DEVICE FOR IMPROVING INTERIOR AIR QUALITY IN A VEHICLE AND A VEHICLE

Abstract

A device for improving an interior air quality in a vehicle includes a photoreactor and a control device. The photoreactor is connectable, by a photoreactor line section, between a fresh air intake and an air distribution system of a ventilation system and/or air conditioning system of the vehicle. The photoreactor line section has a controllable valve in each of the two end regions, i.e., at the respective points at which it is connectable on the one hand to the fresh air intake and on the other hand to the air distribution system. The photoreactor has UV-C LEDs that emit UV-C radiation. The control device controls the air passing through the photoreactor using the controllable valves arranged in the photoreactor line section in such a way that the air passing through is exposed to a predetermined UV-C radiation dose.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A device for improving interior air quality in a vehicle, the device comprising: a photoreactor including a photoreactor line section having first and second end regions; and a control device coupled to the photoreactor, wherein the photoreactor is connected, via the photoreactor line section between a fresh air intake and an air distribution system of a ventilation system or between the fresh air intake and an air conditioning system of the vehicle, wherein the photoreactor line section has a controllable valve in the first and second end regions, wherein the first end region is configured for connection to the fresh air intake and the second end region is configured for connection to air distribution system, wherein the photoreactor has UV-C LEDs configured to emit UV-C radiation, wherein the control device is configured to control air passing through the photoreactor by controlling the controllable valves arranged in the photoreactor line section in such a way that the air passing through is exposed to a predetermined UV-C radiation dose.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the photoreactor line section is configured as a bypass to a connection between the fresh air intake and the air distribution system.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein a HEPA filter is connected upstream of the device or of the photoreactor.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the photoreactor has a fan arranged to mix the air in the photoreactor.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the photoreactor has a return bypass with two controllable valves arranged at respective ends of the return bypass, wherein the return bypass is configured to connect an outlet of the photoreactor to an inlet of the photoreactor, and wherein the control device is configured to guide the air flowing through the photoreactor from the outlet of the photoreactor back to the inlet of the photoreactor using the controllable valves arranged in the return bypass in such a way that the air is completely germ-free.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein an inlet of the photoreactor is configured to be connected to a circulating air outlet of the ventilation system or of the air conditioning system.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the photoreactor or components of the device is made of stainless steel has stainless steel.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the photoreactor has a meandering structure in which the UV-C LEDs are preferably homogeneously distributed and arranged in such a way that air guided through the meandering structure of the photoreactor is effectively contacted with the UV-C radiation.

18. A vehicle, comprising: a fresh air intake; a ventilation system having an air distribution system; an air conditioning system; and a device for improving interior air quality in the vehicle, the device comprising a photoreactor including a photoreactor line section having first and second end regions; and a control device coupled to the photoreactor, wherein the photoreactor is connected, via the photoreactor line section between a fresh air intake and an air distribution system of a ventilation system or between the fresh air intake and an air conditioning system of the vehicle, wherein the photoreactor line section has a controllable valve in the first and second end regions, wherein the first end region is configured for connection to the fresh air intake and the second end region is configured for connection to air distribution system, wherein the photoreactor has UV-C LEDs configured to emit UV-C radiation, wherein the control device is configured to control air passing through the photoreactor by controlling the controllable valves arranged in the photoreactor line section in such a way that the air passing through is exposed to a predetermined UV-C radiation dose.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Here are shown:

[0019] FIG. 1 a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of the device,

[0020] FIG. 2 a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of the photoreactor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the device 1 for improving interior air quality in a vehicle, having a photoreactor 3 and a control device 5, wherein the photoreactor 3 can be arranged, in particular connected, by means of a photoreactor line section 7, between a fresh air intake 9 and an air distribution system 11 of a ventilation system 13 and/or air conditioning system 15 of the vehicle. The photoreactor line section has a controllable valve 19 in both end regions 17, i.e., at the respective points at which it can be connected to the fresh air intake 9 on the one hand and to the air distribution system 11 on the other hand. The photoreactor 3 has UV-C LEDs 21, which are set up to emit UV-C radiation. The control device 5 is set up to control the air 23 passing through the photoreactor 3 by means of the controllable valves 19 arranged in the photoreactor line section 7 in such a way that the air 23 passing through is exposed to a predeterminable dose of UV-C radiation. This refers in particular to the fact that an input volume flow—controlled by the controllable valve 19 on the input side—is controlled in such a way that the air 23 flowing through has a correspondingly sufficient dwelling time within the photoreactor 3.

[0022] The photoreactor line section 7 is preferably designed as a bypass to a connection between the fresh air intake 9 and the air distribution system 11.

[0023] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a filter device (not shown in the figures), in particular an air filter device, preferably a HEPA filter, is connected upstream of the device 1 and/or the photoreactor 3.

[0024] The photoreactor 3 preferably has an air-moving device 25, in particular a fan, which is set up to mix the air 23 in the photoreactor 3.

[0025] The photoreactor 3 preferably has a return bypass 27 (shown in FIG. 2) having preferably two controllable valves 29 arranged at the ends, i.e., at the beginning 31 of the return bypass 27 and at the end 33 of the return bypass 27. The return bypass 27 is set up to connect an outlet 35 of the photoreactor 3 to an inlet 37 of the photoreactor 3. The control device 5 is preferably additionally set up, by means of the controllable valves 29 arranged in the return bypass 27, to guide the air 23 flowing through the photoreactor 3 from the outlet 35 back to the inlet 37 of the photoreactor 3 in such a way that the air 23 is preferably completely germ-free. Particularly preferably, the air is at least 98%, preferably 99%, particularly preferably 99.9% germ-free, preferably relative to a volume proportion of the germs in the total air volume or relative to a mass proportion of the germs in the total air mass.

[0026] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that an inlet 37 of the photoreactor 3 can be connected to circulating air, in particular a circulating air outlet 39, of the ventilation system 13 and/or the air conditioning system 15 of the vehicle.

[0027] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the device 1, in particular the photoreactor 3 and/or components of the device 1, such as chambers and/or air baffles, is made of a metal, preferably stainless steel, particularly preferably X5CrNi18-10, or has a metal, preferably stainless steel, particularly preferably X5CrNi18-10.

[0028] In FIG. 1 as well as in FIG. 2, identical and/or functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals, which is why reference is made to the above description of the figures accordingly.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of the photoreactor 3.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows that the photoreactor 3 has a meandering structure 41 in which the UV-C LEDs 21, which the photoreactor 3 has, are preferably homogeneously distributed and arranged in such a way that air 23, which is guided through the meandering structure of the photoreactor 3, is intensively and, in particular, effectively contacted with the UV-C radiation.

[0031] In FIG. 2, only some of the UV-C LEDs 21 shown are provided with a corresponding reference numeral 21, in particular in order not to impair clarity.

[0032] The meandering structure 41 has been omitted in FIG. 1—for reasons of clarity—but the meandering structure 41 can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0033] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.