System for purifying and removing contaminants from gaseous fluids

• US 6,939,397 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vystar Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eco-Rx, Inc.
• Inventors: Fumin, Guan, Nelsen, Roger, Longan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US10/841,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20050000365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 962/24, 952/73, 422/124, 554/18
• US Class Current: 96/224
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/16 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/802 Photocatalytic
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/007 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/016 by acoustic or electromagnetic energy, e.g. ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/32 Transportable units, e.g. for cleaning room air
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/366 located in the filter, e.g. special shape of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/80 Self-contained air purifiers

Abstract

A system and corresponding methods for purifying and removing contaminants from gaseous fluids includes a housing including an inlet, an outlet, and an elongated UV chamber disposed within the housing. The UV radiation source is disposed longitudinally within the UV chamber. At least one baffle structure is disposed at an upstream location within the housing to restrict flow as well as to generate a turbulent flow of the gaseous fluid within the UV chamber. In addition, a fan is disposed at a selected location within the housing to facilitate a flow of the gaseous fluid through the housing at a selected flow rate. The dimensions of the UV chamber and UV source and the configuration of the baffle structure are selected to increase the exposure time and mixing of fluid flowing through the UV chamber as well as increase the proximity of the flowing fluid to the UV source.

Claims

1. A system for purifying a gaseous fluid comprising:

a housing including an inlet and an outlet;

a hollow cartridge disposed within and removable from the housing, the hollow cartridge including an elongated UV chamber disposed within the hollow cartridge;

a UV radiation source disposed longitudinally within the UV chamber of the hollow cartridge;

at least one baffle structure disposed at an upstream location within the housing to restrict flow as well as to generate a turbulent flow of the gaseous fluid within the UV chamber; and

a fan disposed at a selected location within the housing to facilitate a flow of the gaseous fluid through the housing at a selected flow rate;

wherein the dimensions of the UV chamber and UV source and the configuration of the baffle structure are selected to increase the exposure time and mixing of fluid flowing through the UV chamber as well as increase the proximity of the flowing fluid to the UV source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the baffle structure is disposed at a location within the housing that is upstream from the UV source.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the UV source comprises a plurality of elongated UV bulbs oriented in a selected configuration within the UV chamber to provide a flow path for the fluid between the UV bulbs and internal wall surface portions of the UV chamber as well as at least one flow path between adjacent bulbs.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the UV source includes three elongated UV bulbs arranged at 120°

spaced locations from a central axis defined between and extending parallel to the UV bulbs.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the baffle structure includes a mounting member disposed near an upstream end of the cartridge, the mounting member securing an upstream end of the UV source within the cartridge.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the cartridge includes an end cap disposed at a downstream end of the cartridge, and the end cap includes a support structure that supports a downstream end of the UV source within the cartridge.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the cartridge further includes a handle secured to the end cap to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the housing.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the cartridge further includes an electrical receptacle secured to the end cap and in electrical contact with the UV source, and the electrical receptacle is configured to releasably engage with an electrical supply source.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the fan is adjustable to different operating speeds, and the system further comprises:

at least one input button to facilitate selective control by a user of the operating speed of the fan; and

a processor in communication with at least the input button and the fan to control the operating speed of the fan based upon input signals provided by the input button.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

an indicator device controlled by the processor to provide at least one of visual indications and audio indications to the user during system operation.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the indicator device includes a tri-color LED display.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor controls the indicator device to provide an indication to the user of at least one of the following conditions:

the UV source is operating within a selected percentage of an anticipated life expectancy of the UV source, the UV source is approaching the anticipated life expectancy, and the UV source has exceeded the anticipated life expectancy.

13. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

an outlet grill removably secured at a downstream end of the housing, wherein the outlet grill is removed from the housing to facilitate removal of the cartridge.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an electrical switch disposed at the downstream end of the housing and releasably engageable with the outlet grill, wherein the electrical switch is opened when the outlet grill is removed from the housing to prevent operation of the UV source.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the outlet grill and the end cap includes a second baffle structure to prevent a selected amount of UV light from escaping the housing and to provide a winding flow path for fluid flowing at the downstream end of the housing during system operation.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second baffle structure comprises a first set and a second set of frusto-conical baffles, the first set is disposed in the end cap and defines a series of openings extending through the end cap and between the baffles, and the second set is disposed in the outlet grill and defines a series of openings extending through the outlet grill and between the baffles.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein, upon assembly of the cartridge and the outlet grill with respect to the housing, the frusto-conical baffles of the first and second sets are oriented such that the diameter of each baffle in the first set increases in an upstream direction of the system and the diameter of each baffle in the second set increases in a downstream direction of the system.

