AIR PURIFIER

Abstract

An air purifier includes a housing (1), an intake built into the housing (1) which is designed for the intake of air into the housing (1), an exhaust built into the housing (1) which is designed for the venting of air out of the housing (1), a blower (2) disposed in the housing for generating an air stream which flows from the intake to the exhaust, at least one filter (3) which is designed to purify the air flowing from the intake to the exhaust, and a bioreactor (4) which is disposed on and/or in the housing (1) such that the air stream flows through it, and which contains at least one life form (5) which is designed to at least partially convert CO.sub.2 contained in the air stream into O.sub.2 by means of photosynthesis.

Claims

1. An air purifier comprising: a housing (1), an intake built into the housing (1) and configured for an intake of air into the housing (1), an exhaust built into the housing (1) and configured for venting of air out of the housing (1), a blower (2) disposed in the housing for generating an air stream which flows from the intake to the exhaust, a filter (3) configured to purify the air flowing from the intake to the exhaust, the filter including a bioreactor (4) disposed on or in the housing (1) such that the air stream flows through it, and containing at least one photosynthesizing life form (5) configured to at least partially convert CO2 contained in the air stream into O2 by photosynthesis.

2. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the at least one photosynthesizing life form (5) is at least one alga.

3. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the at least one photosynthesizing life form (5) is contained in the bioreactor (4) as a suspension culture.

4. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the bioreactor is composed of multi-skin sheets with at least one membrane module, through which the air stream flows.

5. The air purifier according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting unit (6).

6. The air purifier according to claim 5, wherein the lighting unit (6) comprises light-emitting diodes.

7. The air purifier according to claim 5, wherein the lighting unit is designed to emit wavelengths in the range of red light.

8. The air purifier according to claim 1, further comprising a WLAN module (7).

9. The air purifier according to claim 1, further comprising by a humidifier (8) or a moisture sensor.

10. The air purifier according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor.

11. The air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the alga is a microalga.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In the drawings,

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of components of an air purifier according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an air purifier with bioreactor; and

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a top view of an air purifier with bioreactor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 presents a schematic depiction of components of the air purifier according to the invention. The air purifier features a housing 1. An intake (not shown) is disposed in the housing 1, which is designed for the intake of air into the housing 1. Furthermore, an exhaust (not shown) is disposed in the housing 1, which is designed for venting air from the housing 1. Furthermore, the air purifier features a blower 2 disposed within the housing 1 for generating an air stream, which flows from the intake to the exhaust, which is indicated by arrows.

[0039] After the air flows through the intake, the air flows through at least one filter 3 of the air purifier, which is designed to purify the air flowing from the intake to the exhaust by removing airborne contaminants such as dust, viruses, bacteria, microbes, pollen, odors, smoke, and/or organic compounds.

[0040] The air purifier furthermore features a humidifier 8 and a moisture sensor (not shown), so that the humidity in the interior space where the air purifier is located can be regulated. Additionally the air purifier features a temperature sensor (not shown).

[0041] The air purifier furthermore features a bioreactor 4, which is disposed on the housing 1, relative to the intended operating position of the air purifier. The bioreactor 4 is disposed such that it is downstream from the at least one filter 3 in the air stream. The air stream flows out of the exhaust of the housing 1 and into the bioreactor 4. The air flowing into and through the air purifier flows out of the bioreactor 4. In order to permit air intake and exhaust from the bioreactor 4, the bioreactor 4 features membrane modules (not shown), so that air can flow through the membranes.

[0042] The bioreactor 4 contains at least one life form 5, in particular at least one microalga, which is designed to at least partially convert CO.sub.2 contained in the air stream into O.sub.2. A lighting unit 6 is disposed in the bioreactor 4, which is designed and intended to support and/or to effect the occurring photosynthesis by means of its light emissions.

[0043] The air purifier furthermore features a WLAN module 7, which is designed to connect to a control and/or regulator unit (not shown), which is designed to control one or more parameters of the air purifier such as light regulation in the bioreactor 4 by means of the lighting unit 6, the operating power of the blower 2, and the like.

[0044] FIG. 2 provides a schematic cross-sectional view of an additional design embodiment of an air purifier with bioreactor 4. The air purifier is designed for the regulation of CO.sub.2 content in an interior space and features a bioreactor 4, which comprises an intake (not shown) for intake of air from the interior space, an exhaust (not shown) for venting the air from the bioreactor 4, and life forms 5 which are designed to at least partially convert the CO.sub.2 contained in the air into O.sub.2 by means of photosynthesis. The conduction of interior air through the device is symbolized by arrows, wherein air containing CO.sub.2 is introduced into the device via the intake and air containing O.sub.2 is vented from the exhaust. The life forms 5 are microalgae, which are disposed as a suspension in water (not shown).

[0045] The device furthermore features a lighting unit 6, which is disposed in the bioreactor 4. It is arranged and designed such that the life forms 5 are irradiated with light.

[0046] The device furthermore features a pump 9, which is designed to supply the bioreactor 4 with air from the interior space. The pump 9 is preferably designed such that it can distribute air and CO.sub.2 bubbles 11 in the bioreactor 4.

[0047] The device optionally contains a blower 2 and a compressor 10. The optional blower 2 is designed to draw air from the interior space and supply it to the pump 9. The optional compressor 10 is designed to compress a CO.sub.2 concentration in the air stream, which is supplied to the life form 5 in the bioreactor 4.

[0048] The pump 9, the optional blower 2, and the optional compressor 10 are disposed in a housing 1, which serves as a table leg or foot.

[0049] FIG. 3 provides a top view of the air purifier shown in FIG. 2. A top view of the air purifier is shown, in relation to the intended operating position, wherein the life forms 5 and the housing are not included (for the sake of clarity). The bioreactor 4 is designed as multiple tubes with varying dimensions. Multiple tube-like lighting units 6 with varying diameters are disposed between the tubes, which are dimensioned and designed such that they fit between the tubes of the bioreactor 4. Tubes of the bioreactor 4 and the lighting units 6 are disposed in an alternating manner. In FIG. 2 only one lighting unit 6 and one tube of the bioreactor 4 are shown (for the sake of clarity).