Air treatment device for a ventilation air inlet

Abstract

An air treatment device includes a casing with an air inlet and an air outlet. Air flows through the casing and an air treatment section in the casing. The air treatment section includes a fan for generating a flow of air from the air inlet to the air outlet, a filtering means arranged within the flow of air, a first pressure sensor to measure a first pressure in the flow of air, a second pressure sensor to measure a second pressure in a room or cabin surrounding the air treatment device, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to adapt a speed of the fan based on the measured first pressure and the measured second pressure to control a flow of air through the air treatment device.

Claims

1. An air treatment device configured to be arranged at a ventilation air inlet of a room or cabin or an air outlet of an air conditioning device, the air treatment device comprising: a casing having an air inlet side and an air a casing having an air inlet side and an air outlet side, the casing comprising-an-a casing air inlet arranged on the air inlet side and a casing air outlet arranged on the air outlet side of the casing, such that air from the ventilation air inlet of the room or cabin or air from the air outlet of the air conditioning device flows through the casing; an air treatment section arranged in the casing, the air treatment section comprising: a fan for generating a flow of air from the casing air inlet to the casing air outlet; filtering means arranged such that the flow of air passes through the filtering means; a first pressure sensor adapted to measure a first pressure in the flow of air into the air treatment device; a second pressure sensor adapted to measure a second pressure in the room or cabin surrounding the air treatment device outside the flow of air into, or out from, the air treatment device; and a control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to adapt a speed of the fan, based on the measured first pressure and the measured second pressure, to control the flow of air from the casing air inlet to the casing air outlet of the air treatment device corresponding to a flow of air from the ventilation air inlet to the room or cabin, or a flow of air from the air conditioning device, and wherein the casing comprises a protruding portion extending from the air inlet side around the air inlet of the casing, wherein the protruding portion is adapted to enclose the ventilation air inlet of the room or cabin, or the air outlet of the air conditioning device, to form an at least partly enclosed space such that air from the ventilation air inlet of the room or cabin, or air from the air outlet of the air conditioning device, enters the at least partially enclosed space before flowing into the air treatment device, wherein the first pressure sensor is arranged to measure the pressure within the at least partly enclosed space, and wherein the protruding portion has at least one opening for allowing air to flow in and out from the at least partially enclosed space.

2. The air treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the speed of the fan and the flow of air such that the first pressure and second pressure are equal.

3. The air treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the air treatment section further comprises an ionizing unit arranged at the casing air inlet to ionize particles in the air flowing into the casing.

4. The air treatment device according to claim 3, wherein the ionizing unit comprises: a collector electrode arranged around the casing air inlet; and an emitter electrode arranged at the center of the casing air inlet.

5. The air treatment device according to claim 3, wherein the ionizing unit is arranged upstream from the filtering means.

6. The air treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the filtering means comprises particulate matter filter media, molecule filtration media, or a combination thereof.

7. The air treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to adapt the speed of the flow of air such the first pressure is lower than the second pressure, thereby causing air to be drawn from the room through the at least one opening in the protruding portion.

8. The air treatment device according to claim 7, wherein the casing further comprises at least one casing side wall arranged between a front side and the casing air inlet side, and wherein the casing air outlet is arranged in the casing side wall.

9. The air treatment device according to claim 8, wherein the filtering means is arranged in the at least one side wall of the casing, and/-or in the front side of the casing.

10. The air treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the casing is box shaped with six side walls, and the casing air inlet and the casing air outlet are arranged in opposite side walls of the casing.

11. The air treatment device according to claim 10, wherein one side wall of the casing is configured to face a wall of the room or cabin and the air flow through the air treatment device is substantially parallel to the wall of the room.

