DE102005001726B4 - Method and device for cleaning air, in particular room air - Google Patents

Abstract

method for the purification of air, in particular room air, in which the to be cleaned Air after removing volatile Fat residues and dirt particles are then passed through a fine filter is characterized in that by means of continuous or periodic Microwave radiation of the fine filter regenerates and catalytic Properties of ceramic with by the microwave irradiation catalytically activated filler materials existing fine filter be activated for air purification.

Description

The The invention relates to a process for purifying air, in particular Room air in which with the help of at least one filter volatile fat residues and / or Dirt particles are removed from the air to be cleaned, as well a device for carrying out this procedure.

The Pollution of air can be due to chemical precipitation processes of objects, living beings, through chemicals, volatile organic compounds, various types of pollen, molds, Mold spores, dust, batteries, ozone, odor molecules, carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, tobacco smoke, remnants of house dust mites and the like. Such air pollutants threaten human health and are often primary causes of various clinical pictures. For air purification are filters of various kinds, such as grease filters, HEPA filter (high-effective particulate arresting filter), membrane filter, Carbon Filter, Ion or Plasma Filter, Catalytic Filter, Photocatalytic Filters, ultraviolet light filters and filters that produce ozone, and the like.

Out US 5,938,823 For example, a method and a device for removing bio-aerosols from room air are known, wherein electrostatic precipitators in the form of separator plates are heated by means of microwave radiation. The separator plates have a coating of electrically conductive and at the same time microwave-absorbing materials. Electrostatically trapped bio-aerosols and dirt particles as well as microorganisms are released immediately at the beginning of the microwave radiation because the electrostatic field is then no longer present. Namely, the electrostatic field is neutralized by the electromagnetic currents induced in the electrically conductive layers of the separator plates by the microwave radiation. The air purification and removal of bio-aerosols is therefore difficult. In addition, the baffles used in the known device between the separator plates reflect the microwave energy and can thus destroy the microwave source.

Out US 5,269,892 For example, catalytic purification of charcoal leaches by microwave energy heating is known wherein the activated carbon-based catalytic filter is heated. Out US 6,419,799 is a gas stream cleaning by the heating of the activated catalytic filter using microwave energy known. The U.S. Patent 6,171,479 describes the use of microwave energy to heat the catalytic materials of a filter to enhance its catalytic properties.

at These cleaning systems pose a fire hazard because activated carbon already burning at temperatures of about 400 ° C. At high oxygen concentrations burns carbon even at low temperatures. Furthermore these filters have a low efficiency.

The U.S. Patent 6,207,023 describes a method of air purification in which dirt particles are absorbed in an activated carbon filter. In the following process, the dirt particles are to be destroyed by microwave-initiated desorption. In addition to the limited efficiency of these carbon-based filters there is a risk of rapid loss of absorption properties in incomplete desorption of the dirt particles.

The publication DE 22 43 071 A discloses a filter device for removing volatile grease residues and dirt particles in an air to be cleaned. Here, the air is first passed through a coarse filter and then through a fine filter, and this may preferably be a fine charcoal filter. In the flow direction of the air upstream of the fine filter, a UV light source may be provided. This photocatalytic cleaning process can produce harmful ozone. It is also necessary to replace the fine filter frequently.

The publication DE 101 33 831 C1 describes a method and a device for removing gaseous pollutants from a room air, wherein ionization processes are used. In particular, the air to be cleaned is irradiated with optical radiation so that the pollutants contained in the air to be purified are ionized by single and / or multiple photon excitation become. This can cause harmful ozone. For ionization also a microwave energy (to increase the degree of ionization) can be used.

In the publication DE 12 46 675 A is a complex constructed multi-hydrocyclone with multiple tubes and fine filter elements described. Fine dirt particles (specific light particles), chemicals and odors can not be removed by this known method, as only particles up to a certain size are removed.

