CH714855B1 - Device for reducing emissions, in particular for binding fine dust and improving air quality. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for reducing emissions, in particular for binding fine dust, and has set itself the task of providing a device that enables effective air purification with the least possible effort at acceptable costs. The invention provides a device (1) for the solution, comprising a vertical holding device (2) on which a plurality of flat supports (3) are arranged, which are arranged vertically one above the other and each have an upper support surface (4) with one arranged thereon Moss layer (5) and an opposite lower surface (6), wherein the upper support surface (4) is aligned horizontally or is inclined by a maximum of 45° in the vertical direction, and wherein adjacent flat supports (3) are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction by this amount, that between the moss layer (5) of a flat support (3) and the lower surface (6) of a flat support (3) lying above it, a free gap (7) remains.

Description

The invention relates to a device for reducing emissions, in particular for binding fine dust.

[0002] A reduction in the pollution of the air by immissions such as particulate matter or nitrogen oxides is of great interest in order to minimize possible health risks from such pollutants as far as possible. This applies in particular to the outside air in conurbations (metropolitan regions), for example large cities, in which people and animals living there, for example pets, find it difficult to avoid exposure to polluted air. In addition, a reduction in carbon dioxide may also be desirable.

[0003] Attempts have been made to use vertical greening systems, also referred to as “green walls”, plant walls or “moss walls”, for the purpose of minimizing air pollutants.

DE 20 2017 104 038 U1, for example, discloses a greening system comprising moss for anchoring to a statically load-bearing element, e.g. a wall, in which vertically oriented moss mats are provided, so that a vertical element covered with moss, e.g. a wall, is formed.

[0005] DE 10 2013 107 786 B4 describes a vertical greening system with a vertical support panel, in which one or more moss panels are used to cover the support panel.

[0006] DE 10 2014 114 307 A1 describes a plant wall for binding fine dust in urban areas, in which plant pots are attached to a plant pot support surface. The plant wall has horizontal wind passage openings, which are at least partially formed by air gaps, which are formed in that the plant pots are arranged at a distance from one another.

With the devices known from the prior art, the provision of a capacity required for an effective improvement of the air quality of large amounts of air, especially in metropolitan regions, is only possible to a limited extent and is also comparatively complex and expensive.

The present invention has set itself the task of providing a device that enables effective emission reduction with the least possible effort at acceptable costs, especially in metropolitan regions and megacities as an ecosystem service.

To achieve the object, the invention provides a device for reducing emissions, in particular for binding fine dust, comprising a vertical holding device on which a plurality of flat supports are arranged, which are arranged vertically one above the other and each have an upper support surface with one arranged thereon Moss layer and an opposite lower surface, with the upper support surface being aligned horizontally or inclined by a maximum of 45° in the vertical direction, and with adjacent flat supports being spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction so far that between the moss layer of a flat support and the lower surface of a overlying flat carrier a free gap remains.

The device according to the invention is simple and comparatively inexpensive to produce and suitable for providing large moss-covered areas in order to enable an effective improvement in the quality of large air masses, as is required in particular in cities. The device is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for reducing the concentration of fine dust particles in air. It is known that mosses absorb fine dust from the air and metabolize it, thereby producing oxygen while reducing carbon dioxide. However, mosses can also remove other pollutants from the air, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx). In addition, the device according to the invention can also be used to generate oxygen, which is released during photosynthesis.

The device can be stand-alone or mounted on a wall or the like. In addition, a number of devices according to the invention can be put together in a modular manner to form larger units.

The device according to the invention is designed in such a way that the moss-covered areas are particularly easily accessible for polluted air and for light. The device according to the invention dispenses with plant pots or the like and arranges a layer of moss in an exposed manner on a substantially horizontal or inclined support. The device is open on at least two sides, so that the carrier can be swept over by the air to be cleaned, whereby, for example, fine dust particles are deposited on the moss layer due to the flow and can thus be removed from the air. In addition to a better supply of the moss layer with the air to be cleaned, the device according to the invention also enables a sufficient supply of light. It is true that mosses can also thrive under comparatively poor lighting conditions. Nevertheless, sufficient light exposure is also vital for mosses.