12. An air treatment device configured to be arranged at an air inlet of an air conditioning device, the air treatment device comprising: a casing having an air inlet side and an air outlet side, the casing comprising a casing air inlet arranged on the air inlet side and a casing air outlet arranged on the air outlet side of the casing, such that air flows through the casing to the air inlet of the air conditioning device; an air treatment section arranged in the casing, the air treatment section comprising: a fan for generating a flow of air from the casing air inlet to the casing air outlet; filtering means arranged such that the flow of air passes through the filtering means; a first pressure sensor adapted to measure a first pressure in the flow of air out from the air treatment device, wherein the first sensor is arranged in the casing air outlet side that faces the air inlet of the air conditioning device to measure the air pressure in the space between the casing air outlet side and the inlet of the air conditioning device; a second pressure sensor adapted to measure a second pressure in the room or cabin surrounding the air treatment device outside the flow of air into, or out from, the air treatment device; and a control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to adapt a speed of the fan, based on the measured first pressure and the measured second pressure, to control the flow of air from the casing air inlet to the casing air outlet of the air treatment device corresponding to a flow of air to the air conditioning device.

13. The air treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the casing comprises a protruding portion extending from the casing air outlet side around the casing air outlet, the protruding portion is configured to enclose the casing air outlet of the air treatment device to form an at least partly enclosed space such that air from the air treatment device enters the at least partly enclosed space before flowing into the air conditioning device, and wherein the first pressure sensor is arranged to measure the pressure within the at least partly enclosed space between the air treatment device and the air conditioning device.

14. The air treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to control the speed of the fan and the flow of air such that the first pressure and second pressure are equal.

15. The air treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the air treatment section further comprises an ionizing unit arranged at the casing air inlet to ionize particles in the air flowing into the casing.

16. The air treatment device according to claim 15, wherein the ionizing unit comprises: a collector electrode arranged around the casing air inlet; and an emitter electrode arranged at the center of the casing air inlet.

17. The air treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the filtering means comprises particulate matter filter media, molecule filtration media, or a combination thereof.

18. The air treatment device according to claim 13, wherein the protruding portion has at least one opening for allowing air to flow in to and out from the at least partially enclosed space.

19. The air treatment device according to claim 18, wherein the control unit is configured to adapt the speed of the flow of air such the first pressure is lower than the second pressure, thereby causing air to be drawn from the room through the at least one opening in the protruding portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings, on which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of an air treatment device according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the air treatment device to be mounted on a wall, according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the air treatment device mounted on the wall, according to the first embodiment.

(4) FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of the air treatment device arranged on the downstream side of an air conditioning device, and FIG. 3B illustrates an alternative casing design for this embodiment.

(5) FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of a third embodiment of the air treatment device arranged on the upstream side of an air conditioning device, and FIG. 4B illustrates an alternative casing design for this embodiment.

(6) All figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) A cross-section of an air treatment device according to a first embodiment is shown in FIG. 1.

(8) The air treatment device 100 comprises a casing 104 with a front side 110, a back side 120, and four casing side walls 130 arranged between the front side 110 and the back side 120. The back side comprises an air inlet 121 and is also referred to as the inlet side of the casing. The casing side wall comprises an air outlet 131 and is also referred to as the outlet side of the casing.

(9) The casing further comprises a protruding portion 140 extending from the inlet side 120. The protruding portion 140 is arranged to form an enclosed space 180 with a wall 190 when the air treatment device 100 is arranged against a wall 190. The protruding portion 140 has at least one opening 141 for allowing air to flow in and out from the enclosed space 180.

(10) The casing may comprise different types of materials. Preferably at least one side comprises a rigid material, such as hard plastics, to support the air treatment section. Some sides may comprise softer materials. For example, the front side 110 may in some example comprise a fabric. The protruding portion 140 may comprise a rigid material, and/or a flexible material to enable forming an enclosed section 180 with a wall 190 even in case the wall 190 is uneven.

(11) The air treatment device 100 is adapted to be arranged at a ventilation air inlet 160 arranged in a wall of a room or a cabin of a vehicle such that the protruding portion 140 is arranged at the wall 190 to form an enclosed space 180 enclosing the ventilation air inlet 160. The ventilation air inlet 160 may be any type of ventilation air inlet. The air entering the room via ventilation air inlet 160 enters into the enclosed space 180 formed by the wall 190, the inlet side 120 and the protruding portion 140.

(12) The air treatment device 100 further comprises an air treatment section 150. The air treatment section 150 comprises a fan 152 configured to create a flow of air from the inlet 121 to the outlet 131. The air treatment device 100 further comprises a filtering means 159 for filtering particles from the flow of air created by the fan 152. The filtering means 159 is in this example arranged at the outlet 131 at the casing side wall 130, but the filtering means 159 may be arranged in any way such that the flow of air passes through the filtering means 159. For example, the filtering means 159 may be arranged at the inlet 121.

