Modular, high-throughput air treatment system

• US 9,375,672 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enverid Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enverid Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Meirav, Udi, Biran, Israel
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US14/221,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20140202330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/104 Alumina
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/106 Silica or silicates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/204 Metal organic frameworks (MOF's)
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/708 Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40007 Controlling pressure or temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40043 Purging
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4508 for cleaning air in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4566 for use in transportation means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4575 in aeroplanes or space ships
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0446 Means for feeding or distributing gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0462 Temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/72 Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D53/48 - B01D53/70, e.g. hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2003/0691 Adsorption filters, e.g. activated carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/06 : Filtering B60H3/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 : for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 : for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/28 : Arrangement or mounting of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 : Pressure, e.g. wind pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/70 : Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 : using dry filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/15 : by chemical means
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/158 : using active carbon
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/90 : Cleaning of purification apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 : of CO2

Abstract

Air treatment modules, systems and methods for removing contaminants from indoor air are provided. Device embodiments may include one or more air inlets, one or more air outlets and a plurality of inserts which each include at least one adsorbent material. The inserts may be arranged separate from each other to form a plurality of substantially parallel air flow paths between the one or more air inlets and one or more air outlets. The adsorbent material may be arranged for regeneration within the air treatment module using thermal swing desorption and/or pressure swing desorption. Related systems, methods and articles of manufacture are also described.

Claims

1. An air treatment system for removing contaminants from indoor air, the system comprising:

a source of indoor air providing an indoor airflow containing one or more contaminates;

a source of purging air configured to provide a purging airflow to release contaminants adsorbed by an adsorbent;

an air treatment module having one or more first air ports, one or more second air ports, and at least one insert including an adsorbent material, the at least one insert comprising a plurality of inserts;

a support frame having one or more structural support members for supporting the plurality of inserts,

wherein;

the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are formed by the support frame and the at least one insert, and

the plurality of inserts are planar and positioned within the support frame such that a surface of each insert of the plurality of inserts is at an angle of less than about 30 degrees relative to airflow paths between the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports;

controls configured to cause the system to operate in at least three operational modes including;

an active adsorption mode in which the adsorbent material of the at least one insert adsorbs one or more contaminants from the indoor airflow,

a regeneration mode for releasing contaminants from the adsorbent material of the at least one insert when exposed to the purging airflow, and

a disconnect mode where substantially no air flows through the air treatment module,

one or more valves arranged and configured to direct, during one or another operational mode, at least one of the indoor airflow and the purging airflow to flow to and from the air treatment module via the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports; and

wherein;

during the active adsorption mode, one of either the one or more first air ports or the one or more second ports is configured to receive the indoor airflow and remaining one of the one or more first air ports or the one or more second air ports not receiving the indoor airflow is configured to expel the indoor airflow such that the indoor airflow flows over and/or through adsorbent material of the at least one insert, and

during the regeneration mode, one of the one or more first air ports or the one or more second air ports is configured to receive the purging airflow and remaining one of the one or more first air ports or the one or more second air ports is configured to expel the purging airflow such that the purging airflow flows over and/or through the adsorbent material of the at least one insert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes an inlet side and an outlet side, and wherein the one or more first air ports are formed in the inlet side and the one or more second air ports are formed in the outlet side.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are formed adjacent to each other along one side of a support frame.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the air treatment module is configured to be incorporated within an HVAC system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are offset from each other.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of molecular sieves, zeolite, activated charcoal, silica gel, porous alumina and metal-organic-framework materials.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent material removes at least one of carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds from the indoor air.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor and/or a gauge configured to measure temperature, pressure, flow rate and/or gas composition.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein switching of the system between the at least three operational modes is based on the measurement of the sensor and/or the gauge.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor and/or the gauge is a CO₂ meter configured to measure an amount of CO₂ in the indoor air.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heating source configured to heat the purging airflow.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the heating source includes solar energy, electricity, gas, oil, hot water and/or waste heat from compressors or engines.

13. A method for removing contaminants from indoor air, the method comprising:

providing an indoor airflow containing one or more contaminates;

providing a purging airflow configured to release contaminants adsorbed by an adsorbent;

providing an air treatment module having one or more first air ports, one or more second air ports, and at least one insert including an adsorbent material, the at least one insert comprising a plurality of inserts;

providing a support frame having one or more structural support members for supporting the plurality of inserts,

wherein;

the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are formed by the support frame and the at least one insert, and

the plurality of inserts are planar and positioned within the support frame such that a surface of each insert of the plurality of inserts is at an angle of less than about 30 degrees relative to airflow paths between the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports;

causing the air treatment module to operate in at least three operational modes including;

an active adsorption mode in which the adsorbent material of the at least one insert adsorbs one or more contaminants from the indoor airflow,

a regeneration mode for releasing contaminants from the adsorbent material of the at least one insert when exposed to the purging airflow, and

a disconnect mode where substantially no air flows through the air treatment module,

wherein;

during the active adsorption mode, one of either the one or more first air ports or the one or more second air ports is configured to receive the indoor airflow and the remaining one of the one or more first air ports or the one or more second air ports not receiving the indoor airflow is configured to expel the indoor airflow such that the indoor airflow flows over and/or through adsorbent material of the at least one insert, and

during the regeneration mode, one of the one or more first air ports or the one or more second air ports is configured to receive the purging airflow and the remaining one of the one or more first air ports or the one or more second air ports is configured to expel the purging airflow such that the purging airflow flows over and/or through the adsorbent material of the at least one insert.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the air treatment module is caused to operate in at least three operational modes by switching the air treatment module between the at least three operational modes based on temperature, pressure, flow rate and/or gas composition measurements of a sensor and/or a gauge.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the support frame includes an inlet side and an outlet side, and wherein the one or more first air ports are formed in the inlet side and the one or more second air ports are formed in the outlet side.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are formed adjacent to each other along one side of a support frame.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the air treatment module is configured to be incorporated within an HVAC system.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are offset from each other.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of molecular sieves, zeolite, activated charcoal, silica gel, porous alumina and metal-organic-framework materials.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the adsorbent material removes at least one of carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds from the indoor air.