CN211914181U - Emitter unit for air cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A transmitter unit for an air purification apparatus for separating airborne particles from an air stream, the transmitter unit comprising a transmitting electrode and a transmitter carrier for holding the transmitting electrode. The emitter unit further comprises an attachment for flexibly attaching the emitter carrier to the filter medium, so as to allow the filter medium to deform when the emitter carrier is attached to the filter medium. For example, when the filter medium is arranged in a box or housing, the filter medium may be deformed to some extent while the emitter unit remains attached to the filter.

Description

Emitter unit for air cleaning device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of air purification. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a transmitter unit for an air purification device for separating airborne particles (airborn particles) from an air stream.

Background

In many different technical fields, like for example different types of vehicles or buildings, air filtration systems are used to ensure a desired air quality in a cabin or a building or other enclosed space.

Ionization filtration systems are often used because they provide effective cleaning of airborne particles. The ionization filter system includes an ionizer configured to generate an ionization volume for charging particles in the air such that the particles adhere to a filter medium disposed downstream of the airflow path.

Ions can be generated in several ways, but one frequently used arrangement comprises an emitter electrode and a collector electrode, e.g. a corona tip surrounded by a collector electrode which can be connected to ground, such that when a high voltage is applied across the emitter electrode and the collector electrode, ions are generated in a volume surrounding the emitter electrode (i.e. the corona tip). The volume in which the ions are generated is referred to as the ionization volume, and the emitter and collector electrodes are preferably arranged such that the ionization volume spans the flow path. At least a portion of the particles are charged as they pass through the ionization volume. The charged particles then adhere to the filter media downstream of the airflow path.

When providing an ionization filter system in a vehicle, several parameters need to be considered, such as the need for an ionization volume of sufficient size, i.e. the volume in which airborne particles are charged by the ion field, limited space for different systems and components, limited possibilities for the influence of electromagnetic emissions from the ionization filter system to influence other components and to adapt to other devices and arrangements, the addition of other arrangements in the air flow to influence the air flow, etc. Therefore, there is a need for an ionization arrangement that provides a suitable compromise between different limiting parameters.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an air purification apparatus that seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination.

This object is achieved by the emitter unit for an air purification device provided by the present disclosure.

An emitter unit for an air purification device for separating airborne particles from an air stream is provided. The transmitter unit includes a transmitting electrode. The transmitter unit further comprises a transmitter carrier for holding the transmitting electrode. The emitter unit further comprises an attachment for flexibly attaching the emitter carrier to the filter medium, so as to allow the filter medium to deform when the emitter carrier is attached to the filter medium.

In an embodiment, the attachment portions each comprise a first portion for attachment to the filter medium and a second portion slidably arranged on the emitter carrier.

In an embodiment, the attachment portion is made of a non-conductive material.

By providing the emitter unit with an attachment for flexibly attaching the emitter carrier to the filter medium in order to allow the filter medium to deform when the emitter carrier is attached to the filter medium, the filter medium may deform to a certain extent, for example when the filter medium is arranged in a box or housing, while the emitter unit remains attached to the filter.

The terms "ionization cell" and "ionizer" are used herein to denote the combination of emitter and collector electrodes (or transmission and reception electrodes).

By air flow is meant the air flow through the equipment in use. The air flow may be actively generated in that it is driven by a fan or other such air displacing means, or it may be passive in that it is generated by directing air through a filter while a vehicle comprising such a device is being driven. The air flow may also be driven by the air conditioning system of the vehicle.

Drawings

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating example embodiments.

Fig. 1 is an exemplary configuration and detail of an air cleaning apparatus according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a close-up view of details of the configuration of the air purification apparatus of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Aspects of the present disclosure are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The devices disclosed herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the disclosure only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

FIG. 1 is an example configuration of an air purification apparatus 40 for separating airborne particles from an air stream. The air purification device 40 comprises a transmitter unit 42, the transmitter unit 42 comprising a transmitting electrode 44, and a filter medium 22, the filter medium 22 being arranged to attract at least a subset of the airborne particles. The transmitter unit 42 further comprises a transmitter carrier 46, which transmitter carrier 46 is arranged for holding the transmitting electrode 44 and for electrically isolating the transmitting electrode 44 from the filter medium 22 comprising the electrically conductive material.