(13) The filtering means 159 may comprise a particulate matter filter media, molecule filtration media, or a combination thereof.

(14) Optionally, the air treatment section 150 may also comprise an ionization unit 155. The ionization unit 155 comprises an emitting electrode 157 arranged at the center of the air inlet 121 and a collecting electrode 156 arranged around the air inlet 121. The emitting electrode 157 may be arranged on a support portion 158 to be in the center of the inlet. The support portion 158 may be arranged on the inlet side of the casing. The ionizing unit 155 may ionize particles in the flow of air created by the fan 152 so that they may be more easily filtered by the filtering means 159.

(15) The ionizing unit 155 is in this example arranged upstream from the fan 152 arranged in the casing. However, the ionization unit 155 may alternatively be arranged downstream from the fan 152.

(16) The air treatment device 100 may function as follows. A flow of air enters into the enclosed space 180 through the ventilation air inlet 160. At least some of the air is drawn into the casing and through the air treatment section 150 by the fan 152. The flow of air created by the fan passes through the ionizing unit 155, which, in this example, is arranged at the air inlet 121. The ionizing unit 155 ionizes the particles. The flow of air passes through the filtering means 159 where particles are filtered. The treated air exists the casing through the outlet 131 into the room.

(17) The air treatment device may further comprise a first pressure sensor 200 adapted to measure a first pressure in the enclosed space 180, and a second pressure sensor 210 adapted to measure a second pressure in the room outside of the enclosed space 180. The pressure sensors 200, 210 may be any type of sensor suitable for measuring an air pressure in a room. In some examples the sensors are arranged in one unit, or there is only one sensor. In some examples, the air treatment device may comprise a differential pressure sensor capable of measuring a difference in pressure between the enclosed space 180 and the room outside of the enclosed space 180.

(18) The air treatment 100 device further comprise a control unit (not shown in the figures) for controlling the function of the air treatment device 100. For example, the control unit may control the speed of the fan 152, or the control unit may process the measurements from the sensors 200, 210 or based on a determined difference in pressure between the enclosed space 180 and the room outside of the enclosed space 180. The control unit may, for example, comprise a processing means, such as microcontroller.

(19) The air treatment section 150 may be configured to adapt the speed of the fan 152, i.e. how much air is drawn from the enclosed space 180 into the casing, based on the detected first pressure and the detected second pressure.

(20) For example, the speed of the fan 152 may be decreased if the second pressure is higher than the first pressure, i.e. if the pressure in the room is higher than the pressure in the enclosed section, as this indicates that the fan may be creating a flow of air larger than the flow provided by the ventilation air inlet 160 and may be drawing air both from the ventilation air inlet 160 and from the room. In another example, the speed of the fan 152 may be increased if the second pressure is lower than the first pressure, i.e. if the pressure in the room is lower than in the enclosed portion 180. This may indicate that the ventilation air inlet 160 provides more air than the flow created by the fan 152 into the casing. To avoid untreated air entering the room, the speed of the fan 152 may hence be increased.

(21) However, in some settings drawing air from the room and treat it may be beneficial. For example, if the air treatment device 100 has been turned off for some time, a window has been opened, or particles or pollutants have entered the room in another way. This may be regulated by a user by a control unit for the air treatment device. This will be described with more detail below with reference to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.

(22) A perspective view of an air treatment device 100 is shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the air treatment device 100 shown in FIG. 2A arranged at the ventilation air inlet 160.

(23) The air treatment device 100 is arranged to cover the ventilation air inlet 160. Air may, as described above exit the air treatment device through outlet 131.

(24) The air treatment device comprises a control device 250 for controlling the operation of the air treatment device, for example, the speed of the fan (not shown in FIG. 2A or 2B) or turning the device on or off. The control device may comprise at least one button 251 for allowing a user to operate the air treatment device 100. Alternatively, the control device 250 may be connected to a remote control to allow a user to operate the air treatment device 100.