18. The system of claim 2, further comprising a second baffle structure disposed at a downstream location within the housing, wherein the second baffle structure is configured to restrict the flow of fluid from the outlet of the housing as well as to block a selected amount of UV light from escaping the housing during system operation.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a filter disposed between the UV source and the outlet of the housing.

20. A method of enhancing purification of a gaseous fluid utilizing a system including a housing, a removable hollow cartridge disposed within the housing and including an elongated UV chamber disposed within the hollow cartridge, a UV radiation source disposed longitudinally within the UV chamber of the hollow cartridge, at least one baffle structure disposed at an upstream location within the housing, and a fan, the method comprising the steps of:

providing electrical power to the UV radiation source to facilitate generation of UV radiation within the UV chamber;

flowing fluid through the housing and the UV chamber via the fan;

facilitating the generation of turbulence and mixing of fluid flowing into the UV chamber via the baffle structure;

restricting fluid flow through the UV chamber to increase exposure time of the fluid to the UV radiation; and

removing the cartridge from the housing to facilitate at least one of providing a new cartridge within the housing and replacing the UV source within the cartridge.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the baffle structure is disposed at a location within the housing that is upstream from the UV source.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the UV source comprises a plurality of elongated UV bulbs oriented in a selected configuration within the UV chamber to provide an a flow path for the fluid between the UV bulbs and internal wall surface portions of the UV chamber as well as at least one flow path between adjacent bulbs.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the UV source includes three elongated UV bulbs arranged at 120°

spaced locations from a central axis defined between and extending parallel to the UV bulbs.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the baffle structure includes a mounting member disposed near an upstream end of the cartridge, the mounting member securing an upstream end of the UV source within the cartridge.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the cartridge includes an end cap disposed at a downstream end of the cartridge, and the end cap includes support structure that supports a downstream end of the UV source within the cartridge.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the cartridge further includes a handle secured to the end cap to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the housing.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the cartridge further includes an electrical receptacle secured to the end cap that is in electrical contact with the UV source and in releasable electrical contact with an electrical supply source, and the electrical receptacle is disengaged with the electrical supply source prior to removal of the cartridge from the housing.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the fan is adjustable to different operating speeds, the system further includes at least one input button and a processor in communication with the input button and the fan, and the method further comprises:

facilitating selective control of the operating speed of the fan, via the processor, by pressing the at least one input button.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the system further includes an indicator device in communication with the processor, and the method further comprises:

providing at least one of a visual indication and an audio indication to the user, via control of the indicator device by the processor, during system operation.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the indicator device includes a tri-color LED display, and the processor controls the LED display to provide a plurality of different indications to the user during system operation.

31. The method of claim 30, the processor controls the LED display to provide an indication to the user of at least one of the following conditions:

the UV source is operating within a selected percentage of an anticipated life expectancy of the UV source, the UV source is approaching the anticipated life expectancy, and the UV source has exceeded the anticipated life expectancy.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the system further includes an outlet grill removably secured at a downstream end of the housing, and the method further comprises:

removing the outlet grill from the housing prior to removal of the cartridge.

33. The method of claim 32, the system further includes an electrical switch disposed at the downstream end of the housing and releasably engageable with the outlet grill, and the method further comprises:

facilitating the opening of the electrical switch when the outlet grill is removed from the housing to prevent operation of the UV source.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the outlet grill and the end cap includes a second baffle structure, and the method further comprises:

preventing a selected amount of UV light from escaping the housing and providing a winding flow path for fluid flowing at the downstream end of the housing via the second baffle structure.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the second baffle structure comprises a first set and a second set of frusto-conical baffles, the first set is disposed in the end cap and defines a series of openings extending through the end cap and between the baffles, and the second set is disposed in the outlet grill and defines a series of openings extending through the outlet grill and between the baffles.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein, upon assembly of the cartridge and the outlet grill with respect to the housing, the frusto-conical baffles of the first and second sets are oriented such that the diameter of each baffle in the first set increases in an upstream direction of the system and the diameter of each baffle in the second set increases in a downstream direction of the system.