[0013] “Immissions reduction” is understood here to mean a reduction in the air concentration of at least one air pollutant such as fine dust or NOx (NO2, NO, N2O).

[0014] A “flat carrier” is understood here to mean a carrier which essentially extends in two dimensions and comparatively little in the third dimension. A flat support within the meaning of the invention is preferably rigid and solid and forms a surface on which a layer of moss can be arranged. This does not preclude the carrier or its surface from being uneven, for example having a curved or curved shape.

The expression that the upper support surface "is inclined in the vertical direction" means that the support is tilted about its longitudinal axis so that the upper moss-covered surface points in the direction of the pollutant source or in the direction of an expected flow of polluted air .

The expression according to which "adjacent beams are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction to such an extent that a free gap remains between the moss layer of one beam and the lower surface of a beam lying above it" means that adjacent beams, i.e. beams directly one above the other, are so far apart are spaced apart so that between the moss layer of one carrier and the underside of the carrier above it there remains a free gap, i.e. one not occupied by moss, through which air can flow freely over the moss layer below and sufficient light can reach the moss layer. The term “overlying” in relation to the carriers includes a horizontal, for example stair-like, offset of the carriers relative to one another. However, within the scope of the present invention, it is preferred if the carriers are arranged one above the other essentially without any horizontal offset.

The device according to the invention is preferably designed in such a way that the holding device and/or the carrier also accommodate devices for water supply and water distribution, e.g. pipes and spray heads. This is particularly preferred in regions where at least temporarily, for example seasonally, the amount of water naturally available due to humidity, rain, etc. is not sufficient to supply the mosses with sufficient water. In this case, it is also preferred if a water reservoir is provided, which can still be used to store sufficient water in a situation with a natural water shortage. Lines for the water supply can, for example, be designed and arranged in such a way that the carrier can be at least partially supported on it.

[0018] Each Mooschicht can also be equipped with humidity sensors, the signals of which are forwarded to a sprinkler system arranged in the support structure via a line or radio-based network (e.g. Internet of Things, loT). In this way, it is possible to moisten the moss layers in a way that is adapted to the respective situation.

If necessary, the device can also provide required electrical energy, e.g. for the operation of the sprinkler system described above, by means of appropriate solar modules or the like. Rainwater can also be collected with the device and used to moisten the moss.

[0020] For the moss layer, moss species known from the prior art can be considered, for example the genus Polytrichum. It is preferable to use moss species that are native to the region (e.g. in East Asia), as these are already best adapted to the respective environmental conditions.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the flat supports are curved in cross section, for example sigmoidal in shape. “Sigmoidal” here generally means slightly S-shaped, with the carrier preferably being oriented in such a way that the front section forms a trough that lies towards the source of the noxious air or towards the main direction of flow, while the rear section curves upwards. In this way, the carrier is advantageously designed in such a way that there is efficient deposition of pollutants present in the air flow, which flows through the free gap and over the carrier, for example due to pressure and suction effects. However, other forms of carrier are also possible. In addition, the carrier preferably has raised walls at least on its front and rear sides, so that the carrier is constructed in the manner of a trough or shell in a preferred embodiment.

The carrier can be arranged inclined by a maximum of 45 °, so that the moss-covered surface is turned more towards the source of harmful air. However, the inclination is preferably ≦40°, ≦30°, ≦20°, ≦15° or ≦10°.

In preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention, the free gap in the vertical direction has an average clear height H of 15-50 cm, preferably 20-45 cm, more preferably 20-40 cm and particularly preferably 25-35 cm. The height of the gap is selected so that the air to be cleaned has the most unhindered and optimal access to the moss layer and the moss layer can be sufficiently supplied with natural light without the need for artificial lighting.

The flat carrier is preferably made of a suitable plastic, but can also be made of stainless steel, for example. Recycled plastics or easily recyclable plastics are preferably considered as plastics.