(25) FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of the air treatment device 300. This embodiment of the air treatment device is adapted for use in combination with an air conditioning device 256 that is intended to circulate air within for example a room to either heat or cool the air to a desired temperature. The illustrated second embodiment of the air treatment device 300 is intended to be arranged on the downstream side of the air conditioning device, i.e. the conditioned air exhausted from the air condition device is directed towards the air treatment device 300 in order to reduce the number of particles in the air in the room.

(26) In this embodiment of the air treatment device the inlet side 302 of the casing 304 is the side surface facing the air outlet 252 if the air condition device. The air inlet 306 of the air treatment device 300 is arranged in the inlet side 302 of the casing, and the air outlet (not visible in FIG. 3A) is arranged in the outlet side 308 on the opposite side of the box shaped casing as the inlet side. The box shaped casing could also be embodied with outlets in the remaining two side surfaces to make it possible to increase the filter area arranged in the side walls. This embodiment of the air treatment device comprises the same type of air treatment section and components as the first embodiment described in detail above arranged within the casing to ensure the desired purification of the air flowing through the air treatment device.

(27) This second embodiment of the air treatment device could comprise a slightly modified casing illustrated in FIG. 3B. The casing illustrated in FIG. 3B comprises a similar protruding portion as the first embodiment described above. The protruding portion 320 is arranged to form an at least partly enclosed space together with an outlet casing wall 260 of the air conditioning device 252 when the air treatment device 300 is arranged in the intended position adjacent to the air conditioning device 252. The protruding portion3 20 could also in this embodiment comprise at least one opening 322 for more easily allowing air to flow in and out from the at least partly enclosed space.

(28) The air treatment device comprises the first pressure sensor 200, adapted to measure the first pressure in the at least partly enclosed space for the control unit to be able to adapt the speed of the fan such that the flow of air through the air treatment device correspond to the flow through the air conditioning device.

(29) The protruding portion of the air treatment device is preferably arranged close to the outlet casing wall of the air conditioning device to ensure that as much air as possible exhausted by the conditioning device continues into the air treatment device, i.e. the distance between the outer edge of the protruding portion and the air conditioner casing should not exceed 30 mm.

(30) FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a perspective view of a third embodiment of the air treatment device 400 intended to be positioned on the upstream side of an air conditioning device 252 arranged to circulate air to condition the air temperature. The illustrated third embodiment of the air treatment device is intended to be arranged on the upstream side of the air conditioning device, i.e. the air is first flowed through the air inlet 406 of the air treatment device and the air treatment device before it enters the air condition device. In this embodiment of the air treatment device, the air outlet 10 and the outlet side of the casing are facing the air inlet of the air condition device. The air outlet 410 is arranged in the outlet side 408 opposite to the inlet side 402 of the box shaped casing 404. This embodiment of the air treatment device comprises the same components as the first and second embodiment described above.

(31) In this embodiment of the air treatment device, the first pressure sensor 200 is adapted to measure the first pressure in the space between the outlet side 408 of the air treatment device and the air inlet wall 262 of the air conditioning device in order to make it possible for the control unit to adapt the speed of the fan such that the flow of air through the air treatment device correspond to the flow of air through the air conditioning device.

(32) This third embodiment could comprise a protruding portion 420 extending from the outlet side 408 of the casing to direct the flow of air from the air treatment device towards the air inlet of the air conditioning device. The protruding portion 420 is arranged to form an at least partly enclosed space with the inlet casing wall of the air conditioning device when the air treatment device 400 is arranged in the intended position adjacent to the air conditioning device. If the casing is provided with the protruding portion, the first pressure is measured in the at least partly enclosed space defined within the protruding portion and the outlet side of the casing. The protruding portion could also in this embodiment comprise at least one opening 422 for more easily allowing air to flow in and out from the at least partly enclosed space for the same reasons that has been presented above.

(33) The outlet side of the air treatment device, or the edge of the protruding portion of the air treatment device if the device is provided with this, is preferably arranged close to the inlet casing wall of the air conditioning device to ensure that as much or the purified air from the air treatment device continues into the air conditioning device, i.e. the distance between the outlet side of the casing or the outer edge of the protruding portion and the air conditioner casing should not exceed 30 mm.

(34) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The skilled person understands that many modifications, variations and alterations are conceivable within the scope as defined in the appended claims.

(35) Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.