Air Purification Device

Abstract

Disclosed in an air purification device comprising a case that contains at least a first filtering system including an M6 filter according to standard EN1822, a second filtering system including UV-C lamps, and a third filtering system. The second filtering system is situated between the first filtering system and the third filtering system, the UV-C light of the lamps sterilising the air flow that passes through the second filtering system. The UV-C light of the lamps has a powerful destructive effect on the DNA chains of microorganisms or cells retained in the first filtering system and the third filtering system and also on those of microorganisms or cells in the space delimited between the first filtering system and the third filtering system.

Claims

1. An Air purification device, comprising a case having a lower air inlet and an upper air outlet, wherein the case delimits an inner space in which there is located at least one filtering system configured so that an upward air flow can circulate through same for filtration thereof entering through the lower inlet and exiting through the upper outlet with the help of a fan device with an upward suction effect, wherein said fan device is located above the filtering system within the inner space delimited by the case wherein: there is located within the inner space of the case at least a first filtering system comprising an M6 filter according to standard EN1822, a second filtering system including UV-C lamps, and a third filtering system, wherein the second filtering system is situated between the first filtering system and the third filtering system, wherein the ultraviolet light UV-C from the lamps sterilizes the air flow crossing through the second filtering system, and wherein the ultraviolet light UV-C from the lamps has a powerful destructive effect on the DNA chains of microorganisms or cells retained in the first filtering system and the third filtering system and also on those of microorganisms or cells in the space delimited between the first filtering system and the third filtering system the third filtering system a filter selected from a HEPA H14 filter according to standard EN1822, and a ULPA U15 or U16 or U17 filter according to standard EN1822, wherein the HEPA H14 filter ensures a retention of 99.97% of particles of up to 0.12 microns, while the ULPA U17 filter ensures a retention of particles of up to 0.01 microns.

2. The air purification device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises an electronic safety device associated with a door providing access to the UV-C lamps, wherein the electronic safety device includes a switch associated with the door, such that when said door is opened, the current circulation powering the UV-C lamps is interrupted and when said door is closed, the electric current powering the UV-C lamps is reactivated.

3. The air purification device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises an electronic device associated with the UV-C lamps and the fan device, wherein to prevent the lamps from overheating, they will only be switched on while the fan device that generates the air flow which cools the UV-C lamps is activated.

4. The air purification device according to claim 1, wherein the inner space delimited by the case comprises a lower chamber communicating with the outside through the lower inlet an upper chamber into which the upper outlet flows, and a main chamber delimited between the lower chamber and the upper chamber, wherein the three filtering systems are located inside the main chamber, and wherein a fan device for forcing air circulation with the suction effect through the inside of the case from the lower inlet go the upper outlet is located inside the upper chamber of the case.

5. The air purification device according to claim 2, wherein it comprises an electronic device associated with the UV-C lamps and the fan device , wherein to prevent the lamps from overheating, they will only be switched on while the fan device that generates the air flow which cools the UV-C lamps is activated.

6. The air purification device according to claim 2, wherein the inner space delimited by the case comprises a lower chamber communicating with the outside through the lower inlet, an upper chamber into which the upper outlet flows, and a main chamber delimited between the lower chamber and the upper chamber , wherein the three filtering systems are located inside the main chamber , and wherein a fan device for forcing air circulation with the suction effect through the inside of the case from the lower inlet to the upper outlet is located inside the upper chamber of the case.

7. The air purification device according to claim 3, wherein the inner space delimited by the case comprises a lower chamber communicating with the outside through the lower inlet, an upper chamber into which the upper outlet flows, and a main chamber delimited between the lower chamber and the upper chamber, wherein the three filtering systems are located inside the main chamber, and wherein a fan device for forcing air circulation with the suction effect through the inside of the case from the lower inlet to the upper outlet is located inside the upper chamber of the case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the air purification device object of the invention

[0033] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the device of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a sectioned elevational view of the air purification device.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a sectioned profile view of the air purification device.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a view of an electronic safety circuit associated with an access door to the inner space of the air purification device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Taking into consideration the numbering used in the figures, the air purification device comprises a case 1 having a lower air inlet 2 and an upper air outlet 3 where nozzles 3a are connected.

[0038] A lower chamber 4 communicating with the outside through the lower inlet 2, an upper chamber 5 into which the upper outlet 3 flows, and a main chamber 6 delimited between the lower chamber 4 and the upper chamber 5 are configured inside the case 1.