The moss layer can be arranged directly or indirectly on the upper support surface. With a suitable, for example porous, carrier material, the moss layer can be arranged directly on the upper carrier surface. However, a substrate layer and a fleece layer are preferably also arranged between the upper support surface and the moss layer. The substrate layer is preferably arranged directly on the upper support surface, while the fleece layer is arranged directly on the substrate layer and below the moss layer. The fleece layer is preferably designed in such a way that the cell threads (rhizoids) of the mosses can protrude into it and find support. In addition, it is preferred if the substrate layer has the greatest possible water holding capacity. The substrate layer is preferably made of an organic material (e.g. coconut), a mineral material (e.g. clay granules) or of a biogenic plastic that is as durable as possible but biocompatible.

It is preferred in the device according to the invention not to use any vascular plants in addition to the mosses. In the device according to the invention, the additional arrangement of vascular plants in the moss layer is therefore dispensed with.

The flat carriers are particularly preferably connected to the holding device in an easily detachable manner, so that the carriers can be removed individually. A type of bayonet catch or the like can be provided for this purpose, for example. In this way, individual carriers with the moss layer on them can be easily removed and replaced if necessary.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the holding device is designed in such a way that the distances between the flat carriers can be adjusted. For this purpose, fastening devices can be provided on the holding device in a certain grid dimension, with the aid of which the carrier can be fastened to the holding device. In this way, an adjustment, e.g. with regard to the number and spacing of carriers, can be made to the respective place of use or the respective situation. Of course, adjustments can also be made after installation.

The invention also relates to an arrangement comprising a plurality of devices according to the invention as described above. The arrangement preferably comprises a plurality of devices according to the invention, which can be combined in a modular manner to form an air cleaning system, for example for streets and/or polluted districts. The arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to provide air with a reduced pollutant content as an ecosystem service.

In addition, the invention also relates to the use of a device according to the invention or an arrangement according to the invention for immission reduction, preferably for reducing the air concentration of fine dust particles and/or nitrogen oxides. A device according to the invention or an arrangement according to the invention can be arranged at a suitable location, for example a street, either on its own or fixed to a wall, a slope or the like, so that the surrounding air can flow over the moss layer on the carriers, if necessary also promoted by the pressure and suction effects of road traffic. Air pollutants can thus be optimally bound by the moss layers and removed from the air.

The invention is explained in more detail below purely for purposes of illustration with reference to the attached figures. Fig. 1 Simplified side view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention. Fig. 2 Simplified side view of another embodiment of a device according to the invention. FIG. 3 Simplified spatial view of the embodiment of a device according to the invention shown in FIG. 4 Simplified sectional view through a carrier of an embodiment of a device according to the invention. Fig. 5 Simplified front view (A) and side view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified side view of an embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. Six flat supports 3 are shown which are arranged vertically one above the other in a vertical holding device 2 and which are sigmoidal in cross section and oriented essentially horizontally. The flat supports 3 are elongate and extend in the longitudinal direction in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the paper. A moss layer 5 is arranged on the upper carrier surface 4 of the carrier, with a fleece layer 8 and substrate layer 9 (not shown here) also being arranged between the moss layer 5 and the upper carrier surface 4 (see FIG. 4). With their front side 10 oriented here to the left, the carriers 3 are aligned in the direction of the source of harmful air or the main direction of flow (see arrow) of the air to be cleaned. The cross-sectionally sigmoidal shape of the carrier 3 forms a type of depression or trough 12 and an elevation 13 , which are located toward the front 10 or rear 11 of the carrier 3 here. The rear part of the carrier 3 is thus located higher than the front part of the carrier 3, whereby the deposition of air pollutants, in particular fine dust, from the air flowing from the front 10 to the rear 11 of the carrier on the moss layer 5 is improved. Walls are raised at the front 10 and rear 11 sides so that the beams 3 are generally U-shaped in cross-section. The carriers 3 are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction to such an extent that a free gap 7 with a height H is formed, through which the air can flow freely. The device has a moistening device 14, which comprises, for example, perforated tubes on which the carriers 3 are mounted with their rear section. The pipes are attached to the holding device 2. The moistening device 14 is also used here, at least in part, for storing the carrier 3. Moisture sensors 15 are used to measure the moisture in the moss layer 5 or its immediate vicinity and are part of a control system for supplying water to the moss layer 5.