The publication DE 946 133 describes a fabric filter for gas and air cleaning, wherein two or more filter plates arranged one behind the other are provided and at least one of the filter plates is oil-wetted. The air to be cleaned flows through the filter plates, so that a considerable air resistance results and as a result a frequent Cleaning the filter plates is required.

Of the The present invention is based on the object, a Method and device for purifying air, in particular of Room air in such a way that not only volatile fat residues and coarse dirt particles, but also harmful components of any kind and odor molecules be eliminated.

These Task is procedurally the invention by the features of claim 1 and apparatus by the features of claim 10 solved.

at The invention uses individual function cascades, wherein after removing the grease residues and dirt particles through a coarse filter the air afterwards is passed through a fine filter, which by means of continuous or periodic microwave radiation is heated. hereby to reach a regenerable air cleaning filter. Especially be catalytic properties of the ceramic with by the Microwave irradiation catalytically activated filler metals existing fine filter activated for air purification.

there In addition to air purification, air dehumidification is also achieved. The solution according to the invention requires technically only a small effort and may preferably for air purification and for dehumidifying the household, for example in extractor hoods, Air conditioners or as a general air purification system for use come.

at The invention is essentially a continuous or periodic Air purification with the help of a fine filter and a continuous or Periodic regeneration and dehumidification of the fine filter through rapid heating by means of microwave radiation is used. By the continuous or periodic microwave irradiation can an additional microwave-assisted, catalytic air purification can be achieved.

simultaneously can the flowing through Air cleaned and the fine filter unit to be regenerated. at a preferred embodiment flows the contaminated air through an area of the fine filter, meanwhile another area of the fine filter is regenerated at the same time. The regeneration is achieved in the rapid microwave heating phase. The heating temperatures are dependent the degree of contamination and are preferably in the temperature range from 200 ° C up to 1200 ° C adjustable.

Besides that is it is possible to dehumidify the air at the coarse filter and other humidity components in the microwave room first to evaporate and then to condense, so in a second stage of dehumidification the condensate can be removed.

to Removal of dirt particles and grease particles from the to be cleaned Air is used a coarse filter upstream of the fine filter. This Coarse filter can be made of stainless steel, aluminum or a suitable Alloy exist. The air permeable filter body of Coarse filter, which for example made of stainless steel or aluminum is in a particular embodiment with bismuth (Bi) or similar Coated materials.

With Help of electrical contacts can be between the coating and the filter body a electrical voltage (U) can be applied, which depends on the thickness of the Coating dependent is and can be chosen in the range of 1 V to 20 V. Due to the Seebeckeffektes a thermoelectric cooling is achieved at the filter surface. This makes it possible that first liquid portions from the air at the surface of the coarse filter can be condensed and removed.

Basically the fine filter constructed of a microwave-absorbing material and has an air-permeable Structure. This may be a honeycomb structure or a foamed porous structure be.

• – D.D. Khalyarin et al: „Electrochemial growth and properties of LaMn_1-xCo_xO₃ (0 < x ≤ 1) single crystrals", Cryst. Res. Technol. 38, No. 9, 748–754 (2003);
• – Xian Ouyan et al: „A One-Dimensional Metallopolymer of 2,5-Dimethyl-N,N'-Dicyanoquinone Diimine (2,5-DM-DCNQ1)", Inorg. Chem. 1996, 35, 7188–7189;
• – Paul W. Cyr et al: „Quantum dots in a metallopolymer host: studies of composites of polyferrocenes and CdSe nanocrystals," J. Mater. Chem., 2003, 13, 2213–2219;
• – Christopher L. Kean et al: "A low band gap conjugated metrallopolymer with nickel bis (dithiolene) crosslinks", Chem. Commun, 2001, 815–816;

For the fine filter, a ceramic filter or a filter made of composite materials for air purification is preferably used. This fine filter is designed with respect to its air permeability to the air volume to be filtered per time. This filter may consist of a porous ceramic body, ceramic fibers and their compositions. In certain embodiments, metal polymers are also included in the fine filter. Metal polymers are known from:

• DD Khalyarin et al .: "Electrochemical growth and properties of LaMn _1-x Co _x O ₃ (0 <x ≤ 1) single crystrals", Cryst. Res. Technol. 38, No. 9, 748-754 (2003);
• Xian Ouyan et al: "A One-Dimensional Metallo Polymer of 2,5-Dimethyl-N, N'-Dicyanoquinone Diimine (2,5-DM-DCNQ1)", Inorg. Chem. 1996, 35, 7188-7189;
• Paul W. Cyr et al: "Quantum dots in a metallopolymers host: studies of composites of polyferrocenses and CdSe nanocrystals," J. Mater. Chem., 2003, 13, 2213-2219;
• Christopher L. Kean et al: "A low band gap conjugated metrallopolymer with nickel bis (dithiolene) crosslinks", Chem. Commun, 2001, 815-816;

By using metal polymers in the fine filter, the cleaning device can also at Air conditioning and filtration systems in the medical sector for biological, antimicrobial or virological purification of the air. Metal polymers are resistant even at high temperatures and can be loaded up to 800 ° C. Furthermore, metal polymers can absorb microwaves and have antimicrobial properties.

• – A Kuzmin et al: „X-Ray Absorption Study of the Short Range Order of Tungsten and Molybdenum Ions in BaO-P₂O₅-WO₃ and CaO-P₂O₅-MoO₃ Glasses", J. Phys. IV France 7 (1997), C2 – 971–973;
• – A. Kuzmin et al: « X-ray diffraction, extended x-ray absorption fine structure and Raman spectroscopy studies of WO₃ powders and (1-x)WO_3-y·xReO₂ mixtures", Journal of applied Physics, Vol. 84, No. 10, 1998, 5515–5524;
• – Ozerov RP et al: "Electron density in the sodium vanadium oxide bronze beta-Na(x)V(2)O(5) at 9 K"; Acta Crystallogr. B 2001, Jun; 57(Pt 3): 244-50;

In another embodiment, the fine filter consists of ceramic and catalytically active, microwave-sensitive filler materials. These additional materials are, for example, "electronic bronzes" or oxide bronzes, such as Na _x V ₂ O ₅ , which increase the efficiency of the filter as complex oxide systems in combination with microwave energy.These filler materials are characterized by catalytic action, effective oxidation of gases, such as NO, CO , SO, hydrocarbons and other harmful air constituents, as well as the destruction of microbes and bacteria, and these specific effects include the elimination of odor molecules.Examples of electronic bronzes are still known from:

• A Kuzmin et al: "X-Ray Absorbance Study of the Short Range Order of Tungsten and Molybdenum Ions in BaO-P ₂ O ₅ -WO ₃ and CaO-P ₂ O ₅ -MoO ₃ Glasses", J. Phys. IV France 7 (1997), C2-971-973;
• - A. Kuzmin et al., "X-ray diffraction, extended x-ray absorption fine structure and Raman spectroscopy studies of WO ₃ powders and (1-x) WO _3-y xReO ₂ mixtures", Journal of Applied Physics, Vol 84, No. 10, 1998, 5515-5524;
• - Ozerov RP et al: "Electron density in the sodium vanadium oxide bronze beta-Na (x) V (2) O (5) at 9 K"; Acta Crystallogr. B 2001, Jun; 57 (Pt 3): 244-50;

A Shielding can be designed so that it wraps around the fine filter and protects the environment of the filter system from microwave radiation. Further the shield may be formed so that the supplied microwave energy is concentrated on specific areas of the fine filter and after Outside is isolated. Furthermore, can the shield and the fine filter movably arranged to each other be to the microwave radiation only in segments or in limited area to initiate on the fine filter. Here can either the fine filter or the shield or can be arranged both movable. By heating the fine filter evaporate more humidity and condense the shield. Humidity that condenses on the screen is discharged through the shield.

The Microwave unit can be a microwave source, a power supply and have a control unit. By the microwave radiation is the fine filter regenerates and / or the catalytic properties of the fine filter activated. The microwave unit in connection with the fine filter forms an essential assembly of the air purification system. The Microwave source is mostly outside the shielded microwave space.

