Claims:We Claim:
1. An air purification device comprising
a plurality of UV source is pulsed and strobed in such a way that they interact with catalyst (TiO2 nano surface) precisely positioned in a spherical outer shell (with flanges on either side). The UV light is reflected back to the central sphere by precisely located mirrors placed on the outer spherical shell, on to a core forming a layered catalyst on the central sphere. The Core is held in position using a suspender. The suspenders also carry a common Vcc (Power Source) & Ground Bus, that not only provide power to the pulse & strobe electronics circuit embedded in the Core, but also the next SPCO if it must be serially cascaded.
2. The air purification device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, plurality of UV sources mounted in the Core strikes the TiO2 nano surface directly and then indirectly through the mirror on to the TiO2 nano surface on the Core, results in a highly concentrated irradiation that creates a gaseous state directly above the TiO2 nano surface called “metastate”. As air passes over the metastate, large clusters of positively and negatively charged ions are formed. As these ion clusters are released outside the system into the environment they can be attracted to a negatively or positively charged cell of a virus or bacteria and/or chemically interact with a volatile organic compound. When this electrical charge is released piercing the cell of a virus or a bacteria and destroys them. These multi-clustered ions spewed out of SPCO chemically transforms the volatile organic compounds into carbon dioxide and water vapor.
3. The air purification device as claimed in claim 2 wherein, the metastate is intended to be used post Hepa Filter, post Carbon filter in an Air Purifier or Air conditioning system.
4. The air purification device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the suspenders connect to the subsequent suspender across SPCO.
5. The air purification device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the SPCO module can be configured both serially and parallelly to increase the throughput of the system.
6. The air purification device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the optical mirror system are interlayered.
7. The air purification device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the lens is added to the UV source and the UV source is located at the outer spherical shell.
8. The air purification device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, an AL/ML based cascade controller that takes multiple inputs and anticipates peaks in requirement of sanitization and increases efficacy while at the same time conserves the resources of the system.
9. The air purification device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the device is positioned separately in front and rear air flow of a vehicle.
10. The air purification device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the device is positioned over and above the HEPA filter in a ventilator.
11. The air purification device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the device is positioned over oral-suction dentist device.
, Description:AN AIR PURIFICATION DEVICE WITH HIGH THROUGHPUT SPHERICAL PHOTO CATALYTIC OXIDATION WITH NANO TIO2
FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, an air purification device and method, and more particularly to an improved device and method with Photo Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) based Air purification.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART AND PROBLEM IN PRIOR ART:
[002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[003] The information disclosed in this background of the disclosure section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.
[004] Using light to achieve clean air and water resources through photocatalytic oxidation is a goal of scientists worldwide. Light is an amazing source of energy—the power behind virtually everything that happens on Earth. Light from the Sun brightens the dark depths of space, makes plants leap to life, and (indirectly) powers our bodies. In air purifiers that work using a method called photocatalysis, light energy kick-starts a process that zaps all kinds of nasty air pollutants and turns them into harmless substances instead. For people who suffer from asthma and allergies, light-powered air purifiers are another weapon in the fight for cleaner air and better health.
[005] A catalyst is a substance that makes a chemical reaction more likely to happen by reducing the energy needed to kick start it known as "activation energy". A catalyst can speed up a chemical reaction or make it happen at a lower temperature. Once the reaction has finished, the catalyst isn't used up, though it may be physically changed in some way.
[006] In photocatalytic air purifiers, the catalyst that cleans the air is typically titanium dioxide, a semiconductor and it's energized by ultraviolet (UV) light. UV is the short-wavelength light just beyond the blue/violet part of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes can detect. It has much more energy than ordinary, visible light and exactly the right amount of energy to get titanium dioxide excited.
[007] When UV light strikes on the titanium dioxide, electrons are released from its surface. The electrons interact with water molecules in the air, breaking them up into hydroxyl radicals (OH·), which are highly reactive, short-lived, uncharged forms of hydroxide ions (OH-). These small, agile hydroxyl radicals then attack bigger organic (carbon-based) pollutant molecules, breaking apart their chemical bonds and turning them into harmless substances such as carbon dioxide and water. This is an example of oxidation and that's why air purifiers that work this way are sometimes also described as PCO (photocatalytic oxidation) air cleaners.
