Vehicle air supply system

• US 10,022,670 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr. Schneider Automotive Polska Sp. z o.o.
• Original Assignee: Dr. Schneider Automotive Polska Sp. z o.o.
• Inventors: Michniewicz, Daniel, Dudycz, Aleksandra, Zawislak, Maciej, Lis, Jacek, Gorniak, Aleksander, Janicka, Anna
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Regina M
• Application Number:
  US15/538,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20170354928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/2025 Lithium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/802 Photocatalytic
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/00 Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours filtering elements B01D24/00-B01D35/00; filtering material B01D39/00; their regeneration outside the filters B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/88 Handling or mounting catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2003/0675 Photocatalytic filters
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0608 Filter arrangements in the air stream

Abstract

A vehicle air supply system, in particular in automotive vehicles. The essence of the air supply system according to the vehicle air supply system is that inside the system there is a photocatalyst between at least one air intake (1,2) and at least one supply port (5). The photocatalyst may be deposited on inner surfaces of at least one element selected from the group including vehicle'"'"'s ventilation/air conditioning system (3), inlet ducts (4), supply ports (5), dampers (7) and filters (9). Preferably, the photocatalyst is given in the form of a bypass (6) or an insert (10) or an adapter (8).

Claims

1. A vehicle air supply system comprising inlet ducts, filters, dampers, outlet ports, a light source and a photocatalyst between at least one air intake and at least one supply port inside the vehicle air supply system wherein the photocatalyst is located on a bypass (6) tied into at least one element selected from the group including the vehicle'"'"'s ventilation/air conditioning system (3), the inlet ducts (4), the at least one supply port (5), the dampers (7) and the filters (9), wherein the bypass (6) is equipped with means of disturbing a flow of air stream, said means of disturbing a flow of air stream comprising a network of ducts formed by a system of ribs and/or plates (11, 12) such that a time of exposure of the air stream to the photocatalyst is extended allowing for better mixing of polluted air in a photocatalytic process to reduce toxins.

2. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, further comprising an insert placed inside the bypass (6).

3. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst is deposited on inner surfaces of the at least one element.

4. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst is deposited on inserts (10) of the bypass, the inserts comprising ceramic, metal, glass or plastic inserts.

5. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein the bypass (6) is fitted with an optical system, which focuses or disperses light on a surface of the bypass.

6. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst comprises a layer of metal oxide nanopowder, the layer of metal oxide nanopowder being selected from a group of oxides comprising CuO, Co₃O₄, CoO_x, NiO, MnO_x, MnO₂, MoO₃, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, WO₃, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, CeO₂, V₂O₅, ZrO₂, HfO₂, Dy₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, Nb₂O₅.

7. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 6, wherein the layer of metal oxide nanopowder further comprises an additive of noble metal nanopowder selected from the group of Pt, Pd and Rh.

8. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst comprises a layer of lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) nanopowder.

9. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to illuminate a surface of the bypass with a deposited photocatalyst, the light source comprising an ultraviolet light.

10. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 9, wherein the light source comprises one or more of LEDs, a LED lamp, a fibre-optic cable, a cathodic light, an ultraviolet laser, or a combination thereof.

11. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein the bypass (6) comprises a reactor with surface-mount (SMD) LEDs, the LEDs having a wavelength λ

in a range from 240 nm to 415 nm and the Gaussian distribution of radiation, with the reactor equipped with a transparent optical collimator system featuring an illumination angle of 130°

, mounted inside and/or outside the reactor.

12. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein the bypass (6) comprising a reactor housing LEDs mounted using through-hole technology, with the wavelength λ

in the range from 240 nm to 415 nm, the reactor equipped with an integrated transparent optical system featuring an illumination angle of 30°

, mounted inside and/or outside the reactor.

13. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein an activation temperature of the photocatalyst ranges from 120°

C. to 500°

C.

14. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle air supply system is equipped with an automatic system controlling airflow between the at least one air intake and the at least one supply port.

15. The vehicle air supply system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle air supply system is fitted with the dampers (7) for controlling airflow between the at least one air intake and the bypass (6).