FIG. 2 shows a simplified side view of another embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention, in which the supports 3 are inclined in the vertical direction. For this purpose, in the embodiment shown here with sigmoidally curved supports 3 in cross section, the supports 3 are tilted by an angle α relative to the horizontal about their longitudinal axis, so that the front sides 10 of the supports 3 are significantly lower than the rear sides 11 of the supports 3.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified spatial view of the embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1. For the sake of a better overview, part of the front holding device 2 has been removed. Here carriers 3 are shown with an almost square area. However, it is preferred if the supports 3 extend longer in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the direction parallel to the front and rear sides 10, 11, and provide a larger area. The holding device 2 shown here in a very schematic and simplified manner can be constructed in a more complex manner and, in addition to devices for attaching the carrier 3, also include devices for attaching a moistening device 14 for supplying water to the moss layers.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through a carrier 3 in a preferred embodiment and an enlarged view of an end area. The carrier 3 consists of a plastic plate with a sigmoidal cross-section with raised walls on the front and rear sides 10 , 11 . A substrate layer 9 made of coco, for example, is arranged on the upper support surface 4 here. On the substrate layer 9 there is in turn a fleece layer 8 which, like the carrier 3 , consists of a plastic. The fleece layer 8 is used for better anchoring of the moss layer 5. In its rear part, the carrier 3 has a moistening device 14 pointing downwards to the moss layer 5 on a carrier 3 lying underneath. A moisture sensor 15, which is attached to the moistening device 14, protrudes through the carrier 3, the substrate layer 9 and the fleece layer 8 through to the moss layer 15 in order to measure the moisture prevailing there. The measured values are forwarded to a controller by means of lines (not shown here) or by radio, via which, for example, sprinkling of the moss layer 5 can be effected by means of pumps (likewise not shown).

Figure 5 shows a simplified front view (A) and a side view (B) of an embodiment of an arrangement 100 according to the invention. The sigmoidal shaped supports 3 of a first device 1 according to the invention (left) are arranged essentially horizontally here, so that the front sides 10 and the rear parts of the carrier 3 with the elevations 13 are visible. Another device 1 is indicated to the right of the first device 1 . The side view in FIG. 5B only shows the holding device 2, since a side wall is provided here, which conceals the carrier 3 from view.

Claims (11)

1. Device (1) for reducing emissions, in particular for binding fine dust, comprising a vertical holding device (2) on which a plurality of flat supports (3) are arranged, which are arranged vertically one above the other and each have an upper support surface (4) with a arranged moss layer (5) and an opposite lower surface (6), wherein the upper support surface (4) is aligned horizontally or inclined by a maximum of 45° in the vertical direction, and wherein adjacent flat supports (3) are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction that between the moss layer (5) of a flat support (3) and the lower surface (6) of an overlying flat support (3) a free gap (7) remains. 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the flat carrier (3) are shaped sigmoidal in cross section. 3. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the free gap (7) in the vertical direction has an average clear height H of 15-50 cm, preferably 20-45 cm, more preferably 20-40 cm and particularly preferred Has 25-35 cm. 4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flat carrier (3) consists of plastic and between the moss layer (5) and the upper carrier surface (4) a substrate layer (9) and a fleece layer (8) are arranged. 5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a moistening device (14) is arranged on the vertical holding device (2) and/or on the flat support (3), by means of which the moss layer (5) can be moistened. 6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein no vascular plants are arranged in the moss layer (5). 7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flat carrier (3) can be removed individually from the holding device (2). 8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding device (2) is designed such that the distances between the flat supports (3) are adjustable to one another. 9. Arrangement (100) comprising a plurality of the devices (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. Use of a device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for reducing emissions, preferably for reducing the concentration of fine dust particles and/or nitrogen oxides in the air. 11. Use of an arrangement (100) according to claim 9 for reducing emissions, preferably for reducing the concentration of fine dust particles and/or nitrogen oxides in the air.