DE102020115537A1 - Air disinfection device and furniture with an air disinfection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an air disinfection device (1, 10), having at least one air inlet opening (3) and at least one air outlet opening (4), at least one flow channel (2) through which air can flow and in which several UVC radiation-emitting diodes (7) (UVC- LED) are arranged and a device for providing electrical energy to the UVC-LED (7), wherein the UVC-LED (7) are arranged in the flow channel (2) in such a way that air flowing through the flow channel (2) of the UVC -The UVC-LED (7) is exposed to radiation. The invention also relates to a piece of furniture with an air disinfection device.

Description

The invention relates to an air disinfection device and a piece of furniture with an air disinfection device.

Known solutions for disinfecting and filtering air are based on wall, ceiling or standing devices which have or combine filters and UV light sources as well as negative ion generators and ozone generators. So reveals the DE 78 15 022 U1 a bioclimatic air disinfection device based on a cleaning performance based on negative ions. From the DE 4 67 552 A a vacuum cleaner is known which has a UV radiation source in the form of a mercury vapor lamp for disinfecting air. The known solutions prove to be disadvantageous because they cannot be integrated into existing systems as independent devices or, for example, can be sensibly combined with furniture in such a way that contaminated air can be treated in the immediate vicinity of the point of origin. A further disadvantage is that the use of tubes or gas vapor lamps for the generation of UVC radiation requires a comparatively high power consumption, which can lead to high energy costs, especially in continuous operation.

The object of the invention is to propose an energy-efficient air disinfection device which can be integrated into existing air-flow systems, in particular air conditioning systems, or can be conveniently combined as an independent device with existing systems, in particular with furniture, in order to remove contaminated air in the immediate vicinity of the point of origin for a disinfection treatment to be able to record.

The object is achieved by an air disinfection device with the features according to patent claim 1 and a piece of furniture with an air disinfection device according to patent claim 10. Further developments are specified in the respective dependent claims.

The air disinfection device has at least one air inlet opening, at least one air outlet opening and at least one flow channel through which air can flow and in which several UVC radiation-emitting diodes (UVC-LED) are arranged. Air can enter the at least one flow channel via the air inlet opening, the air being discharged from the flow channel via the at least one air outlet opening. Furthermore, the air disinfection device has a device for providing electrical energy to the UVC-LED. The UVC-LEDs are arranged in the flow channel in such a way that air flowing through the flow channel is exposed to the UVC radiation emitted by the UVC-LED.

The use of UVC LEDs advantageously enables particularly energy-efficient operation of the air disinfection device, since the UVC LEDs have a comparatively low power consumption. UVC LEDs are preferably used which emit UVC radiation at least in the wavelength range from 265 nm to 275 nm.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air disinfection device according to the invention, it can be provided that the multiple UVC LEDs are arranged along the inner circumference of the at least one flow channel. For this purpose, a holder or printed circuit board holder can be provided on which the UVC-LEDs are arranged at a distance from one another along the inner circumference of the at least one flow channel, with electrical contacting for supplying electrical energy being guided along the holder. Furthermore, the UVC-LED can be arranged on a printed circuit board and electrically contacted, the printed circuit board being arranged along the inner circumference of the at least one flow channel in such a way that air can flow through the flow channel. As a printed circuit board holder, guide rails can be formed along the inner circumference of the flow channel, between which a printed circuit board with UVC-LED arranged thereon can be inserted. According to a further embodiment, it can also be provided that the UVC-LEDs are arranged on the inner surface of the flow channel, electrical contacting of the UVC-LED being realized by means of electrical vias from the outer surface to the inner surface of the flow channel.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the at least one flow channel has a surface that reflects UVC radiation inside. The reflective surface enables multiple reflections of the UVC radiation emitted by the UVC-LED, so that the disinfection performance can be increased. At the same time, the reflective surface enables the number of UVC LEDs to be reduced, which means that less electrical energy is required.

