Method for deodorizing and disinfecting air

• US 4,343,765 A
• Filed: 12/11/1980
• Issued: 08/10/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Institute (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Institute (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Hurst, David R., Elston, Lewis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, BARRY
• Application Number:
  US06/215,269
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 422/3, 422/4, 422/5, 422/37, 422/31, 422/122, 62/78
• US Class Current: 422/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• 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: B01D 53/34 Chemical or biological purification of waste gases
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/74 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/16 by purification, e.g. by filtering; by sterilisation; by ozonisation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/26 using ozone
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

In a first embodiment of the method and apparatus, the oxidant is loaded upon a support bed and is continuously regenerated by an ozone generator located upstream from the support bed. The ozone generator has a capacity less than the peak load requirement for the oxidant but fully regenerates the oxidant during low load periods. An ozone detector is located downstream from the support bed and includes a control circuit for selectively deactivating the ozone generator when the ozone downstream from the support bed exceeds a predetermined level. The support bed is composed of inert or adsorbing granular material. In a second embodiment, an aqueous solution containing a water soluble oxidant is applied to the support bed and is rinsed out following a purification cycle. The rinsed oxidant is replaced by fresh oxidant from a reservoir and the rinsed, spent oxidant is regenerated in an electrolytic or chemical regenerator and returned to the oxidant reservoir. Parallel, alternatively operated, conduit sections including support beds therein may be provided so that one conduit section is operative to purify air flow while the other conduit section is being regenerated.

Claims

1. A method for disinfecting and deodorizing the air of inhabitable enclosures, comprising the steps of:

passing a stream of said air in a flow direction through conduit means;

positioning at least one bed of support material in said conduit means, said support material being at least one from the group consisting of chemically inert granular material and adsorbing type filter material;

loading an oxidant from the group consisting of iodine and chlorine on said at least one bed of support material;

introducing ozone into said air stream at a first point upstream from said at least one bed of support material, whereby said air stream is purified by said ozone and said oxidant on said support material and whereby said oxidant on said support material is regenerated by said ozone;

providing means in said air stream at a second point downstream from said at least one bed of support material and prior to returning the air stream to the enclosure for detecting the ozone concentration at said second point and;

terminating said ozone introduction when the concentration of ozone at said second point exceeds a predetermine level, whereby the build up of ozone in said enclosure is prevented.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said regeneration is substantially continuous.