EA040782B1 - SUPERHIGH-EFFICIENCY MICROBIOLOGICAL AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM BASED ON ORGANIC GEL AND METHOD FOR ITS PRODUCTION - Google Patents

Description

The field of technology to which the invention belongs

The present invention generally relates to air filters and air cleaners, and in particular to an air cleaner filter containing an improved organic gel. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the aforementioned Ultra High Efficiency Organic Gel Microbiological Air Filter (UGMA).

State of the art

Air filtration systems are usually classified according to the size of the particles they filter out, so the air filtration standards called EPA, HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter), ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air Filter), SULPA (Ultimately Low Penetration Air Filter) ), there are criteria that determine the size of the particles for which the filter is permeable, and its resistance to air flow. However, among the test criteria of these standards for particulate filters, there are no criteria related to the microbiological load of the ambient air.

Particulate filters act like sieves. For example, the US Department of Energy defines HEPA filters as capable of removing 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles. As technology has advanced over the past decades, screen openings can be reduced, and ULPA type filters have been developed that can remove 99.9995% of 0.12 µm particles. However, HEPA filters based on sieve-type particulate filtration typically experience a pressure drop in the range of 150-300 Pa, and at the same time, this pressure drop, which increases with ULPA grade filters due to smaller screen openings, increases energy losses to much larger values. On the other hand, reducing filterable particle size below 0.3 µm is important in many areas, including the food and medical industries, as well as public health and public places to filter airborne common infectious viruses and bacteria, including in particular the influenza virus. Although this requirement is significant, the increase in microbiological efficiency has not gained the same prominence as HEPA filters, except for special needs such as clean rooms, due to their disadvantages associated with costs, in particular energy costs caused by energy losses. friction, increasing due to the technologies of these methods under the abbreviated names ULPA, SULPA, which are based on a reduction in the size of the sieve openings. Improvements have been made to overcome the problem of energy efficiency and to enhance the retention of microorganisms in sieve type particulate filters. For example, in the patent entitled HEPA Filter, publication number US 6428610 B1 and publication date August 6, 2002 and the patent entitled High Efficiency and Energy Saving Photocatalytic Air Filter Mesh, publication number C N 204469537 U and publication date July 19, 2015 The increase in energy efficiency of particulate filters has been described. However, the mechanism for increasing energy efficiency in these documents is fundamentally different from UGMA filters. US 6428610 B1 is based on the electrostatic loading of a nonwoven surface and CN 204469537 U is based on the use of a UV activated photocatalyst layer.

There are also methods to electrostatically reduce the particle size retained without compromising the energy efficiency of traditional particulate filters such as those described in US Pat. This type uses kilovolt voltages. High voltages limit their use, in particular for personal use and in damp places.

The patent entitled Electrostatically Enhanced HEPA Filter, US Publication Number 4,781,736 A and Publication Date November 1, 1988, relates to the use of high voltage electrodes at the inlet of a sieve type filter component to improve particle removal efficiency in HEPA filters by electrostatic ionization. particles in the air at the filter inlet.

A patent application entitled Gel air freshener and method of making the same, with publication number US 2002/0039566 A1 and with a publication date of April 4, 2002, relates to the retention of various fragrances or agents such as deodorants in a synthetic gel and their timely dosing in ambient air. However, the use of the gel in the patent application entitled Air Filter for Removal of Particulates and Volatile Organic Compounds, US 2005/0132886 A1 and publication date June 23, 2005, is exactly the opposite of UGMA filtration. As described in paragraph [0018] of the description of said patent application, the gel captures particles larger than 0.3 μm, and particles smaller than 0.3 μm are held electrostatically.

- 1 040782

Description of the invention

The invention described herein is a Ultra High Efficiency Organic Gel Microbiological Air Filter (UGMA) and is based on the respiratory systems of organic gel surfaces in nature and biomimetic design. The UGMA filter according to the subject matter of the present invention is based on the use of sponge structures as a means of retaining microorganisms in sandwich sandwich structures by coating with an organic gel having a high porosity at the nanometer level. Between the coarse particle filtration layer and the particle retention layer, UGMA filters contain an organic gel coated component that has a high retention capacity of microorganisms and particles and has a higher retention rate against much smaller organisms than the sieve openings in sieve type filters. , such as HEPA, as well as lower energy losses. The UGMA filter can be used on face masks for air filtration in hospitals and places directly related to human health, such as food production, without any side effects, since it does not contain any toxic or inorganic substances.

