Air decontamination device and method

• US 9,005,531 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tri-air Developments Limited
• Original Assignee: Tri-air Developments Limited
• Inventors: Mole, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Regina M
• Application Number:
  US13/259,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20120093691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: 422/120, 422/121, 422/122, 422/123, 422/124
• US Class Current: 422/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/14 Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/802 Photocatalytic
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/106 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/90 Odorous compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/708
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/91 Bacteria; Microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4508 for cleaning air in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/804 UV light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/806 Microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/323 by electrostatic effects or by high-voltage electric fields
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/885 Devices in general for catalytic purification of waste gases
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/016 by acoustic or electromagnetic energy, e.g. ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/09 characterised by presence of stationary flat electrodes arranged with their flat surfaces at right angles to the gas stream
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/16 wet type
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/366 located in the filter, e.g. special shape of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/64 synthetic resins
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/30 by ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/80 Self-contained air purifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 37/32 Gas-filled discharge tubes heating by discharge H05B
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/2418 : the electrodes being embedded in the dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/2431 : using cylindrical electrodes, e.g. rotary drums
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 2245/15 : Ambient air; Ozonisers

Abstract

An apparatus for the decontamination of air, the apparatus comprising a housing (1) having an air inlet (4) and an air outlet (6) with an air passage (2) there between, means (20) for directing a stream of air through the housing, the housing containing a non-thermal plasma cell (30), an ultraviolet emitting device (40) and an ozone depletion catalyst (42), the non-thermal plasma comprising an anode (32), a dielectric (32) and a cathode (33), the cathode being in the form of a meshed enclosure which surrounds the ultraviolet emitting device and ozone depletion catalyst to form a reaction chamber and Faraday cage. The non-thermal plasma cell may also be provided as a columnar cell for forming an array of cells and the dielectric may comprise water droplets to improve the efficiency of the device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for decontamination of air, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet with an air passage therebetween;

an arrangement adapted to direct a stream of air through the housing; and

a non-thermal plasma cell, an ultraviolet (UV) emitting device and an ozone depletion catalyst all included in the housing, the non-thermal plasma cell comprising an anode, a dielectric and a cathode, the cathode being a meshed enclosure which surrounds the ultraviolet emitting device and ozone depletion catalyst to form a reaction chamber and Faraday cage,

wherein the dielectric comprises deionized water droplets or vapor.

2. An apparatus for decontamination of air, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet with an air passage therebetween;

an arrangement adapted to direct a stream of air through the housing;

a non-thermal plasma cell, an ultraviolet (UV) emitting device and an ozone depletion catalyst all included in the housing, the non-thermal plasma cell comprising an anode, a dielectric and a cathode, the cathode being a meshed enclosure which surrounds the ultraviolet emitting device and ozone depletion catalyst to form a reaction chamber and Faraday cage; and

a water droplet emitter provided within the housing to deliver a fine spray of water into the reaction chamber.

3. An apparatus for decontamination of air, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet with an air passage therebetween,

an arrangement adapted to direct a stream of air through the housing, and

a non-thermal plasma cell, an ultraviolet (UV) emitting device and an ozone depletion catalyst all included in the housing, the non-thermal plasma cell comprising an anode, a dielectric and a cathode, the cathode being a meshed enclosure which surrounds the ultraviolet emitting device and ozone depletion catalyst to form a reaction chamber and Faraday cage,

wherein the housing includes an arrangement adapted to deliver microwaves of a certain wavelength to the reaction chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a hydrocarbon emitter provided within the housing downstream of the reaction chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cathode comprises a porous mesh of conducting material that is formed into a cage-like structure for surrounding the UV emitting device and ozone depletion catalyst.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the ozone depletion catalyst surrounds the UV emitting device.

7. An apparatus for decontamination of air, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet with an air passage therebetween;

an arrangement adapted to direct a stream of air through the housing; and

a non-thermal plasma cell, an ultraviolet (UV) emitting device and an ozone depletion catalyst all included in the housing, the non-thermal plasma cell comprising an anode, a dielectric and a cathode, the cathode being a meshed enclosure which surrounds the ultraviolet emitting device and ozone depletion catalyst to form a reaction chamber and Faraday cage,

wherein the cathode houses a microwave emitter for delivering microwaves of a certain wavelength to excite the UV emitting device.