The emitter carrier 46 is made of a non-conductive material such as a non-conductive plastic. The emitter electrode 44 has a plurality of corona discharge points disposed thereon in electrical contact with the emitter electrode 44.

The air purification apparatus 40 further comprises a housing 52, which housing 52 comprises a power supply (not shown) and other electronics (not shown) for operating the air purification apparatus 40. The emitter electrode 44 is arranged for charging airborne particles present in the air flow when the air cleaning device 40 is in use. This is done by generating a corona at a plurality of corona discharge points of the emitter electrode 44 by applying a positive or negative voltage to the emitter electrode 44. The voltage is applied by a power source (not shown) in the housing 52 via an electrical connector, such as the power cable 54 shown in fig. 1. The voltage applied to the emitter electrode 44 may be between-10 kV DC and 10kV DC, and more preferably between-7 kV DC and 7kV DC.

The filter media 22 is arranged to attract at least a subset of the charged airborne particles in the air stream.

As shown in fig. 1, the emitter electrode is an elongated structure arranged such that a plurality of discharge points are distributed along the length of the emitter electrode.

The air cleaning apparatus may be designed such that the frame or box 50 has the same size and shape as a standard filter box comprising a filter medium which is typically placed in a filter chamber of a vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a first detail of the air cleaning apparatus 40 of fig. 1. A portion of the filter medium 22 is shown, as well as a portion of the transmitter unit 42 including the transmitting electrode 44 and the transmitter carrier 46. On the emitter electrode, a plurality of corona discharge points in the form of tips (pins) 20 are arranged and directed away from a filter medium 22 comprising an electrically conductive material.

The transmitter unit 42 further comprises an attachment portion 58. The attachments 58 are arranged such that they attach to the filter media 22.

The attachment portion 58 may be arranged to ensure that the emitter unit 42 is positioned substantially perpendicular to the pleats of the filter media 22. This is preferred in order to maintain a low pressure drop and high utilization of the filtration zone. The attachment portion 58 is also arranged for flexibly attaching the emitter carrier 46 to the filter media 22 so as to allow the filter media 22 to deform when the emitter carrier 46 is attached to the filter media 22. For example, the attachment portions 58 may each include a first portion for attachment to the filter media 22 and a second portion slidably disposed on the emitter carrier 46. If the filter media 22 deforms when disposed in the frame or box 50, the attachment portion 58 may slide relative to the remainder of the emitter carrier 46 so that the emitter carrier may remain attached to the filter media when the filter media 22 is deformed, at least to some extent. The attachment portion 58 is preferably made of a non-conductive material, such as a non-conductive plastic material.

It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed and the word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. It should also be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the example embodiments may be implemented at least partly in both hardware and software, and that several "means", "units" or "devices" may be represented by the same item of hardware.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments. However, many variations and modifications may be made to these embodiments. Accordingly, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the embodiments being defined by the following claims.

Claims (3)

1. An emitter unit (42) for an air purification apparatus for separating airborne particles from an air flow, characterized in that the emitter unit (42) comprises:

an emitter electrode (44); and

an emitter carrier (46), the emitter carrier (46) for holding the emitter electrode (44),

wherein the emitter unit (42) further comprises an attachment portion (58) for flexibly attaching the emitter carrier (46) to a filter medium (22) so as to allow deformation of the filter medium (22) when the emitter carrier (46) is attached to the filter medium (22).

2. Emitter unit (42) according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portions (58) each comprise a first portion for attachment to the filter medium (22) and a second portion slidingly arranged on the emitter carrier (46).

3. Emitter unit (42) according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the attachment (58) is made of a non-conductive material.

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