Since UGMA works by increasing the amount of sliding surface area of the air in the randomly distributed air passages, rather than filtering solids like a sieve, the overall air friction is reduced, as well as the energy consumption due to the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet surfaces.

In the prior art, voltage applications are limited, in particular for individual use and in damp places.

The containment of particles by electrostatic loading, on the other hand, is outside the scope of the UGMA. In filtration of UGMA into the nano-porous structure of the organic gel at the nanometer level with high efficiency, the bonds of trihydroxyl and natural glucose contained in the organic gel and the microbiological load lie.

Although different methods have proposed the use of gel in air conditioning and filtration, the way in which the gel is used in the UGMA filter and the resulting efficiency differ from all these methods.

For comparison with prior art methods in the UGMA filter, the nanoporous structure in the air-coated organic gel passing into the randomly distributed spongy core, as well as other organic substances in it, which are points of attraction for microorganisms, provide retention of particles and microbiological particles, in particular, with a size less than 0.3 µm. UGMA does not require an electrostatically treated surface or high voltage activation to retain particles smaller than 0.3 µm. Moreover, when UGMA filters are used in cyclic air circulation, they can achieve a microbiological load reduction in half in a single pass. Among the air filtration systems manufactured to date, none other than UGMA filtration meet the success criteria for consistently halving microbiological load per hour in cycling.

Microbiological activity is based on the assumption that the microbiological load is carried by substances suspended in the air and these substances are retained in the particulate filter. The UGMA filter described in this document, unlike all air filters based on traditional particle retention, has microbiological efficiency. The UGMA-type filter according to the subject matter of the present invention retains organisms having physical flexibility, such as bacteria and viruses, by a different mechanism from the sieve-type filters included in the standards. This mechanism is labeled as biomimetic, as it is inspired by the air breathing mechanism of living beings in nature, and is made usable using commercially available materials. The UGMA type filter has a structure in two different scales, macroscopic and microscopic. Distributed pore structure at the macroscopic scale at the millimeter level and porous structure at the nanometer level are used together. Depending on the airflow rate and the order of the steps of the filter layers, the porous structure on a macroscopic scale is obtained from a spongy material with a pore density of 1-100 pores per inch and typically about 20 pores per inch. The nanoporous structure is obtained from a gel material whose pore size is changed according to the target efficiency for application in the range of 50-5000 nm and which has a special composition. The gel texture covers all volumetric internal surfaces of the macroscopic structure. The air cells generated in this process also ensure that the microbiological load is retained and exhausted along with the substance inside.

The present invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the figures, the numbers of which are given below, and the properties indicated in the detailed description.

A comparison of the performance of traditional, standard HEPA and ULPA filters and the UGMA filter described in this document is shown in FIG. 7, 8, 9 and 10. The UGMA type filter cartridge used in these comparisons has a three-layer structure consisting of 200 g/m ² felt

- 2 040782 filters for retaining large particles of the water-tight mask type on the inlet surface of a sponge frame structure having a thickness of 6 mm and a pore density of 20 pores per inch, the inner surfaces of which are coated with gel, and 50 g/m ² nonwoven fabric on its outlet surface.

Brief description of graphic materials

In FIG. 1 shows a three-layer UGMA basic structure.

In FIG. Figure 2 shows the inner spongy core with channels for trapping the organic gel and the design of the nanocore of the nanoporous organic gel.

In FIG. 3 shows an organic gel coating and UGMA system.

In FIG. 4 shows the UGMA system for cyclic air filtration.

In FIG. 5 shows the UGMA multi-layer air filtration system at the outside air inlet.

In FIG. 6 shows a UGMA filter in a personal protective mask.

In FIG. Figure 7 shows the change in the level of microbiological load in the ambient air over time during closed-loop operation for the UGMA filter and HEPA filters.

In FIG. 8 shows the change in ambient air weighted average particle size over time during closed circuit operation for UGMA, HEPA and ULPA filters.

In FIG. 9 shows the decrease in pressure drop as a function of the airflow resistance in the filter element according to the weighted average particle size, while the amount of atmospheric air in the UGMA filter and sieve type air filters (HEPA/EPA/ULPA) will decrease when operating in closed loop.

In FIG. 10 shows the change in the power consumption value (PU - per unit), which changes with the time of operation of the UGMA filter and HEPA filters, normalized to unity in accordance with the value at the first time of operation.

Description of reference positions No. Name of the part/section.