37. The method of claim 21, wherein the system further includes a second baffle structure disposed at a downstream location within the housing, and the method further comprises:

preventing a selected amount of UV light from escaping the housing and providing a winding flow path for fluid flowing at the downstream end of the housing via the second baffle structure.

38. The method of claim 20, wherein the system further includes a filter disposed between the UV source and an outlet of the housing, and the method further comprises:

filtering fluid flowing through the housing.

39. A system for purifying a gaseous fluid comprising:

a means for housing an elongated UV chamber;

a means for generating UV radiation disposed longitudinally within the UV chamber;

a means for selectively removing the elongated UV chamber including the means for generating UV radiation from the means for housing the elongated UV chamber;

a means for restricting flow as well as generating a turbulent flow of the gaseous fluid within the UV chamber, the means for restricting being disposed at an upstream location within the means for housing; and

a means for generating a flow of the gaseous fluid through the means for housing;

wherein the dimensions of the UV chamber and the means for generating UV radiation and the means for restricting flow are selected to increase the exposure time and mixing of fluid flowing through the UV chamber as well as increase the proximity of the flowing fluid to the UV source.

40. A system for purifying a gaseous fluid comprising:

a housing including an inlet, an outlet, and an elongated UV chamber disposed within the housing;

a UV radiation source disposed longitudinally within the UV chamber;

a filter disposed between the UV source and the outlet of the housing;

at least one baffle structure disposed at an upstream location within the housing to restrict flow as well as to generate a turbulent flow of the gaseous fluid within the UV chamber; and

a fan disposed at a selected location within the housing to facilitate a flow of the gaseous fluid through the housing at a selected flow rate;

wherein the dimensions of the UV chamber and UV source and the configuration of the baffle structure are selected to increase the exposure time and mixing of fluid flowing through the UV chamber as well as increase the proximity of the flowing fluid to the UV source.

41. A system for purifying a gaseous fluid comprising:

a housing including an inlet, an outlet, and an elongated UV chamber disposed within the housing;

a UV radiation source disposed longitudinally within the UV chamber, the UV source comprising three elongated UV bulbs arranged at 120°

spaced locations from a central axis defined between and extending parallel to the UV bulbs;

at least one baffle structure disposed at an upstream location within the housing to restrict flow as well as to generate a turbulent flow of the gaseous fluid within the UV chamber; and

a fan disposed at a selected location within the housing to facilitate a flow of the gaseous fluid through the housing at a selected flow rate;

wherein the dimensions of the UV chamber and UV source and the configuration of the baffle structure are selected to increase the exposure time and mixing of fluid flowing through the UV chamber as well as increase the proximity of the flowing fluid to the UV source.

42. A method of enhancing purification of a gaseous fluid utilizing a system including a housing with an elongated UV chamber disposed therein, a UV radiation source disposed longitudinally within the UV chamber, at least one baffle structure disposed at an upstream location within the housing, a filter disposed between the UV source and an outlet of the housing, and a fan, the method comprising the steps of:

providing electrical power to the UV radiation source to facilitate generation of UV radiation within the UV chamber;

flowing fluid through the housing and the UV chamber via the fan;

facilitating the generation of turbulence and mixing of fluid flowing into the UV chamber via the baffle structure;

restricting fluid flow through the UV chamber to increase exposure time of the fluid to the UV radiation; and

filtering fluid flowing through the housing.

43. A method of enhancing purification of a gaseous fluid utilizing a system including a housing with an elongated UV chamber disposed therein, a UV radiation source disposed longitudinally within the UV chamber, the UV source including three elongated UV bulbs arranged at 120°

spaced locations from a central axis defined between and extending parallel to the UV bulbs, at least one baffle structure disposed at an upstream location within the housing, and a fan, the method comprising the steps of;

providing electrical power to the UV radiation source to facilitate generation of UV radiation within the UV chamber;

flowing fluid through the housing, through the UV chamber and around the UV bulbs via the fan;

facilitating the generation of turbulence and mixing of fluid flowing into the UV chamber via the baffle structure; and

restricting fluid flow through the UV chamber to increase exposure time of the fluid to the UV radiation.