The inner surface of the flow channel can also be provided with a titanium dioxide coating, at least in some areas, which in conjunction with UVC radiation in the photocatalysis process additionally neutralizes pollutants in the air flowing through.

To further support the air purification, a negative ion generator which emits negative ions into the flow channel can be arranged along the at least one flow channel. By emitting negative ions into the flow channel, free-floating particles from the air can be bound. The bound particles sink to the bottom and can be removed.

The at least one flow channel can have a round cross section. According to one embodiment, the air disinfection device can have several of the flow channels, with several of the flow channels being arranged in the form of a tube bundle.

The device for providing electrical energy to the UVC-LED comprises electrical conductors for making electrical contact with the UVC-LED and an electrical energy source, which is designed as a battery or as a mains connection. According to a further embodiment of the air disinfection device, the device for providing electrical energy can be an electric generator that can be driven with an already existing or externally generated air flow, for example in exhaust air and / or air conditioning systems, which is arranged in the at least one flow channel. The electrical generator can have at least one rotary blade, which is designed in the form of a propeller or impeller. Since a rotary vane generator is used to generate electrical energy, no external electrical energy source is advantageously required, so that the air disinfection device integrated in an air flow can be operated independently.

According to a particularly simple embodiment, the at least one flow channel is designed as a tube and can thus be easily integrated into existing pipeline systems through which air flows, an air conveying device of the existing system being used to guide an air flow through the at least one flow channel. In this case, the air disinfection device does not need its own air delivery device to generate an air flow, since an air flow generated by the existing system, for example an air conditioning system or room ventilation, is passed through the flow channel of the air disinfection device. In the event that the device for providing electrical energy has an electrical generator that can be driven by an air flow, no external electrical energy supply is required to supply electrical energy to the UVC-LED.

If an application of the air disinfection device is provided in which no air flow is provided through an external system, it can furthermore be provided that the air disinfection device has an air conveying device with which air sucked in through the at least one air inlet opening can be conveyed through the flow channel. One or more fans can be used as the air delivery device.

The air delivery device enables the air delivery rate to be adjusted. The air delivery rate is set so that the dwell time of the air flowing through the flow channel is sufficient to achieve the desired disinfection of the air by the UVC radiation emitted by the UVC-LED. The air flow rate therefore also depends on the radiation output and the number of UVC LEDs and can range from a few liters per minute to several cubic meters per hour.

Furthermore, a combination of the air disinfection device with other devices influencing the air can be provided. A combination with a further ionization device can be provided, with which odors can be neutralized. In addition, an injection device can be provided with which disinfectants and / or odorous substances, such as, for example, essential oils, are injected from a reservoir into the flow channel in order to generate improved disinfection performance and / or pleasant smells. The injection device can be of passive design, with a disinfectant and / or odorous substances introduced into the flow channel being entrained by an air flow through the flow channel.

The length and the diameter of the at least one flow channel can be scaled for different applications. For example, the length and the diameter can be adapted to a predetermined air flow rate if the air disinfection device is integrated into an existing system with a predetermined air flow rate. Otherwise, it can be provided that the air delivery rate of an air delivery device of the air disinfection device is or is adapted to the length and the diameter of the at least one flow channel. Furthermore, the use of several flow channels in the form of tube bundles can be scaled according to the number and size, depending on the dimensioning required for disinfecting a given amount of air in l / min. In a motor vehicle, the number and size of the flow channels is small, adapted to the size of the vehicle, so that the air disinfection device can be arranged between the driver and the rear of the vehicle or in the headliner. For other applications, for example in the exhaust air system of an animal breeding company, larger dimensions of the flow channels can be provided.

The air disinfection device according to the invention can be used in flow channels of ventilation and air conditioning systems, for example in vehicles, aircraft and ships, or in exhaust air systems in cattle stalls.