- UGMA filter cartridge;

- coarse filter;

- organic gel, randomly distributed in the spongy core;

- non-woven layer for holding particles;

- wave-like structure;

- frame;

- lines for holding the wave-like structure on the frame;

- a film coating that prevents moisture absorption by the frame;

- channels for air intake;

- channels for air flow;

- nanoporous texture;

- nutrient material based on trihydroxyl and glucose;

- bath for heating and impregnation of the surface;

- cylinder;

- drying;

- Sponge, not coated with gel;

- ultrasonic welding;

- device for cyclic air purification;

- a drawer of a replaceable filter cartridge UGMA;

- release of filtered air into the surrounding space;

- air intake fan;

- optional electronic indicator and control unit;

- cord and cable communication line;

- optional lighting component;

- block of processing of air from the outside for filtration UGMA;

- housing for several sequential cartridges;

- connection to the air inlet channel;

- a channel for air inlet into the filter of an individual protective mask;

- filter based on organic gel;

- filter layers based on organic gel with large pores;

- filter layers based on organic gel with medium-sized pores;

- filter layers based on organic gel with small pores.

Detailed description of the invention

The main application of the UGMA is as an air cleaner for circulating air only within a certain volume. In a closed and cyclic mode, the air intake fan (21) draws in air through the drawer (19) of the UGMA replacement filter cartridge. In FIG. 4 shows the drawer (19) of the UGMA replacement filter cartridge in the extended state. 3 040782 The air entering through the front surface of the cyclic air cleaner in which the drawer (19) of the UGMA replacement filter cartridge is installed flows through the UGMA filter cartridge (1), through the front surface of the drawer (19) of the UGMA replacement filter cartridge with at least a three-layer sandwich construction. In traditional air cleaners, particles are usually removed by sieve type filters such as HEPA and ULPA, and activated carbon filters are used along with them. In combination with conventional air purification devices, methods such as ultraviolet radiation and reduction of microbiological load, particle retention by electrostatic ionization, as well as methods derived from them, can take place. In contrast to all these methods, the UGMA filter contains a porous sponge or foam acting in a mechanism similar to that of the lungs, an organic gel (3) inside a randomly distributed spongy core, a nanoporous texture (11) on an organic gel covering randomly distributed channels , and the filter component retains microbiological particles and small particles. The microbiological filter component consists of a water-tight felt-type coarse filter (2) on the inlet side and a non-woven particle retention layer (4) to retain particles that can enter its outlet side. The wave-like structure (5), which increases the surface area and is a three-layer sandwich structure, ensures that large particles from the incoming air and particles that can damage the middle layer are retained in the first layer, which is a coarse filter (2). The particles retained in this layer typically include particles that may also be attracted by gravity. The randomly distributed spongy backbone, which is the second layer, contains air channels in the organic gel (3) (Fig. 2).

The air flowing through them is cleaned by a mechanism that is different from filters that are of the sieve type. Due to deviations in different directions in the form of ribbed protrusions, the air channels create turbulence. Air containing particles and microbiological load, moving with a deviation due to the specified turbulence, blows over the surfaces covered with nanoporous texture (11). In FIG. 2, respectively, starting from the scale of the sample section d = 5 mm, channels (10) for air flow with randomly distributed holes of the sponge, selected in accordance with the air flow, first on a scale of 100 µm and then 10 µm, and a nanoporous texture (11 ) in the cross section of the sample and in the inset. Particles and microbiological load in the air blowing over randomly distributed ribbed protrusions fill the nutrient material (12) based on trihydroxyl and glucose on the nanoporous texture (11) due to turbulence. Thus, the average reduction in the amount of microbiological load and particles during closed circuit operation increases in accordance with the amount of air passed in proportion to the duration of the passage. As the filter media captures particles and microbiological load, retention also increases along with the number of passes along with the fluidity of the remaining smaller particles. Another reason for this is that the nutrient material (12) based on trihydroxyl and glucose on the nanoporous texture (11) is also randomly distributed and forms a surface divided into small components having a size at the nanometer level. Due to this structure, the flowing air does not encounter a constant pressure loss inversely proportional to the size of the sieve opening, as in filters of the sieve type. The reason for this is that in a UGMA type filter the average air passage size in the main filter element is 100 times larger than in sieve type filters. As a result, the energy loss is reduced by 50% because the flow resistance is low and, moreover, in UGMA type filters, as the filter is used, there is no significant increase in energy loss due to filling, as in sieve type filters. The filtered air exiting the gel filter texture that covers the sponge structure is diffused into the non-woven layer (4) to retain the particles. The non-woven layer (4) for holding particles prevents organic gel particles (3) from the randomly distributed spongy core from entering the surrounding space, which can penetrate from the inside of the filter along with the microbiological particles accumulated on them. In addition, it provides retention of particles of medium size, proportional to the size of the pores in the paper.