[008] However, there are disadvantage of this process. Photocatalytic purifiers can also produce tiny amounts of ozone (O3), a chemical variant of the oxygen in the air that is, in itself, a toxic air pollutant. Purifier making companies claim the amounts of ozone produced are well within the guideline limit but, even so, this is something to kept in mind. Although hydroxyl radicals occur naturally in the atmosphere, they can themselves pose dangers. If your indoor air contains volatile organic compounds, instead of removing them completely, a photocatalytic air purifier may chemically convert them into other unpleasant pollutants, including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Air purifiers need fans to suck polluted air in at one end and blow clean out of the other. Air purifiers take some time (typically up to 30 minutes) to clean a large room properly. Another issue is that the catalysts used in photocatalytic purifiers have a limited lifetime, which significantly reduces their cost-effectiveness. In time, better catalysts with longer lifetimes should solve this problem.
[009] Further, the prior art does not provide the high through-put required in high viral environment. With increasing asymptomatic COVID-19 cases across the world, the viral load particularly in Hospitals, ICUs, public and even private areas have increased dramatically. Multiple configurations of UV Source and Catalyst (some with nano particles) have been experimented to increase the throughput but none have the efficiency and modular ability to increase scale. The catalyst usually Titanium dioxide based is a resource that need to be conserved. There is no concept of application of AI and ML in Air Purification space for optimal intended sterilization effect.
[0010] In time, better devices with technology support of AI and capability to filter viral particles in situations of COVID specifically should solve this problem.
[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0012] Solution to one or more drawbacks of existing devices, methods, and additional advantages are provided through the present invention as disclosed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0013] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0015] Fig. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the Spherical PCO (SPCO) module.
[0016] Fig. 2 illustrates a Spherical PCO (SPCO) Serial and Parallel hybrid configurations.
[0017] Fig.3 illustrates the placement of SPCO configuration in a device.
[0018] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0019] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0020] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
[0021] Fig. 1 to 3 refers to the present invention device. The heart of the solution is a Spherical PCO (SPCO) module which is a unique configuration of low wattage UV source, (Strobed / pulsed to have high throughput) surrounded by a solid spherical structure (the “catalyst”) coated with Titanium Dioxide and nano-sized elements.
[0022] Optically configured and clustered UV source is pulsed and strobed in such a way that they interact with catalyst (TiO2 nano surface) precisely positioned in a spherical outer shell (with flanges on either side). This UV light is reflected back to the central sphere by precisely located mirrors (on the outer spherical shell), on to the layered catalyst on the central sphere (Core). The Core is held in position using a suspender. The suspenders also carry a common Vcc (Power Source) & Ground Bus, that not only provide power to the pulse & strobe electronics circuit embedded in the Core, but also the next SPCO if it must be serially cascaded.
[0023] The way the Central Sphere and the outer spherical shell are designed are unique. The placement of the UV source, its wavelength and the algorithmic basis of strobing and pulsing are unique. The optics, the placement of the mirrors and UV source are also new. The way the SPCO is designed to be cascaded serially and parallelly is also enabled by the suspenders that carry power line bus (Vcc & Ground). The concept of an AI/ML based cascade controller applied to Air Purifiers is new.
[0024] The central sphere (CORE) is suspended at the Centre of the spherical housing using “Suspenders”. When multiple UV sources mounted in the Core hits the TiO2 nano surface (on the External Spherical housing) directly and then indirectly through the mirror on to the TiO2 nano surface on the Core, results in a highly concentrated irradiation that creates a gaseous state directly above the TiO2 nano surface (called “metastate”). This module is intended to be used post Hepa Filter, post Carbon filter in an Air Purifier or Air conditioning system. As air passes over the metastate, large clusters of positively and negatively charged ions are formed. As these ion clusters are released outside the system into the environment they can be attracted to a negatively or positively charged cell of a virus or bacteria (pathogen), and/or chemically interact with a volatile organic compound. When this electrical charge is released piercing the cell of a virus or a bacteria and destroys them. These multi-clustered ions spewed out of SPCO chemically transforms the volatile organic compounds into carbon dioxide and water vapor. This process literally mimics what happens in Nature by UV spectrum of sun’s rays. SPCO has increased the effectiveness of the PCO process by its unique configuration and construction of the nano-catalyst.
[0025] The way SPCO can be cascaded is unique, consequently the way the suspenders connect to the subsequent suspender across SPCO is a completely new connection ethos. The interconnected modular design of the SPCO in multiple categories (different categories like the size, the number of units that can be cascaded serially etc.) is first of its kind in the air purifier domain.
