Process and device for sterilising ambient air

• US 20070253860A1
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Werner Schroder
• Original Assignee: Werner Schroder
• Inventors: Schroder, Werner
• Application Number:
  US11/785,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20070253860A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/16 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/205 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/91 Bacteria; Microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4508 for cleaning air in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/804 UV light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/007 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8675 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/869 Multiple step processes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0052 for fluid treatments
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

A process is disclosed for sterilising ambient air conducted in an air duct (401), as well as a use of a device for breaking down gaseous hydrocarbon emissions in order to sterilise ambient air conducted in an air duct (104), and a device for sterilising ambient air conducted in an air duct (401). Ambient air is supplied to the air duct (401) of an UV unit (403) for irradiation with UV radiation, and the thus pre-purified ambient air is supplied to a downstream ionization unit (407) arranged in the air duct and in which the ambient air is ionised.

Claims

1. Use of a device for breaking down gaseous hydrocarbon emissions in order to sterilise ambient air conducted in an air duct and containing microorganisms, wherein the air duct has a plurality of portions succeeding one another in the direction of flow, wherein a UV unit for irradiating the ambient air with UV radiation is provided in a first portion, the UV radiation having a first wavelength range below 240 nm for the formation of ozone and a second wavelength range above 240 nm for absorption by the microorganisms, wherein a catalyst for breaking down the ozone produced by the UV unit is provided in a subsequent second portion and wherein an ionisation unit for ionising the ambient air is provided in a subsequent third portion.

2. Use according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength range is in the region of 185 nm and wherein the second wavelength range is in the region of 254 nm.

3. Use according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the air duct has reflective surfaces in the region of the UV radiation.

4. Use according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the air duct has a coating comprising a broadband semiconductor material in the region of the UV radiation.

5. Use according to claim 4, wherein the semiconductor material consists of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) or doped titanium dioxide.

6. Use according to claim 5, wherein for achieving an especially marked photocatalytic effect, a wavelength range of the UV radiation is between 350 nm and 420 nm.

7. Use according to claim 1, wherein the at least one UV emitter consists of a cylindrically configured UV lamp.

8. Use according to claim 7, wherein reaction channels arranged in a honeycomb configuration are provided parallel to the direction of flow and wherein a cylindrically configured UV lamp is arranged longitudinally in each reaction channel.

9. Use according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is formed by catalytic activated carbon.

10. Use according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst consists of a support material formed from activated carbon, pumice stone, zeolites or clay and of an additive of catalytic metal oxides.

11. Use according to claim 10, wherein the catalyst is provided with an additive consisting of oxides of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Si, Ti or Zr.

12. Use according to claim 10, wherein the catalyst is provided with an additive of catalytic metal oxides in a mixture with Pt, Pd or Rh.

13. Use according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst has a thin-walled construction with low flow resistance.

14. Use according to claim 1, wherein the ionisation unit consists of at least one ionisation tube.

15. Use according to claim 1, wherein a room is supplied with ambient air via the air duct.

16. Use according to claim 15, wherein, with respect to the ambient air filling the room, the ambient air is circulated several times per hour.

17. Use according to claim 1, wherein ambient air contaminated with enveloped viruses, in particular with SARS viruses, is sterilised.

18. Use according to claim 1, wherein ambient air contaminated with enveloped viruses, in particular with avian flu viruses, is sterilised.

19. Use according to claim 1, wherein ambient air contaminated with enveloped viruses, in particular with Ebola viruses, is sterilised.

20. Use according to claim 1, wherein ambient air contaminated with enveloped viruses, in particular with influenza viruses, is sterilised.

21. Device for sterilising ambient air conducted in an air duct and containing microorganisms, wherein the air duct has a plurality of portions succeeding one another in the direction of flow, comprising a UV unit for irradiating the ambient air with UV radiation in a first portion of the air duct, the UV radiation having a first wavelength range below 240 nm for the formation of ozone and a second wavelength range above 240 nm for absorption by the microorganisms, comprising a catalyst for breaking down the ozone produced by the UV unit in a subsequent second portion, comprising an ionisation unit for ionising the ambient air in a subsequent third portion, and comprising a filter for microorganisms arranged between the first portion and the second portion.

22. Device according to claim 21, wherein the first wavelength range is in the region of 185 nm and wherein the second wavelength range is in the region of 254 nm.

23. Device according to claim 21, wherein the first portion of the air duct has reflective surfaces in the region of the UV radiation.

24. Device according to claim 21, wherein the first portion of the air duct has a coating comprising a broadband semiconductor material in the region of the UV radiation.

25. Device according to claim 24, wherein the semiconductor material consists of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) or doped titanium dioxide.

26. Device according to claim 25, wherein for achieving an especially marked photocatalytic effect, a wavelength range of the UV radiation is between 350 nm and 420 nm.

27. Device according to claim 21, wherein the at least one UV emitter consists of a cylindrically configured UV lamp.

28. Device according to claim 27, wherein reaction channels arranged in a honeycomb configuration are provided parallel to the direction of flow and wherein a cylindrically configured UV lamp is arranged longitudinally in each reaction channel.

29. Device according to claim 21, wherein a dust filter is provided before the first portion, viewed in the direction of flow.

30. Device according to claim 29, wherein cylindrically configured UV lamps for irradiating the dust filter are arranged perpendicularly to the direction of flow after the dust filter and in the region of the first portion, viewed in the direction of flow.

31. Device according to claim 21, wherein cylindrically configured UV lamps for irradiating the filter for microorganisms are arranged perpendicularly to the direction of flow before the filter for microorganisms in the region of the first portion, viewed in the direction of flow.

32. Device according to claim 21, wherein the catalyst is formed by catalytic activated carbon.

33. Device according to claim 21, wherein the catalyst consists of a support material formed from activated carbon, pumice stone, zeolites or clay and of an additive of catalytic metal oxides.

34. Device according to claim 33, wherein the catalyst is provided with an additive consisting of oxides of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Si, Ti or Zr.

35. Device according to claim 33, wherein the catalyst is provided with an additive consisting of catalytic metal oxides in a mixture with Pt, Pd or Rh.

36. Device according to claim 21, wherein the catalyst has a thin-walled construction with low flow resistance.

37. Device according to claim 21, wherein the ionisation unit consists of at least one ionisation tube.

38. Device according to claim 21, wherein a room is supplied with ambient air via the air duct.

39. Device according to claim 38, wherein, with respect to the ambient air filling the room, the ambient air is circulated several times per hour.

40. Device according to claim 21, wherein ambient air contaminated with enveloped viruses, in particular with SARS viruses, is sterilised.

41. Device according to claim 21, wherein ambient air contaminated with enveloped viruses, in particular with avian flu viruses, is sterilised.

42. Device according to claim 21, wherein ambient air contaminated with enveloped viruses, in particular with Ebola viruses, is sterilised.

43. Device according to claim 21, wherein ambient air contaminated with enveloped viruses, in particular with influenza viruses, is sterilised.