DESC:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)

1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
AIR DECONTAMINATION DEVICE

2. APPLICANT
a. Name: Highest Common Factor Private Limited
Nationality: Indian
Address: 71/ 3rd floor, Vyjanthi, J Block, Anna Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600102

3. PREAMBLE
The following specification completely describes the invention.
BACKGROUND
[0001] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to this application and are not admitted to being prior art by inclusion in this section.
Field of invention:
[0002] The subject matter in general relates to the field of air decontamination/filtration. More particularly, but not exclusively, the subject matter relates to decontamination of air using combination of nanotechnology and electromagnetic waves.
Discussion of related art:
[0003] Air decontamination/filtration devices are typically used to filter, separate, break-down harmful elements such as pollutants, pathogens, carbon dioxide, bacteria, sulphur dioxide and the like from the air. These harmful elements are dangerous for the environment as well as human health. Air decontamination devices typically include filters for removing these hazardous contaminants.
[0004] Conventional methods of purifying air involve the use of filters of different pore sizes ranging from micro to nano level and/or ultraviolet (UV) light to breakdown certain pollutants. Mainly UV C is used followed by occasional use of UV A and/or UV B. But this method has limitations, in that it does not utilise the greater part of the electromagnetic spectrum in breaking down the pollutants that are not filtered out using ultraviolet light.
[0005] Higher frequencies need to be used to break down larger or more complex elements and lower frequencies are to be used to filter out smaller or less complex elements. Conventional air decontamination devices are limited to a light source emitting only one frequency. Thus, the frequency to be radiated need to be varied according to the contaminants present in the air.
[0006] In view of the foregoing discussion, there is a need for an improved system to filter out multiple contaminants from the air.
SUMMARY
[0007] In one embodiment, an air decontamination device is disclosed. The air decontamination device comprises of one or more nano filters arranged in line next to each other. The nano filters have a porous structure whose pores are of the nano size. These nano filters filter out pollutant particles of nano size and size bigger than that. Each nano filter is coated with a calculated amount of specific combination of nano materials. The surface of each nano filter interacts with molecules (for example molecules of contaminants, pollutants, pathogens) and breaks them down into smaller harmless components. A multi spectrum electromagnetic wave source may be used to emit light waves of varying frequencies. The light waves of varying frequencies are made to be incident on the nano filters. Each of the nano filter is optically tuned to react to a particular electromagnetic wave to break down contaminants of varying compositions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DIAGRAMS
[0008] Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of an air decontamination device 100 with a single nano filter 102, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of an air decontamination device 200 with multiple nano filters 102 a-d, in accordance with an embodiment; and
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of a nano filtration chamber 302, in accordance with an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the detailed description. The drawings show illustrations in accordance with example embodiments. These example embodiments are described in enough details to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized, or structural and logical changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as a limiting sense.
[0013] In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a non-exclusive “or,” such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated.
[0014] It should be understood that the capabilities of the invention described in the present disclosure and elements shown in the figures may be implemented in various forms of hardware, firmware, software, non-transitory computer readable medium or combinations thereof.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, an air decontamination device 100 comprising a nano filter 102 is provided, in accordance with an embodiment. The air decontamination device 100 may also include a multi spectrum electromagnetic wave source 104.
[0016] In an embodiment, the nano filter 102 may be a filter with nano sized pores. In another embodiment, the nano filter 102 may be a substrate coated with a nano layer. The substrate may be a micro sized filter. The nano layer may comprise nano materials bound to the substrate through a medium. The nano filter 102 completely blocks out micro particles and a considerable part of the nano particles from the air passing through the filter. Only the particles below a certain size may pass through. The size of the pores in the nano filter 102 may be adjusted to allow breathable air to pass through without much hindrance.
[0017] The multi spectrum electromagnetic wave source 104 may generate electromagnetic waves of varying frequencies. The one or more frequencies may be selected based on the requirement to breakdown the contaminant molecules in the air. Also, the shape, dimension, and the distance between the nano filter 102 and the multi spectrum electromagnetic wave source 104 may be determined based on the requirement to breakdown the contaminant molecules.
[0018] In an embodiment, the electromagnetic waves may be gamma rays, X rays, ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, micro waves, radio waves or visible light among others.
[0019] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the air may enter the nano filter 102 at the input side. The electromagnetic waves of varying frequencies may be incident on the nano filter 102. The nano filter 102 may be stimulated by the electromagnetic waves generated by the multi spectrum electromagnetic wave source 104. As the air received at the input end of the nano filter 102, passes through the nano filter 102, the nano layer may interact with the incoming molecules (contaminants) of the air, disrupt their bonds, and break them down into smaller molecules. As a result, clean and decontaminated air may exit the nano filter 102 at the output end. For example, the harmful gases, pollutants, pathogens, and the like present in the air gets destroyed at molecular level into harmless carbon dioxide, water vapour, and the like.
