Device For Disinfecting Air With Electromagnetic Radiation

Abstract

A device (1) for disinfecting air with electromagnetic radiation, has a radiation chamber (10) where air flows from an intake side (A) to a discharge side (B) along a flow path. At least one radiation source (11) generates electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range and emits electromagnetic radiation into the radiation chamber. At least one fan (20) with an impeller (21) generates an air flow through the radiation chamber (10). The fan (20) takes in air on the suction side (A), convey it through the radiation chamber (10) along the flow path to the discharge side (B) and blows it out of the radiation chamber (10) on the discharge side (B). At least the impeller (21) is arranged inside the radiation chamber (10). The impeller (21) has a plurality of blades (22) formed at least in sections from a material deflecting the electromagnetic radiation.

Claims

1. A device for disinfecting air with electromagnetic radiation, comprising: a radiation chamber with air flow along a flow path from an intake side to a discharge side; and at least one radiation source configured to generate electromagnetic radiation in a microwave range and to emit electromagnetic radiation into the radiation chamber, a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation is selected so that water molecules present in the air are excited to an oscillation that heats the water molecules, and the air flowing through the radiation chamber is exposed to the electromagnetic radiation and water present in the air is brought to a temperature of at least 100° C.; the device further comprises at least one fan with an impeller for generating an air flow through the radiation chamber, the fan is configured to take in air on the intake side, to convey it through the radiation chamber along the flow path to the discharge side and to blow it out of the radiation chamber on the discharge side; at least the impeller is arranged in the radiation chamber and the impeller has a plurality of blades that are formed at least in sections from a material that deflects or reflects the electromagnetic radiation.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a shielding element, through which air can flow, is arranged on the intake side and the discharge side of the radiation chamber, the shielding element is formed from a material that attenuates and/or reflects the electromagnetic radiation.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one impeller integrally forms the shielding element on the intake side.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the shielding element arranged on the discharge side of the radiation chamber is configured as a flow obstacle where the air pressure in the radiation chamber is increased.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation chamber has a circular flow cross-section, and the at least one impeller has a diameter corresponding to the flow cross-section.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one moistening device arranged along the flow path in front of the radiation chamber or on the intake side at least in sections inside the radiation chamber and the moistening device configured to moisten the air flowing through the radiation chamber before it is exposed to electromagnetic beams.

7. The device according to the claim 6, wherein the at least one moistening device is an ultrasonic water atomizer.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one dehumidifying device arranged along the flow path in front of the radiation chamber or on the intake side at least in sections inside the radiation chamber and the dehumidifying device configured to dehumidify the air flowing through the radiation chamber after it has been exposed to electromagnetic beams.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one dehumidifying device is a condenser.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an air supply duct arranged along the flow path on the intake side of the radiation chamber the air supply duct encloses the radiation chamber at least in sections, such that at least part of the intake air flows along the outside of the radiation chamber.

11. A method for air disinfection by microwaves with a device according to claim 1, wherein air is taken in on the intake side by the fan and conveyed along the flow path through the radiation chamber to the discharge side and is exposed to the electromagnetic radiation along the flow path in the radiation chamber, such that water contained in the air is brought to a temperature of at least 100° C.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a device for disinfecting air with electromagnetic radiation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The FIGURE is an exemplary schematic and shows a device 1 for disinfecting air, that is substantially formed by three sections or assemblies. The radiation chamber 10 forms the central section or a first assembly. Outside or ambient air is drawn into the radiation chamber 10 through an upstream air supply duct 40, as a second assembly. After the air has been exposed to electromagnetic radiation or, more precisely, to microwaves in the radiation chamber 10, to disinfect the air, it is directed or blown into a downstream third fluidic assembly. In this case, it is used to dehumidify the air by a dehumidification device 30.

[0039] In or adjacent to the radiation chamber 10, two magnetrons are provided as radiation sources 11. Each magnetron emits electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range at a frequency of 2.45 GHz into the radiation chamber 10. This is indicated by the arrows in the radiation chamber 10. Radiation is reflected by the outer walls of the radiation chamber 10 by the shielding elements 13 and by the impeller 21 or its blades 22. Thus, the surroundings are shielded from the electromagnetic radiation.