Based The figures will be based on embodiments the invention even closer explained.

It shows

1 as a block diagram of an embodiment of the air purification device, which contains different modules in function cascades;

2 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a coarse filter, which in the embodiment of the 1 can be used; and

3 an embodiment for a fine filter, a shield and a microwave unit containing assembly, which in the embodiment of the 1 can be used.

The embodiment of an air purification device shown schematically in the figures 1 contains in the function cascade as the first module a coarse filter 2 , which removes coarse dirt and grease particles from the air to be cleaned. The coarse filter 2 includes an air-permeable filter body 9 stainless steel, aluminum or other suitable alloy which is electrically conductive. The filter body may be formed as a fabric, knitted fabric or filter mat. The filter body for the coarse filter may also consist of one or more sheet metal plates with punched and curved blades. In particular, to achieve a thermoelectric cooling (Peltier effect), a filter body made of stamped and / or bent sheet, to which a suitable coating has previously been applied. To achieve the thermoelectric cooling (Peltier effect), the filter body 9 ( 2 ) with a coating 10 For example, be coated with bismuth (Bi) or similar thermoelectric materials. Via appropriate electrical contacts 11 . 12 is used to obtain a thermoelectric current between a filter body 13 made of electrically conductive material and also electrically conductive coating 10 applied an electrical voltage U to achieve the thermoelectric cooling. This voltage U (DC voltage) can vary depending on the type of coating 10 and in particular the thickness of the coating 10 in the range of 1 V to 20 V. As a result, the surface of the coated filter body 9 cooled and you reached to remove liquid fractions from the air, a condensation of the liquid, which is then removed.

The second module forms a fine filter 3 with a shield 4 and a microwave unit 5 , what a 1 is shown schematically. With the shield 4 can the fine filter 3 be covered in whole or in part, so that the environment opposite to that of the microwave unit 5 emitted microwave radiation is protected.

For example, the shield 4 and the fine filter 3 be movable against each other, wherein the of the microwave unit 5 emitted microwave energy to the fine filter 3 segment by segment or on a limited area of the fine filter is supplied.

When in the 3 schematically illustrated embodiment of the second assembly is the fine filter 3 around an axis 14 in a housing 17 rotatably mounted. The interior of the housing 17 is divided into two areas. In one area, the microwave radiation of the microwave unit 5 on a part of the fine filter 3 directed. In the other area of the housing 17 is the part of the fine filter 3 through which the air to be purified is passed. For this purpose, the air through an example tubular-shaped air duct 15 from the coarse filter 2 directed into the housing interior. The through the fine filter 3 reached air is through another air line 16 transported from the housing and, for example, a control unit 6 , which will be explained in detail, forwarded. A fan unit ensures the transport of the air to be cleaned 7 , like out 1 can be seen. Instead of the rotary motion, with which a part of the fine filter 3 in the irradiation area and part of the fine filter 3 in the air cleaning area in the housing 17 can be brought, another movement, such as translational movement or a superimposed rotational and translational movement can be applied. How out 3 it can be seen, is at least the irradiation area, in which the part of the fine filter to be regenerated and / or to be dehumidified 3 is located, with a shield 4 , which is shown in dashed lines, provided. The shield 4 can be on the inside of the case 17 be provided and separate the irradiation area of the air cleaning area inside the housing. Of course it is also possible the shielding 4 provided on the entire inside of the housing. The microwave unit 5 can then be arranged so that the entire flowed through by the air to be purified fine filter 3 is irradiated with the microwave radiation.

This can achieve a continuous or periodic air purification process, with a continuous or periodic regeneration and dehumidification of the fine filter 3 is achieved by the heating by means of the microwave radiation. Furthermore, by the incorporation of catalytically active and microwave-sensitive filler materials, which are incorporated or sintered into the ceramic filter material, a catalytic air purification in the continuous or periodic microwave irradiation can be achieved.