[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the nano filter 102 is coated with a nano material that may get stimulated by infrared rays. In a scenario like this, the multi spectrum electromagnetic wave source 104 emitting electromagnetic waves (that includes infrared rays) may stimulate the nano filter 102 to eliminate the harmful pollutants from the air. In another scenario, if the nano filter 102 is coated with nano material that may get stimulated by ultraviolet rays, the multi spectrum electromagnetic wave source 104 emitting electromagnetic waves (that includes ultraviolet rays) may stimulate the nano filter 102 to eliminate the harmful pollutants from the air. Thus, a single multi spectrum electromagnetic wave source 104 may be used to stimulate a wide range of nano material coated nano filter 102.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of an air decontamination device 200 with multiple nano filters 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, in accordance with an embodiment. Multiple nano filters 102 a-d are arranged in line next to each other. Each nano filter 102 a-d may be coated with a semiconductor nano material that are bound to the substrate using a medium. The semiconductor nano materials may be selected based on an on an electro-optic effect on the contaminant molecules. Electro-optic effect may be defined as a change in optical properties of materials based on an electric field that varies with a frequency of light. Further, each nano filter 102 a-d may be configured to be stimulated by a particular electromagnetic frequency. As an example, nano filter 102a may have a coating of semiconductor material that may be stimulated when infrared rays are incident on it and nano filter 102b may have a coating of semiconductor material that may be stimulated when infrared rays are incident on it.
[0022] When the corresponding electromagnetic waves are incident on the respective nano filters 102a-d, a complex photoelectric interaction occurs between the electromagnetic waves and the nano materials (basically Photo electric response). When the contaminant molecules pass through the multiple nano filters 102 a-d, each nano filter 102 may interact with the respective electromagnetic waves disrupt and break down the contaminants. However, some contaminant molecules may be larger in size and more energy may be required to break it down into smaller molecules. A greater frequency would be required in this scenario and the properties (for example size, thickness, frequency and the like) of the nano filter 102 a-d needs to be adjusted accordingly. Each nano filter 102 may be optically tuned for providing maximum disruption of the contaminant molecules.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of a nano filtration chamber 302, in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the nano filtration chamber 302 may include multiple nano filters. The multiple nano filters 102 may be represented by N1, N2, and N3. The corresponding electromagnetic spectrum of the nano filters N1, N2, N3 may be represented by ET1, ET2, and ET3. The multi spectrum electromagnetic wave source 104 may act as trigger in breaking down the contaminant molecules that may pass through the nano filters N1, N2, N3.
[0024] The nano filters N1, N2, N3 are electromagnetically tuned to their corresponding electromagnetic spectra ET1, ET2, and ET3 for breaking down the contaminant molecules. The nano filters 102 may be triggered by electromagnetic waves of corresponding frequency f1, f2, and f3. For example, f1 corresponds to ultraviolet frequencies, f2 corresponds to visible light frequencies, and f3 corresponds to infrared frequencies. However, the choice of the electromagnetic waves may vary based on the requirement of breaking down of the type of contaminant molecules and efficiency. The bandwidth, combinations of spectra’s, intensities, and the like may be varied.
[0025] The total electromagnetic wave spectrum domain (E) used in the device is the sum of the individual spectra (E=ET1+…. +ETN). This is a general method of distributing frequencies to respective nano filters. In an embodiment, 3 stages comprising UV, Visible and IR are being used. In one embodiment, a portion of the electromagnetic wave spectrum may be used to trigger only nano filter N1 out of the three nano filters. This depends based on the requirement of breaking down the contaminant molecules. It is not always essential that the spectrum of three nano filters N1, N2, N3 be used at once. For example, if the contaminant molecules required to be broken down are small, then one of the nano filter N1 configured to break down small contaminants may be used. The corresponding electromagnetic wave spectrum ET1 may stimulate the nano filter N1 to break down the contaminant. The breaking down of the contaminant molecules may be modelled using the equation:
Pi= f(Ni,Ei,G)
where Pi corresponds to the contaminant, wherein Ni corresponds to the nano material on an ith nano filter, Ei corresponds to the electromagnetic wave spectrum incident on the ith filter, and G corresponds to an equivalent physical and structural geometry of the ith filter.
[0026] The processes described above is described as a sequence of steps, this was done solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some steps may be added, some steps may be omitted, the order of the steps may be re-arranged, or some steps may be performed simultaneously.
[0027] Although embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the system and method described herein. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
[0028] Many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. It is to be understood that the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the personally preferred embodiments of this invention.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A device (100) for decontaminating air, the device (100) comprising:
a nano filter (102) comprising nano sized pores configured to:
interface with contaminated air; and
block micro sized particles and nano particles in the contaminated air from passing through the filter (102); and
a multi-spectrum electromagnetic wave source (104) configured to:
generate and emit electromagnetic waves;
breakdown contaminants in the contaminated air using the generated electromagnetic waves; and
stimulate the nano filter (102) to eliminate harmful pollutants comprised in the contaminated air when the generated electromagnetic waves are incident on the nano filter (102).
2. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nano filter (102) comprises of plurality of nano filters (102) arranged in line adjacent each other.
3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of nano filters (102) are coated with a nano layer.
4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of nano filters (102) coated with the nano layer are stimulated by specific range of electromagnetic waves generated by the multi-spectrum electromagnetic wave source (104).
5. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nano filter (102) is a substrate coated with a nano layer.
6. The device (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the nano layer is stimulated by specific range of electromagnetic waves generated by the multi-spectrum electromagnetic wave source (104).
7. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nano filter (102) is coated with a semi-conductor material.
8. The device (100) as claimed in claim 7, the semi-conductor material is stimulated by specific range of the electromagnetic waves generated by the multi-spectrum electromagnetic wave source (104).
9. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a single multi-spectrum electromagnetic wave source (104) is used to stimulate a wide range of nano layer coated on the nano filter (102).
10. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic waves generated by the multi-spectrum electromagnetic wave source (104) are gamma rays, X rays, ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, micro-waves, radio waves or visible light.

Dated this 18th day of July 2019
(Digitally signed)
Kartik PUTTAIAH
Patent Agent-IN/PA-1809