Air cleaning device

• US 8,211,374 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novaerus UK Ltd. (WellAir Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: GSF 650 Limited
• Inventors: Hallam, David Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkins, III, Harry D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ripa, Bryan D.
• Application Number:
  US10/565,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20060182672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,906 Days
• Field of Search: 422/186.07, 422/186.18, 204/176
• US Class Current: 422/186.07
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/104 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 46/0028 provided with antibacterial or antifungal means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/50 Means for discharging electrostatic potential
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/32 by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/323 by electrostatic effects or by high-voltage electric fields
• 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 3/383 using radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/49 tubular B03C3/455 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/14 Concentric/tubular dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/34 Composition of the dielectrics
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/26 using ozone
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/40 by ozonisation for sterilisation F24F8/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus 1 for the treatment of air comprising a low power corona discharge ozone generator 5,6 inside a chamber 9 having an inlet 2 and an outlet 7, and at least one air flow impeller 3 for inducing a flow of air through the chamber 9. The ozone generator 5,6 is formed and arranged for generating a restricted concentration of ozone, within an inactivating zone 10 contained within the chamber 9, through which the air flow is passed. The restricted concentration is sufficient to inactivate airborne pollutant material entrained in the air flow, yet decays sufficiently outside the inactivating zone so that the concentration of ozone in the cleaned air expelled from the apparatus 1 is at a physiologically acceptable level without the use of an ozone decomposition catalyzer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the treatment of air comprising a low power alternating current corona discharge ozone generator that has a power rating in the range of 4 watts to 50 watts mounted inside a chamber, the chamber being defined by an earthed casing comprising a metal or a plastics material impregnated or coated with a metallic material and having an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the inlet and outlet are disposed in proximity to each other and the apparatus provided with a single filter mounted so that respective different portions of the filter occlude the inlet and outlet, respectively, and at least one air flow impeller formed and arranged for inducing a flow of air through said chamber from inlet to outlet in a non-rectilinear path, said ozone generator being formed and arranged for generating a restricted concentration of ozone and any other reactive species formed together therewith, within an inactivating zone contained within said chamber, through which said air flow is passed in use of said apparatus, which restricted concentration is sufficient effectively to inactivate airborne pollutant material entrained in said air flow, yet which restricted concentration decays sufficiently outside said inactivating zone so that the concentration of ozone in the cleaned air expelled from said apparatus is less than about 0.3 ppm without the use of an ozone decomposition catalyzer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said low power corona discharge ozone generator comprises a low power corona discharge device provided with a low power high voltage output transformer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the low power corona discharge device comprises concentric tubular metal gauze electrodes separated by a tubular strengthened glass dielectric.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the glass dielectric is of titanium dioxide strengthened borosilicate glass.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said air flow impeller is formed and arranged so as to provide a flow rate of air through the apparatus in the range 50-2500 m³ per hour.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one filter is adapted for removing tobacco smoke oil and/or tar.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said filter is an electrostatic filter.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein is used for said alternating current corona discharge ozone generator, an AC supply with a frequency in the range from 50 to 1000 Hz.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein is used an AC supply with an operating voltage in the range from 1 to 6 kV.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein is used an AC supply providing a (starting) current in the range from 1 to 10 mA.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein is used an air flow impeller formed and arranged for inducing a flow of air through said chamber, in use of the apparatus, which air flow has a residence time in said chamber in the range from 0.2 to 20 seconds.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein is used a low power corona discharge device with a solid dielectric.

13. A method of cleaning air comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus according to claim 1;

powering the ozone generator of said apparatus so as to generate ozone in the inactivation zone of said apparatus;

operating said airflow impeller so as to pass a flow of said air through said inactivation zone; and

exhausting the air from the inactivation zone through a catalyst-free decomposing zone in said chamber.

14. An ozone-based device for treating pollutants in air comprising:

a grounded, conductive, enclosed chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet arranged to produce air flow therebetween;

said inlet and outlet being arranged in close proximity to receive a single filter with respective portions occluding the inlet and outlet.

an impeller having a motor for producing said flow;

an inactivating zone within said chamber proximate said inlet;

a low power ozone generator within the inactivating zone and in said flow, wherein said generator operates in a power consumption range of about 4 to 50 watts; and

a catalyst-free decomposing zone within said chamber proximate said outlet;

said chamber being arranged to move air from the inlet through the inactivating zone and the decomposing zone in a turbulent, non-straight line flow whereby the ozone concentration in the air expelled from said chamber is less than about 0.3 ppm.

15. A device as defined in claim 14 further including an electrostatic post filter arranged proximate said outlet to receive and treat air from said decomposing zone.

16. A device as defined in claim 15 wherein the ozone generator is of tubular construction and comprises a borosilicate glass dielectric with stainless steel gauge electrodes on opposite sides thereof.