Article prepared by Kanchan Maji, Sudip Dasgupta, Krishna Pramanik and Akalabya Bissoyi entitled Preparation and Evaluation of Gelatin-Chitosan-Nanobioglass 3D Porous Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering, published in 2016 in the International Journal of Biomaterials by Hindawi publisher house, relates to the preparation of a gel scaffold (skeleton) for the use of a biocomposite based on a natural polymer in bone tissue engineering. In the UGMA filtration system, in contrast to this article, the biomimetic effect in the design of the gel texture is obtained by coating the porous hydrogel framework (porous core) of the flexible sponge carrier structure with a film. The combination of naturally derived bone gelatin with trihydroxyl in an aqueous medium and binding to other organic substances, in particular microbiological load-binding glucose, constitutes an organic gel scaffold with a nanostructured shape as shown in FIG. 2. This gel scaffold has a concave channel structure that is capable of holding particles and microbiological load smaller than 0.1 µm.

The air stream blows over the gel core that covers the spongy surface, and the load that the air stream contains is held by this core. According to the design of the gel, the diameters of the first level cavities and the dimensions of the smaller cavities in each of them, as well as the proportion of dispersed retaining material, can be determined.

In FIG. 2, the gelled spongy structure is shown in three different scales. The spongy structure at the bottom serves as a carrier for air channels randomly distributed at the millimeter level. In the enlarged cross-sectional view, it can be seen that the incoming air blows over the surfaces covered with the hydrogel film. Above is a microscopic cross-sectional image obtained from the surfaces. Accordingly, randomly distributed circular pores having sizes ranging from 10-5000 nm cover the surface of the air guiding channels by sliding, and the microbiological load and particles contained in the air are retained by these pores.

Conventional air filters have little microbiological improvement in terms of particle efficiency and also have a short life span. For example, in a traditional, standard HEPA filter, which has an estimated life of 6 months before replacement, its microorganism retention life is completed in 15-45 days. The main reason for this is the increase in pressure in the remaining empty sieve openings, because in sieve-type filters, the gaps in the sieve are filled, a nozzle effect is created and the microbiological load on the colliding solids is erased, and the free microbiological load can pass through the holes due to its flexibility. .

The UGMA filter increases the friction of the filtered air on the surface due to turbulence when passing through a viscous gel material in cellular structured channels. The microbiological load in the air rubbing against the surface is held by the nanoporous gel structure. Thus, this structure retains bacteria and viruses with sizes that traditional particle filters such as HEPA and ULPA cannot eliminate, resulting in less pressure loss because its mechanism causes less friction, and this leads to less energy loss.

In the cyclic operation of the UGMA filtration system, air purification (flow distribution) is determined by the minimum number of devices operating according to a procedure determined according to the distribution of the ability of the surrounding space to generate a microbiological load in the room. Provided this minimum amount is met, target halving per hour values can be achieved, with higher cleaning values being achieved due to site-specific mechanical conditions associated with symmetrical appearance or installation accessibility.

The preparation process is also effective for the performance characteristics of the UGMA filter for the retention of microorganisms. The gel texture forming the nanopores should cover the internal channels of the sponge structure with a film structure as uniform as possible in thickness. One method developed for this is through a process of cooling to room temperature by compression after coating in a hot gel bath. With regard to uniformity, the hydrogel mixture is prepared based on liquid substances. A mixture containing glycerol, water, gelatin and glucose is melted by heating it to 55°C. The non-gelled (16) sponge, intended to be the carrier of the air channels, is immersed in the hydrogel-based mixture, heated to melt, by being fed from the cylinder into the bath (13) to impregnate the surface. Due to the volumetric flow rate of the gel, the coating on all internal surfaces of the nanoporous texture is applied by pulling onto the surface from the attracting cylinder (14). After the drying process (15), air channels, a film coating (8) preventing the absorption of moisture by a nanoporous framework, and a filter component with a framework of biological origin are obtained. The biofilter body thus obtained, the material drawn from the non-woven layer (4) for retaining particles, and the felt-type coarse filter (2) are together drawn from the cylinder with the material, and thus a three-layer sandwich structure is obtained. Similarly, you can get other multilayer structures in accordance with the requirements. Edge leakage of filtered air inside the cartridge is prevented by the multilayer sandwich structure and by obtaining the filter component with the required size by automatic cutting and ultrasonic welding (17) of the edges. The multilayer filter structure is introduced into the undulating mold before passing into the filter frame (6) to create a undulating structure in the air inlet direction. The wavy multilayer retention filter is placed in the frame (6). As a result, as the total surface area increases, the retention efficiency increases in accordance with the energy consumption.

