrough, reducing filter degradation, and allowing for sensor reuse, thus offering a safer and cost-effective solution.
Implementation Method 1
A chemical sensor may be disposed inside the sensor post housing
Implementation Method 2
sorbent bed of a filter cartridge
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device is disclosed for providing end of service life indication for an air purification filter. The sensor device has a cylindrical housing for insertion into a sorbent bed of a filter, and can be removed from the bed and reused at the end of the filter service. One or more sensors inside the housing are configured to sense physical/chemical characteristics of air passing through the sorbent bed, and to provide associated data to a sensor conditioning board within the housing. The sensor conditioning board processes the received data and conditions the data as desired. The housing is receivable in a cavity formed in the filter bed. A receiving structure receives the housing therein. Data from the one or more sensors can be used to calculate predicted end of service life of the filter. Other embodiments are described and claimed.