Ion generator device

• US 9,839,714 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• 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:
  US15/293,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20170028096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 361231
• 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 combustion air intake of an engine, the system comprising an air intake, an exhaust, and a filter housing positioned within the air intake that houses an air filter, at least one bipolar ion generator is positioned within the filter housing and 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 ions cause dissociation of water vapor in the combustion air intake of the engine.

3. 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.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the filter housing houses a pleated filter media and the at least one bipolar ion generator is positioned within pleats of the air filter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the air filter contains a filter media and the at least one bipolar ion generator is mounted to the filter housing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one bipolar ion generator is wired to an electrical system of a vehicle driven by an engine.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the filter housing houses a filter media with a discharge side, and the system comprises at least two bipolar ion generators, whereby the first electrode and the second electrode of each bipolar ion generator face away from one another along a discharge side of the air filter.

8. A method for treatment of an airflow within a variable refrigerant system, the system comprises a shared outdoor heat exchanger and a plurality of individual air handler units, the outdoor heat exchanger comprises a condenser coil, compressor, and fan and the individual air handler units comprise a fan, expansion valve, heating and cooling coils, and a filter, a refrigerant line engages the outdoor hear exchanger to the individual air handler units, at least one bipolar ion generator is positioned adjacent the filter and 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 variant refrigerant system whereby at least a portion of the positive ions and the negative ions do not recombine within the airflow.

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

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising an ultraviolet light.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising a catalyst.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising titanium oxide as a catalyst for initiation photo-catalytic oxidation.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising an ultraviolet light and titanium oxide for initiation of photo-catalytic oxidation.

14. 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 an ultraviolet light;

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;

whereby 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 and the ultraviolet light is directed to the airflow.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising delivering the ionized airflow to a conditioned air space.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a catalyst to the conduit.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing titanium oxide to the conduit for initiation of photo-catalytic oxidation.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a fan for delivery of the positive ions and negative ions to the treated air space.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a heating element for heating the air containing the positive ions and negative ions.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a cooling coil for cooling the air containing the positive ions and negative ions.