The invention further relates to a piece of furniture with an air disinfection device as described above, the at least one air inlet opening being designed to be integrated into the piece of furniture. The air disinfection device, which has the at least one air inlet opening, the at least one air outlet opening, the at least one flow channel through which air can flow and in which several UVC radiation-emitting diodes (UVC-LED) are arranged, and the device for providing electrical energy to the Has UVC-LED, arranged on the furniture or integrated into the furniture. Air can enter the at least one flow channel via the at least one air inlet opening, which is designed to be integrated in the piece of furniture, the air being discharged from the flow channel via the at least one air outlet opening. The air flowing through the flow channel is exposed to the UVC radiation emitted by the UVC-LED, whereby microorganisms and viruses are killed or deactivated.

In the event that the piece of furniture is not integrated into a network with an air flow, the piece of furniture can have an integrated air delivery device with which air is sucked in via the at least one air inlet opening and passed through the at least one flow channel of the air disinfection device.

Furniture in the context of the invention is primarily to be understood as furnishings such as, in particular, table, chair, armchair and cupboard. The term furniture in the context of the invention also includes seating options such as chairs and armchairs that are used in vehicles and aircraft. Furthermore, a piece of furniture can also be a room divider, a partition or an add-on element, such as a lamp or a monitor holder.

The furniture according to the invention can have a table surface or be designed as a table with a table surface, the air disinfection device being arranged on an underside of the table surface and wherein the at least one air inlet opening is formed in the table surface. The at least one air inlet opening can preferably be designed as a slot in the middle of the table surface. According to a further embodiment of the piece of furniture with a table top, several of the air inlet openings can be formed at the edge of the table top or at a predetermined distance from the edge of the table top, at a uniform distance from one another.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment, the furniture can have a seat with a backrest and / or headrest, the air disinfection device being arranged on an underside of the furniture or integrated in a housing of the furniture and at least one air inlet opening on an edge of the backrest and / or in the Headrest is formed.

Since the air inlet openings are integrated in a piece of furniture, any contaminated air from an infectious user in the immediate vicinity can be sucked off by the user when using the piece of furniture and disinfected with the air disinfection device without contacting other people in the vicinity with contaminated air.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the furniture, the at least one air outlet opening can be designed to be spaced apart in front of a backrest and / or in front of a headrest, so that an air flow can be emitted at a predetermined distance in front of a person sitting on the seat surface. By emitting an air flow at a predetermined distance in front of a person sitting on the seat surface, a protective laminar flow can be formed in front of the person, with which possibly contaminated air is moved away from the person.

The furniture according to the invention can be arranged in the form of a table, chair or armchair in a vehicle or aircraft.

The invention differs from the prior art in that known solutions for disinfecting air cannot be integrated into furniture, in particular office furniture, explicitly under table surfaces of work / consulting tables in such a way that an immediate suction and disinfection of a person's breathing air is effective on site and Place of their dissemination, i.e. at or above the corresponding work / advisory tables.

The invention can be used wherever air contaminated with microbial germs arises. In this way, the risk can be sustainably reduced that pathogens that have entered the room air via the breathing air can be spread unhindered by people staying in a limited space. The invention can thus be used advantageously in consultation rooms, offices, room-in-room solutions of any kind, medical practices and rooms in sick, social and care facilities. Further areas of application of the invention are in principle all places where people stand or sit opposite one another in order to communicate with one another. Other examples are counters Bars, high tables, cash counters and issuing points for tickets or goods.

• - nahezu jeder Arbeits-/Beratungstisch kann mit der Luftdesinfektionsvorrichtung aus- beziehungsweise nachgerüstet werden kann;
• - durch die Integrationslösung wird in den entsprechenden Arbeits-/Beratungsräumen kein separater Stellplatz benötigt, so dass Platz eingespart werden kann;
• - durch die Verwendung von UVC-LED können die Luftdesinfektionsvorrichtung und das Möbel mit Luftdesinfektionsvorrichtung energieeffizient betrieben werden;
• - eine wirksame Desinfektion der Luft und der Atemluft erfolgt an Ort und Stelle, wodurch die Gefahr einer Ansteckung von Menschen untereinander verringert werden kann.

