Ion generator device

• US 9,289,779 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Plasma Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Plasma Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Waddell, Charles Houston, Christiansen, Joseph Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W
• Application Number:
  US14/480,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20140373817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 361/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/16 Connections to a HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0032 using electrostatic forces to remove particles, e.g. electret filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/521 using folded, pleated material
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/06 Ionising electrode being a needle
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/10 Ionising electrode with two or more serrated ends or sides
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/30 for use in or with vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/011 Prefiltering; Flow controlling
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/017 Combinations of electrostatic separation with other processes, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/0175 Amassing particles by electric fields, e.g. agglomeration
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/04 dry type
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/155 Filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/368 by other than static mechanical means, e.g. internal ventilator or recycler
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/38 Particle charging or ionising stations, e.g. using electric discharge, radioactive radiation or flames
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/41 Ionising-electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/60 Use of special materials other than liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/68 Control systems therefor electricity supply or control systems for cleaning the electrodes B03C3/746, B03C3/763
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/82 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0892 Electric or magnetic treatment, e.g. dissociation of noxious components electric filters F01N3/01; regeneration of exhaust filters F01N3/023; heating catalytic converters F01N3/2006
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/04 by electric means, ionisation, polarisation or magnetism
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/042 : by plasma
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/0205 : Details, e.g. sensors or measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/0217 : acting by electric discharge; Electrostatic precipitators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 : for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/192 : by electrical means, e.g. by applying electrostatic fields or high voltages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/30 : by ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 27/022 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 27/028 : Negative ion sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 37/08 : Ion sources; Ion guns
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 37/16 : Vessels; Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 37/3002 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 23/00 : Apparatus for generating ions to be introduced into non-enclosed gases, e.g. into the atmosphere

Abstract

A system and method of treating air. Bipolar ionization is delivered to an airflow within a conduit from a tubeless ion generator. The ionized airflow may be delivered to a conditioned airspace by an HVAC system. In alternate applications, the airflow delivers ionized combustion air to an engine. The invention also includes a mounting assembly for positioning one or more ion generators into an airflow.

Claims

1. A system for treatment of an airflow within a conduit, the system comprising at least one bipolar ion generator having first and second electrodes, the first electrode generating positive ions and the second electrode generating negative ions, wherein the first and second electrodes are aligned generally perpendicular to the airflow within the conduit whereby at least a portion of the positive ions and the negative ions do not recombine within the airflow.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit is a combustion air intake of an engine.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the ions cause dissociation of water vapor in the combustion air intake of the engine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one bipolar ion generator is a tubeless ion generator, and wherein the first and second electrodes are needlepoint electrodes.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit is an HVAC duct.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit is an air handler unit housing of a VRV or VRF HVAC system.

7. The system of claim 6, comprising a plurality of air handler unit housings connected to a shared outdoor heat exchanger, each of the plurality of air handler unit housings having at least one bipolar ion generator delivering positive and negative ions to an airflow therein.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one bipolar ion generator is mounted to an assembly, the assembly having an interior portion positioned within the conduit and an exterior portion positioned outside the conduit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit is a combustion exhaust conduit.

10. A combustion system comprising:

a combustion air intake for delivering combustion air along a flowpath; and

at least one bipolar ion generator for delivering positive and negative ions into the combustion air, each said at least one bipolar ion generator having positive and negative electrodes, the positive and negative electrodes being aligned generally crosswise relative to the flowpath of the combustion air.

11. The combustion system of claim 10, further comprising an internal combustion engine.

12. The combustion system of claim 10, wherein each said at least one bipolar ion generator comprises a tubeless ion generator.

13. The combustion system of claim 10, further comprising an air filter housing having an air filter therein, and wherein the at least one bipolar ion generator is mounted within the air filter housing.

14. The combustion system of claim 13, wherein the at least one bipolar ion generator is positioned within pleats of the air filter.

15. An HVAC system comprising:

a shared outdoor heat exchanger;

a plurality of individual air handler unit housings connected to the shared outdoor heat exchanger for delivery of individual airflows through each of the individual air handler unit housings; and

at least one tubeless bipolar ion generator for delivering ions to the individual airflows through each of the individual air handler unit housings.

16. The HVAC system of claim 15, comprising a variable refrigerant volume system.

17. The HVAC system of claim 15, wherein each said at least one tubeless bipolar ion generator has a positive electrode and a negative electrode and is oriented with the positive and negative electrodes generally perpendicular to the individual airflows.

18. A method of treatment of an airflow within a conduit, the method comprising:

providing at least one bipolar ion generator having first and second electrodes for delivery of positive and negative ions within the conduit; and

aligning the first and second electrodes generally perpendicularly to the airflow within the conduit whereby at least a portion of the positive ions and the negative ions do not recombine within the airflow.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the airflow comprises water vapor, and further comprising delivering the positive ions and the negative ions from the at least one bipolar ion generator at a rate sufficient to dissociate at least a portion of the water vapor into hydrogen and oxygen.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising mixing a fuel with the ionized airflow and combusting the ionized airflow and fuel mixture.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising delivering the ionized airflow to a conditioned air space.

22. An ion generator mounting assembly for application of bipolar ionization to an airflow within a conduit, the mounting assembly comprising:

an enclosure for mounting to the conduit;

an arm extending from the enclosure for extension into the conduit; and

at least one coupling for mounting an ion generator to the arm oriented with an axis extending between a pair of electrodes of the ion generator being generally perpendicular to a flow direction of the airflow within the conduit.

23. The ion generator mounting assembly of claim 22, wherein the coupling comprises electrical contacts on the arm for delivering power to the at least one ion generator.

24. The ion generator mounting assembly of claim 22, further comprising at least one terminal block for wiring connection to the ion generators via contacts on the arm.

25. The ion generator mounting assembly of claim 22, further comprising a power converter for converting input power to operate the ion generators.