IMPROVED AIR DECONTAMINATION DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20120093691A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tri-air Developments Limited
• Original Assignee: Tri-air Developments Limited
• Inventors: Mole, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-32. -32. (canceled)

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

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

means for directing a stream of air through the housing, and

a non-thermal plasma cell, an ultraviolet emitting device and an ozone depletion catalyst all included in the housing, the non-thermal plasma 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.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a hydrocarbon emitter provided within the housing downstream of the reaction chamber.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a water droplet emitter provided within the housing to deliver a fine spray of water into the reaction chamber.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the housing includes means for delivering microwaves of a certain wavelength to the reaction chamber.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the dielectric comprises deionized water droplets or vapor.

38. An apparatus of claim 33 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 catalyst.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the cathode houses a microwave emitter for delivering microwaves of a certain wavelength to excite the UV emitting device.

40. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the catalyst surrounds the UV emitting device.

41. A non-thermal plasma cell for an apparatus for the decontamination of air, the plasma cell comprising an anode and a cathode with a dielectric therebetween, the dielectric comprising deionized water droplets or vapor.

42. The plasma cell of claim 41 wherein a water reservoir is connected to the dielectric for delivering water thereto.

43. The plasma cell of claim 41 wherein an atomizer is provided for producing a fine mist of water droplets.

44. The plasma cell of claim 41 wherein an appropriate air movement means is provided to propel the water droplets into the dielectric space.

45. An air decontamination device comprising:

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

means for directing a stream of air through the housing,

the housing containing a non-thermal plasma cell according to claim 41, an ultraviolet emitting device and an ozone depletion catalyst.

46. A non-thermal plasma cell comprising a columnar cell having a substantially central anode surrounded by a cathode with dielectric therebetween.

47. The plasma cell of claim 46 wherein the cathode forms the wall of the column.

48. The plasma cell of claim 46 wherein the column is cylindrical.

49. The plasma cell of claim 46 wherein the column is a polygon having at least five sides.

50. The plasma cell of claim 47 wherein the cathode comprises a mesh of conducting material that surrounds the dielectric provided between the anode and cathode.

51. An array of non-thermal plasma cells, the array comprising a plurality of non-thermal plasma cells of claim 46.

52. The array of claim 51 wherein the array comprises multiple rows of the columnar cells, adjacent rows being staggered with respect to one another.

53. The array of claim 51 wherein the array in insulated.

54. The array of claim 51 wherein at least one baffle is provided at locations within or surrounding the array to aid air flow therethrough.

55. An air decontamination device comprising:

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

means for directing a stream of air through the housing,

an array of non-thermal plasma cells provided in the housing of claim 51,

an ultraviolet emitting device, and

an ozone depletion catalyst.

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

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

means for directing a stream of air through the housing, and

a nonthermal plasma cell, an ultraviolet emitting device and an ozone depletion catalyst all included in the housing,

wherein the non-thermal plasma comprises an anode, a dielectric and a cathode, the dielectric comprising deionized water droplets or vapor.