[0039] A first filtering system 7, a second filtering system 8 including UV-C lamps 11, and a third filtering system 9 (H14) are located inside the main chamber 6 of the case 1.

[0040] In contrast, there is located inside the upper chamber 5 of the case 1 a fan device 10 for forcing air circulation with a suction effect through the inside of the case 1 from the lower inlet 2 to the upper outlet 3, with the upward air flow obviously passing inside the case 1 through the three filtering systems having the function of retaining the harmful elements in the air, both polluting elements and various pathogens such as bacteria and viruses such as the “Covid 19” virus.

[0041] Thus, the air is captured at the lower part and passes upwardly through the different filtering systems that capture and/or destroy the polluting elements. Finally, the cleaned or purified air is released to the outside through the upper outlet 3 situated at the upper part of the case 1.

[0042] As the air flow travels upwardly inside the case 1, in a first phase the air is filtered through the first filtering system 7; in a second phase the air is filtered through the second filtering system 8, and in a third phase the air flow is filtered through the third filtering system 9, in order to finally reach the upper chamber and is expelled to the outside through the upper outlet 3.

[0043] The first filtering system 7 comprises an M6 filter according to standard EN1822 which mainly retains elements of a large size in a first phase, although other elements of a smaller size may also remain in its structure.

[0044] The third filtering system 9 comprises a filter selected from a HEPA filter H14 according to standard EN1822, and a ULPA U15 or U16 or U17 filter according to standard EN1822.

[0045] The HEPA H14 filter ensures a retention of 99.97% of particles of up to 0.12 microns, while the ULPA U17 filter ensures a retention of particles of up to 0.01 microns.

[0046] In one embodiment, the device of the invention would incorporate as standard a filtering system 9 with an H14 filter, which are the same as those used in negative pressure rooms for infectious diseases (SARS, EBOLA, COVID-19, etc.) in hospitals. The second filtering system 8 comprises a 245-nanometer UV-C stage with TiO2 cells. This UV-C light has a powerful destructive effect on the DNA chains of any microorganism or cell.

[0047] The second filtering system 8 with the UV-C lamps 11 is placed before the third filtering system 9 with the H14 filter for two fundamental reasons, which can be considered the most original and advantageous of the invention: [0048] First, they disable all viruses that have been retained in the third filtering system with the H14 filter, as well as viruses that have also been retained in the first filtering system 7 located below the second filtering system 8. [0049] Second, the UV-C ultraviolet light sterilizes the air passing through the lamps 11 of the second filtering system 8.

[0050] Since ultraviolet light UV-C should not be irradiated or projected directly on a person's skin or eyes, the device of the invention incorporates an electronic safety device (FIG. 5) which disconnects the lamps 11 when a door 12 providing access to said lamps 11 emitting the ultraviolet light UV-C is opened.

[0051] Basically, it is a switch 13 associated with the door 12, such that when the door 12 is opened, the current circulation powering the UV-C lamps 11 is interrupted and when the door 12 is closed, the electric current powering the UV-C lamps 11 is reactivated.

[0052] The electronic safety device further includes an electronic ballast 14 which has the function of keeping the UV-C lamps 11 stable and limiting their intensity.

[0053] To prevent the lamps 11 from overheating, they will only be switched on when there is an air flow that allows their cooling, such that to prevent said overheating an electronic device which disconnects the lamps 11 when the fan device is stopped has been envisaged.

[0054] Therefore, first, it is emphasized that with the filtering device of the invention, the combination of the third filtering system 9 with the H14 filter and the second filtering system 8 with the UV-C light deactivates the coronaviruses retained in the first filtering system 7 and the third filtering system 9 located, respectively, below and above the UV-C light lamps 11 included in the second filtering system 8.

[0055] Second, it is emphasized that with this effect described in the preceding paragraph, there is the possibility of continuously using the device of the invention to filter gases as well.

[0056] Third, the strategic location of the UV-C lamps 11 is highlighted, as they are located between the two filtering systems: the first filtering system 7 and the third filtering system 9, and not at the air outlet or inlet.

[0057] Taking into consideration PCT patent with publication no. WO 2020/058547A1 which also refers to an air purification device, its structure could easily be adapted to achieve the advantages obtained in the invention.

[0058] To that end, said PCT patent could replace the activated carbon filter with a HEPA H14 filter according to standard EN1822 or a ULPA U15 or U16 or U17 filter according to standard EN1822, and replace the UV-A part with TiO2 cells with a 245-nanometer UV-C stage.