[0040] The power of the radiation sources and the flow of air through the radiation chamber from its intake side A to its discharge side B are coordinated so that the water contained in the air is substantially completely boiled. Thus, contained particles, i.e. viruses and bacteria, are substantially completely neutralized. For this purpose the following can be taken into account: the length of the flow path, the velocity of the flow of air through the radiation chamber 10, the air pressure in the radiation chamber 10, or the differential pressure in the radiation chamber 10 with respect to an environment of the device 1, and also, for example, the humidity of the air flowing into the radiation chamber 10 on the intake side.

[0041] In order to assume sufficient water or sufficient humidity of the irradiated air, particularly in the case of dry air on the intake side, two moistening devices 12 are provided. The moistening devices 12 are in the form of ultrasonic water atomizers in the variant shown. The devices moisten the air flowing into the radiation chamber 10 on an intake side A. In this case, it is also particularly advantageous that the fan 20 is provided in the flow direction downstream of the moistening devices 12. The fan swirls the moistened air and thus increases the mixing of the air with moisture.

[0042] Advantageously, moreover, the blades 22 of the impeller 21 of the fan 20 are formed, at least in sections, of a material reflecting the electromagnetic radiation, such as metal. Thus, the impeller 21 integrally serves as a rotating reflector through which the electromagnetic beams are chaotically deflected in the radiation chamber 10. The chaotic reflection prevents standing waves within the radiation chamber 10. Thus, hot and cold zones do not occur and the air flowing through the chamber is heated uniformly or the water contained therein is brought to a complete boil.

[0043] The fan 20 has a motor 23 for driving its impeller 21. In the embodiment shown the motor 23 is arranged in the radiation chamber 10. Alternatively, it may be arranged outside. The motor 23 is preferably arranged on a side of the impeller 21 facing away from the radiation sources 11. It is shielded from the electromagnetic radiation since the impeller 21 acts as a shielding element. Additionally the motor 23 may have its own shielding and be shielded from electromagnetic radiation.

[0044] Depending on how extensive the shielding effect is provided by the impeller 21, the shielding element 13 arranged on the intake side A can be eliminated, since its function is then integrally taken over by the impeller 21.

[0045] Two magnetrons are provided as radiation sources 11. They are shown opposite each other. Depending on the radiation power to be introduced and also depending on the volumetric flow to be disinfected, a plurality of preferably uniformly distributed radiation sources 11 can be provided in the circumferential direction, particularly in the case of a radiation chamber 10 with a circular cross-section. Additionally, these may also be arranged adjacent to each other along the flow path and distributed along the length of the radiation chamber 10.

[0046] In the variant of the device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the radiation sources 11 and the moisture penetration devices 12 or at least cooling elements of these components are arranged on the outside of the outer wall of the radiation chamber 10. The air supply duct 40 surrounds the radiation chamber 10 in the section where these components are arranged. Thus, at least part of the air flow drawn by the fan 20 from the surroundings of the device 1 into the radiation chamber 10 passes along these components in a cooling manner.

[0047] The air flow is shown in the FIGURE as dashed arrows. The air flows is drawn in through the inlet openings 41, 42 to cool the radiation sources 11 and the moistening devices 12 that are preheated at the same time. Thus, the air flowing into the radiation chamber 10 or the water contained in the inflowing air can be brought to a boil more quickly in the radiation chamber 10. Although the inflowing air can also be used completely for cooling components arranged outside the radiation chamber 10, that air is additionally drawn in through another inflow opening 43, in the present case.

[0048] Incidentally, the air supply duct 40 can also completely annularly surround the radiation chamber 10. Thus, the two inflow openings 41, 42 form an annular inlet or a single annular inflow opening.

[0049] The air flowing through the device 1, shown in a dashed line, is blown out of the radiation chamber 10 on the discharge side B into a dehumidification device 30. In the present case it is configured as four thermal condensers arranged adjacent to one another. The water present in the air or the humid, water vapor-laden air is dehumidified by this dehumidifying device 30. Thus, the air can flow out at the outlet 32 of the device 1 is at a predetermined humidity. The water condensing on the condensers can be discharged from the device 1 via a drain opening 31.

[0050] Execution of the disclosure is not limited to the preferred exemplary embodiments mentioned above. Instead, a number of variants are conceivable that make use of the solution presented, even with fundamentally different designs.

[0051] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.