System for cleaning air and method for using same

• US 6,589,323 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amos Korin
• Original Assignee: Amos Korin
• Inventors: Korin, Amos
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US09/698,533
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 962/23, 962/24, 553/36, 553/37, 554/591, 554/29, 55D/IG.9, 422/121, 422/186, 422/186.3, 422/24
• US Class Current: 96/223
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/01 Deodorant compositions compositions released by contact with a liquid A61L9/05
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/16 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/18 Radiation A61L9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/90 Odorous compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/708
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/80 Employing electric, magnetic, electromagnetic or wave energy, or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/804 UV light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/12 by centrifugal forces centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/20 Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0446 Means for feeding or distributing gases
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/002 with external filters
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/005 with external rotors, e.g. impeller, ventilator, fan, blower, pump
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 9/00 Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water lockswith filters B01D50/00

Abstract

There is provided a system for cleaning a contaminated airflow. The system includes a macro-contaminant separator that creates substantially macro-contaminant free airflow, a micro-contaminant separator that creates a substantially contaminant free airflow from said substantially macro-contaminant free airflow, and a germ controlling device that kills or controlling any germs remaining in the substantially contaminant free airflow. The macro-contaminant separator may be a cyclone-type contaminant separator. The micro-contaminant separator may include a micro-particle filter, an odor adsorber, or both. The germ controlling means may be an ultraviolet light source.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning an airflow containing macro-contaminants and micro-contaminants, said system comprising:

a cyclone separator that removes said macro-contaminants from said airflow, whereby a substantially macro-contaminant free airflow is created;

a filter that removes said micro-contaminants from said substantially macro-contaminant free airflow and provides a substantially contaminant free airflow; and

a germ controller for destroying microorganisms in said substantially contaminant free airflow.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a micro-particle filter that filters about 75% to about 100% of all contaminants having a particle diameter of about 0.3 micrometers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said micro-particle filter means filters about 99.97% of all contaminants having a particle diameter of about 0.3 micrometers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said filter comprises an odor adsorber.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a micro-particle filter and an odor adsorber.

6. The system of claim 5, Wherein said macro-contaminant airflow passes through said micro-particle filter before passing through said odor adsorber.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said germ controller is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

chemical germicides, ultraviolet radiation, electromagnetic radiation, electricity, electrostatic energy, heat, and cold.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said germ controller is ultraviolet radiation.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said filter is shielded from said ultraviolet radiation by a partition.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said airflow is transported throughout said system by a vacuum producer.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan disposed in a path of said airflow between said separator and said filter, for driving said substantially macro-contaminant free airflow from said separator to said filter.

11. A process for using a system for removing contaminants from an airflow comprising the steps of:

separating macro-contaminants from said airflow by causing said airflow to move in a cyclone motion, wherein said macro-contaminants are removed from said airflow by centrifugal force, whereby a substantially macro-contaminant free airflow is created;

substantially removing micro-contaminants from said substantially macro-contaminant free airflow, whereby a substantially contaminant-free airflow is created; and

destroying microorganisms in said substantially contaminant free air flow.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein said cyclone motion is created by a means for tangential entry of said airflow into a cyclone particle separator.

13. The process of claim 11, wherein said separating macro-contaminants removes about 50% to about 100% of all contaminant having a particle diameter larger than about 0.3 micrometers from said airflow.

14. The process of claim 11, wherein said step of substantially removing micro-contaminants from said macro-contaminant free airflow, removes about 99.97% of all contaminants having a particle diameter of about 0.3 micrometers from said airflow.

15. The process of claim 11, wherein said step of substantially removing micro-contaminants from said macro-contaminant free airflow includes an odor adsorbing means.

16. The process of claim 11, further comprising the step of substantially controlling or killing germs in said substantially contaminant-free airflow, whereby a contaminant free airflow is created.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein said step of substantially controlling or killing germs in said substantially contaminant-free airflow includes irradiating said contaminant-free airflow with ultraviolet radiation.

19. A system for cleaning an airflow, said system comprising:

a cyclone separator for removing macro-contaminants from said airflow;

a filter, disposed downstream of said separator, for removing micro-particles from said airflow;

an adsorber, disposed downstream of said filter, for adsorbing organic compounds from said airflow; and

a germ controller, disposed downstream of said adsorber, for destroying microorganisms in said airflow.

20. A system for cleaning an airflow, said system comprising:

a cyclone separator for removing macro-contaminants from said airflow; and

a device, disposed downstream of said cyclone separator, for performing a function selected from the group consisting of (a) destroying microorganisms in said airflow, and (b) removing residual chemicals from said airflow.

21. A system for cleaning an airflow, said system comprising:

a cyclone separator for removing macro-contaminants from said airflow; and

an adsorber, disposed downstream of said cyclone separator, for adsorbing organic compounds from said airflow.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a device, disposed downstream of said adsorber, for performing a function selected from the group consisting of (a) destroying microorganisms in said airflow, and (b) removing residual chemicals from said airflow.

23. A system for cleaning an airflow, said system comprising:

a cyclone separator for removing macro-contaminants from said airflow;

a filter, disposed downstream of said cyclone separator, for removing micro-particles from said airflow; and

a device, disposed downstream of said filter, for performing a function selected from the group consisting of (a) destroying microorganisms in said airflow, and (b) removing residual chemicals from said airflow.