The air flowing through the fine filter is cleaned, with the fine filter 3 is regenerated by the microwave irradiation.

In a preferred embodiment, as for example in 3 is shown, the contaminated air flows through an area or a segment of the fine filter 3 while another area or segment of the fine filter 3 is regenerated at the same time by the microwave heating. The heating temperatures depend on the degree of soiling and can be set in a temperature range from 200 ° C to 1200 ° C. Furthermore, the air can be dehumidified on the coarse filter.

In addition, it is possible to evaporate residual air moisture content in the fine filter during heating by the microwave irradiation and on the shield 4 to condense. The condensate can then be removed from the shield 4 be easily eliminated. This achieves a second stage of dehumidification.

The control unit 6 in the air purification device 1 receives from various sensors, not shown, signals indicating the degree of contamination of the air flowing through, the humidity contained in the air to be cleaned, the temperature of the air flowing through, ozone levels and the degree of soiling of the coarse and fine filters. In response to these information signals stored in the control unit 6 computer-aided processing, the entire air cleaning device and in particular the relative movement of fine filter 3 and shielding 4 against each other as well as from the microwave unit 5 emitted microwave radiation controlled.

Furthermore, the fan unit 7 provided, which the flow through the individual function cascades with the air to be cleaned, in particular the coarse filter 2 and the fine filter 3 regulates. The controls of the fan unit 7 and the regeneration and dehumidification steps for the fine filter 3 be from the control unit 6 carried out.

The control unit 6 can also be done manually from a control panel 8th optionally be controlled in addition or alone with actuated by an operator actuating signals.

1

Air cleaner

2

coarse filter

3

fine filter

4

shielding

5

microwave unit

6

control unit

7

fan unit

8th

Control panel

9

filter body

10

coating

11 12

electrical contacts

13

Filter body

14

axis

15 16

air lines

17

casing

Claims (15)

A process for purifying air, in particular room air, in which the air to be cleaned is subsequently passed through a fine filter after the removal of volatile fat residues and dirt particles, characterized in that regenerated by means of continuous or periodic microwave radiation of the fine filter and catalytic properties of ceramic with the microwave irradiation catalytically activated filler materials existing fine filter are activated for air purification. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that during heating of the fine filter by the microwave radiation Moisture components are removed from the air to be cleaned. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that that the moisture content evaporates during heating of the fine filter and for the final elimination the steam is condensed. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized that the fine filter is heated in segments with the microwave radiation. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized that the microwave irradiation of the fine filter and / or the transported air quantity dependent on of at least one of the parameters degree of pollution of the air, Humidity, air temperature, ozone levels of the air, level of pollution the filter or the filter can be controlled or will. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized that the irradiated with the microwave radiation filter area on Heated to 200 ° C to 1200 ° C. becomes. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized that the microwave radiation dehumidifies air at the coarse filter becomes. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized that NO, CO are oxidized in the fine filter. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized that eliminates harmful air components in the fine filter and microbes and bacteria destroyed become. Apparatus for purifying air, in particular room air, with a series connection of an air-permeable coarse filter and an air-permeable fine filter in the transport direction of the air, characterized in that for irradiating the fine filter ( 3 ) a microwave device ( 5 ) and that the fine filter ( 3 ) consists of an air-permeable and microwave-absorbing ceramic, which has catalytically active activatable by the microwave energy filler materials. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the fine filter ( 3 ) of a shielding the microwave radiation shielding ( 4 ) is completely or partially wrapped. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the shield ( 4 ) and the fine filter ( 3 ) are movable relative to each other. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the microwave device ( 15 ) has a microwave source outside of the fine filter ( 3 ) having microwave space is arranged. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the coarse filter ( 2 ) has a metallic filter body whose surface is coated with bismuth and an electrical voltage between the bismuth layer and the filter body to achieve a thermoelectric surface cooling can be applied. Device according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized that activatable by microwave energy filler materials electronic bronzes or oxide bronzes are.