The following additional advantages can be achieved with the invention:

• - Almost every work / consultation table can be equipped or retrofitted with the air disinfection device;
• - The integration solution means that no separate parking space is required in the corresponding work / consultation rooms, so that space can be saved;
• - By using UVC-LED, the air disinfection device and the furniture with air disinfection device can be operated in an energy-efficient manner;
• - An effective disinfection of the air and the breathing air takes place on the spot, which can reduce the risk of infection between people.

• 1: eine schematische Darstellung einer Ausgestaltung der erfindungsgemäßen Luftdesinfektionsvorrichtung,
• 2a: eine schematische Perspektivdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Möbels mit Luftdesinfektionsvorrichtung,
• 2b: eine Draufsicht des in 2a gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiels,
• 2c: eine Seitenansicht des in 2a gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiels und
• 2d: eine weitere Seitenansicht des in 2a gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiels.

Further details, features and advantages of embodiments of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the associated drawings. Show it:

• 1 : a schematic representation of an embodiment of the air disinfection device according to the invention,
• 2a : a schematic perspective illustration of an embodiment of the furniture according to the invention with air disinfection device,
• 2 B : a top view of the in 2a shown embodiment,
• 2c : a side view of the in 2a embodiment shown and
• 2d : Another side view of the in 2a embodiment shown.

the 1 shows a schematic perspective illustration of an embodiment of the air disinfection device according to the invention 1 . The air disinfection device shown 1 relates to a particularly simple embodiment with a tubular flow channel 2 , which has an air inlet opening 3 and an air outlet 4th having. Inside the flow channel 2 are on a printed circuit board 6th six UVC radiation emitting diodes 7th (UVC-LED) evenly spaced. The circuit board 6th has electrical conductor contacts 20th and 21 with which the UVC-LED 7th to provide electrical energy to the UVC-LED 7th are electrically contacted. Along the inner perimeter 5 of the flow channel 2 is a circuit board holder in the form of two guide rails 22nd formed, between which the printed circuit board 6th in the flow channel 2 is kept pushed in.

Furthermore, the air disinfection device comprises 1 one in the 1 Device, not shown, for providing electrical energy, which is connected to the electrical conductor contacts 20th and 21 the printed circuit board 6th Electrical contact is made in order to send electrical energy to the UVC-LED 7th provide. The inner surface 8th has a surface that reflects UVC radiation 8th on so that from the UVC LED 7th emitted radiation within the flow channel 2 can be reflected multiple times. This in 1 The embodiment shown is intended for integration in a system through which air flows, such as an air conditioning system, and does not have its own air delivery device. A supplementary air delivery device in the form of a fan can be provided if an integration into a system is provided in which no air flow is generated by an external air delivery device.

the 2a shows a schematic perspective illustration of an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment relates to a piece of furniture in the form of a table 9 and an air disinfection device 10 , which to combine with the table 9 is provided. The arrows 11 mark the installation direction of the air disinfection device 10 from below to an underside of the table top 12th . The assembly of the air disinfection device, which is rectangular in plan 10 takes place with ten screws 15th from below into the table top 12th . In the middle of the table surface 13th the table top 12th is a rectangular opening 14th along the long side of the table 9 educated. The rectangular opening 14th serves as an air inlet opening for the air disinfection device 10 , which in the assembled state below the rectangular opening 14th is arranged. In the embodiment shown, the air disinfection device 10 an air conveyor 16 with four equally spaced fans 17th on, which promote sucked air into the flow channels arranged below (not shown). The arrows 18th characterize the air flow caused by the operation of the air conveyor 16 is effected. The air outlet opening in the bottom of the air disinfection device 10 is formed, is covered in the example shown by the perspective view.

the 2 B shows a top view of the in 2a embodiment shown. The one in the middle of the table surface 13th the table top 12th formed rectangular opening 14th showing the air inlet opening for the air disinfection device 10 forms is with a protective grille 19th secured.

the 2c shows a side view of the in 2a embodiment shown. The arrows 18th characterize the air flow or the direction of flow from the fans 17th the air conveyor 16 sucked in ambient air.

the 2d shows a side view of the in 2a embodiment shown. The table 9 is shown with its narrow side.

