Visible-Light WO3 Air Filter for Continuous Indoor Sanitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air filtration systems in indoor environments are inadequate in effectively reducing pollutants, VOCs, bacteria, viruses, spores, molds, and other harmful substances, particularly in the absence of UV light activation and with limited continuous operation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A filter system incorporating a photocatalytic element with tungsten trioxide (WO3) activated by visible light and copper nanoclusters, combined with a hydrophilic fabric filter, which uses LED illumination to produce reactive species for sanitizing air and fluids, allowing continuous operation even in the presence of people and foodstuffs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional photocatalytic systems using UV light are used, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but operational safety deteriorates due to inability to operate in presence of persons and foodstuffs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the activation parameter from UV light to visible light (specifically blue LED at 450nm), enabling the photocatalytic system to operate safely in the presence of persons and foodstuffs while maintaining sanitization effectiveness. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing continuous operation without the harmful effects of UV radiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes UV light sources with visible light LED sources, replacing a harmful radiation mechanism with a safer optical mechanism. This substitution maintains the photocatalytic effect while eliminating the safety hazards associated with UV exposure to persons and foodstuffs.
2Reliability
If air renewal through window opening or mechanical ventilation is used, then air quality is improved, but energy consumption increases and continuous operation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The photocatalytic filter system continuously treats air passing through it without requiring external energy input for activation (using ambient visible light or low-power LEDs). The system serves itself by catalytically decomposing pollutants as air flows through, providing continuous air quality improvement with minimal energy consumption compared to mechanical ventilation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the air treatment mechanism from mechanical displacement (ventilation) to chemical transformation (photocatalysis). This parameter change enables continuous operation with minimal energy input, as the photocatalytic reaction continuously decomposes pollutants without requiring high energy input for air movement.
3Reliability
If periodic sanitization with ozone, chlorine, or UVC is used, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but operational flexibility deteriorates due to requirement for absence of persons and qualified staff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes harsh chemical and UV radiation-based disinfection methods with a visible light-activated photocatalytic system. This substitution maintains disinfection effectiveness while dramatically improving ease of operation, as the system can be safely operated in the continuous presence of persons and foodstuffs without requiring specialized staff or periodic shutdowns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous sanitization operation unlike periodic methods that require shutdowns. The visible light-activated photocatalytic system operates continuously without interruption, maintaining constant air quality improvement while allowing uninterrupted occupancy of the space, thus improving operational flexibility.
4Device complexity
If simple mechanical filtration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to reduce viruses, bacteria, and VOCs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a mechanical filter substrate with a photocatalytic coating layer. This composite material approach maintains relative system simplicity while dramatically improving pollutant reduction capability, as the photocatalytic layer actively decomposes viruses, bacteria, and VOCs that simple mechanical filtration cannot remove.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges mechanical filtration with photocatalytic decomposition in a single integrated system. This combination maintains the simplicity of mechanical filtering while adding the advanced pollutant destruction capability of photocatalysis, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and effectiveness.
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 system achieves significant reduction and inactivation of harmful substances, including viruses like SARS-CoV-2, with enhanced antibacterial and antiviral capabilities, maintaining air quality without generating hazardous residues and requiring minimal maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
Photocatalysis is the natural phenomenon whereby a substance known as a photocatalyst affects the rate of a chemical reactor under the action of (natural or artificial) light. More specifically, under the effect of light radiation of an appropriate wavelength, photocatalysts produce highly reactive species capable of decomposing the organic molecules present in the surrounding environment.
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of LED light sources arranged so as to illuminate, when in use, at least one face of the at least one photocatalytic element
Implementation Method 3
at least one filter element comprising a support of fabric made of hydrophilic material
Data Source
AI summary
The filter according to the present invention is based on the combined action of two materials: tungsten trioxide (WO3), used for implementing the photocatalytic reactor, and a solution of copper (Cu) nanocluster. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, these materials are applied to suitable supports (filters), one of a mesh/grid made of metal (or other material, e.g. plastics material) for the photocatalyst and the other of fabric made of cotton (or other hydrophilic material), for sanitizing the fluids by way of the use of said supports in systems for air treatment (devices which take the air from the environment and/or from the exterior, filter it, and reemit it after passage through the filtration system in question) and/or water filtration.The present invention has high efficiency and is a significant innovation, including on the basis of the efficacy tests performed in the present period of health emergency, including on the infective virus COVID-19.