[0026] The shape of the central sphere (Core) and/or that of the outer shell can also be varied to make it optimal from an aerodynamic perspective for the better flow of air. In addition, SPCO module can be configured both serially and parallelly to increase the throughput of the system. The Size of the individual SPCO can also be increased depending on the requirement. Multiple types of UV source and dimensions of the UV nano plates are also another possible variation. The interlayering of the optical mirror system is a possible variation. The addition of lens in the UV optical source is another possibility. The location of the UV Source in the outer spherical shell is another possibility. The suspender design along with a different mechanism to deliver power to the strobe/pulse electronics is another possible variation.
[0027] The central Sphere (Core) with embedded strobe/pulse electronics along with the algorithm is the heart of the technology. In addition, the design and development of the nano-Tio2 and its placement & configuration is another intricate technological challenge. Finally, AL/ML based cascade controller that takes multiple inputs and anticipates peaks in requirement of sanitization and increases efficacy while at the same time conserves the resources of the system and is the most challenging part of the technology.
[0028] The key advancement is the spherical design of the SPCO module, it’s the distributed maximization of the surface area compared to other configurations. The next is the Modular design to increase capacity by serially or parallelly cascading the SPCO. This dramatically reduces the number of SKUs in the inventory and the only variation is now the power supply unit. The third is the strobe/pulse electronics that is embedded in the SPCO core. Finally cascade controller (that is designed to take multiple parallel and serial inputs including wireless sensors) can optimally configure rows of SPCOs based on an AI/ML driven framework. The SPCO modules are also recyclable, that is the consumable part if the system can be replenished and the modules reused.
[0029] The current SPCO Module is being perfected using additive manufacturing processes. As the module is perfected, the parts may be injection moulded. Other parts, viz, UV Source, Mirror and Nano TiO2 plates are then in assembled. The Strobe/Pulse electronics card is then integrated into the Core and finally the power supply is connected to the “Power Bus” in the suspender. The suspender is then fixed edge rings connectors.
[0030] The inspiration for miniature Spherical PCO came from the emergent need to sanitize small spaces, with variable volume. The current challenge in cars, busses, trains and even Airplanes is every time the door opens there is a influx of potentially polluted air, along with the persons who could be carrying pathogens. The steady state need of sterilization is sensed by the system and rows of SPCO are “Cut-in” and “Cut-out” based on an AI based “Cascade Controller”. Some of the high impact application for SPCO are :
[0031] (a) In Shared mobility context, thanks to COVID-19, the Drivers and passengers are segregated transparent Air-tight partitions. In such a situation, the air-conditioner in the vehicle are required to be switched off. This is because, AC when in circulation mode, can such in potentially infected air from the front ot the cabin and feed to the rear. There are two ways to solve this one is to have segregated airflow for front and rear cabins. Secondly, SPCO can be positioned separately front and rear air flow. There are standalone air purifiers that are typically kept in the cup holder in a car which have their own fan and are powered by the cigarette lighter socket. In our configuration the first innovation is segregated airflow, second is application of SPCO technology independently for these Air-Flow.
[0032] (b) Mechanical Ventilators - Despite the best efforts, ICUs have a very high Viral load. In the COVID-19 era, the ICU environment has further deteriorated. Ventilators have been generally been at the center stage of the resources in the ICU to treat these patients. In a highly stressed ICU environment, it becomes virtually impossible to maintain the filters of these Ventilators, which is the first line of defense against the spread of infection from the patient to the entire ICU environment. PCO/SPCOs in such situations connected to the exhaled air of the patient in these ventilators will have a very high impact to reduce the viral load. The use of the PCO/SPCO can be over and above the HEPA filter in these ventilators, making the system almost foolproof against and viral/bacterial leakage, and keep a tab on the ICU sterility.
[0033] (c) Extra-Oral Suction - Dental labs are at a great threat around the world and the high speed used by Dentists though up a lot of aerosols in the air that cannot be captures by regular suction. An extra oral suction device can capture these aerosols and can be sucked into a filtration system. Unless regularly maintained the filters can also be a source of contamination. Adding a SPCO/PCO to extra oral suction can dramatically bring down the viral load in a typical dental clinic.
[0034]
[0035] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0036] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.