List of reference symbols

1

Air disinfection device

2

Flow channel

3

Air inlet opening

4th

Air outlet opening

5

inner perimeter

6th

Printed circuit board

7th

UVC LED

8th

Inner surface, surface reflecting UVC radiation

9

table

10

Air disinfection device

11

Mounting direction

12th

Tabletop

13th

Table surface

14th

rectangular opening / air inlet opening

15th

Screws

16

Air conveyor

17th

fan

18th

Direction of air flow

19th

Protective grille

20th

electrical conductor contact

21

electrical conductor contact

22nd

Guide rails

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 7815022 U1 [0002]
• DE 467552 A [0002]

Claims (16)

Air disinfection device (1, 10), having at least one air inlet opening (3) and at least one air outlet opening (4), at least one flow channel (2) through which air can flow and in which several UVC radiation-emitting diodes (7) (UVC-LED) are arranged and a device for providing electrical energy to the UVC-LED (7), the UVC-LED (7) being arranged in the flow channel (2) in such a way that air flowing through the flow channel (2) of the UVC radiation of the UVC -LED (7) is exposed. Air disinfection device (1, 10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the plurality of UVC LEDs (7) emit UVC radiation at least in the wavelength range from 265 nm to 275 nm. Air disinfection device (1, 10) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the plurality of UVC LEDs (7) are arranged along the inner circumference (5) of the at least one flow channel (2). Air disinfection device (1, 10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the at least one flow channel (2) has a surface (8) reflecting UVC radiation inside. Air disinfection device (1, 10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4th , characterized in that the inner surface (8) of the flow channel (2) has a titanium dioxide coating formed at least in certain areas. Air disinfection device (1, 10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that a negative ion generator is arranged along the at least one flow channel (2) which emits negative ions into the at least one flow channel (2). Air disinfection device (1, 10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6th , characterized in that several of the flow channels (2) are arranged in the form of a tube bundle. Air disinfection device (1, 10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 7th , characterized in that the device for providing electrical energy is an electrical generator which can be driven by an air flow and which is arranged in the at least one flow channel (2). Air disinfection device (1, 10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , further comprising an air delivery device (16) with which air sucked in through the at least one air inlet opening (3) can be delivered through the at least one flow channel (2). Furniture with an air disinfection device (1, 10) according to the Claims 1 until 9 , wherein the at least one air inlet opening (3) is designed to be integrated into the furniture. Furniture after Claim 10 , characterized in that the furniture has a table surface (13) or is designed as a table (9) with a table surface (13), the air disinfection device (1, 10) being arranged on an underside of the table surface (13) and wherein the at least an air inlet opening (3, 14) is formed in the table surface (13). Furniture after Claim 11 , characterized in that the at least one air inlet opening (3, 14) is designed as a slot in the center of the table surface (13). Furniture after Claim 11 , characterized in that several of the air inlet openings (3, 14) are formed equally spaced from one another on the edge of the table surface (13) or at a predetermined distance from the edge of the table surface (13). Furniture after Claim 10 , characterized in that the furniture has a seat with a backrest and / or headrest, the air disinfection device (10) being arranged on an underside of the furniture or integrated in a housing of the furniture and at least one air inlet opening (3) on an edge of the backrest and / or is formed in the headrest. Furniture after Claim 14 , characterized in that the at least one air outlet opening (3) can be arranged at a distance in front of a backrest and / or in front of a headrest, so that an air flow can be emitted at a predetermined distance in front of a person sitting on the seat surface. Furniture after Claim 14 or 15th , characterized in that the furniture is arranged in a vehicle or aircraft.

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