The UGMA filters obtained in this way can be used either in full cycle or in part: together with the connection (27) with the air inlet channel containing the source of fresh air. The environment is supplied with air from the structure of the case (26) for several successive cartridges containing several filter cartridges (1) UGMA, because in

- 5 040782 In case of air supply from the outside, the necessary microbiological filtration by the UGMA filter of the air from the ambient conditions cannot be achieved in one pass. As air filters for face shield (FIG. 6) sponge air gap from inlet to outlet in the filter layers (30) of a personal protective mask filter based on organic gel with large pores, sponge air gap from inlet to outlet in the filter layers (31) Organic gel face mask filter with medium pore size and sponge air gap from inlet to outlet in the filter layers (32) Organic gel face mask filter with small pore size are used similarly in air suction and filtration through the air inlet channel (28) of the personal protective mask filter by natural flow, for example, when breathing instead of being forced by an engine.

In this case, the air passing from the coarse filter component (2) into the sponge air gap from the inlet to the outlet in the filter layers (30) of the personal protective mask filter based on organic gel with large pores passes into the sponge air gap from the inlet to outlet in the filter layers (32) of a small pore organic gel personal protective mask filter, which is a non-woven filter layer for retaining particles, and exits the sponge structure through the sponge air gap from inlet to outlet in the filter layers (31) an organic gel personal protective mask filter with medium pore size, whereby the multi-layer porous structure becomes smaller in size from inlet to outlet. The reason why the average pore size of the hydrogel-coated spongy hollow structures in the intermediate layers varies from large to small is due to the need to evenly distribute the air resistance (pressure drop) per layer when filtering air taken in one pass. If made with pores of equal size, the wearing time of the first hollow sponge layer would be much shorter than the other layers.

In the turbulent flow obtained by coating the macroscopic air cells with a nanoporous gel, the retention of the microbiological load from the air blowing over the surface is high. By using nanoporous gel components, holding together with nutrients and maintaining consistency in terms of natural viscosity and elasticity for a long time, the effective life of the filter is increased. The sandwich structure prevents large particles from blocking the sensitive microbiological gel filter (29) by propagating into the organic gel filter (29) the air that has passed through the coarse filter (2) by means of a felt (water-tight) retaining material (200 g/m ² ). The passage of microbiological load-bearing particles into a clean environment is prevented by deformation or collision of smaller particles by means of a non-woven antimicrobial filter (50 g/m ² ). Because the cycling rate per hour, obtained from the calculation made according to the generation of microbiological load and the volume of the surrounding space, is above the threshold value, in order to obtain a tendency to re-decrease the amount of microbiological load, cycling is required to compensate for the filter . The overall energy consumption is significantly reduced compared to sieve based filter systems for the same equivalent amount of retained particles due to the reduction in the amount of air that must be sucked in from the outside and due to low cycle pressure loss filtration in a larger volume. The equivalent amount of air passing through the cyclic multiple filtration necessary to retain microorganisms is provided by successive passage of one path of air introduced from the outside through a multi-layer sandwich structure. When filtered from the outside, the distribution of pressure and load between the layers is stabilized by filtering through the gel in the texture with the macroscopic cell size decreasing from large to small, due to which the overall service life before replacing the filter system is increased due to the fact that the short passage of time service is driven to uniform distribution, starting from the inlet layer of the air filter from the outside. Due to the increase in total surface area due to the wave structure, which increases the number of cells that the filter element can efficiently use per unit of air flow, and with a small decrease in the amount of retention efficiency depending on the flow rate, a higher overall speed is obtained. air flow. The continuity of the inflow of fresh air into the interior, along with the guarantee of filtration of microorganisms, is ensured by transferring an intermittent air flow from at least two volumes to the intake air outlet by repeatedly carrying out operations separately in each volume and transferring air into the internal space sequentially from two volumes, obtained from threshold filtering cycles. Nanoporous surfaces also increase surface retention at various scales up to molecular emissions of harmful gases, in particular mixed organic gases, and NBS (nuclear, biological, chemical) substances from the air, which provides physical purification of air carrier gases, such as oxygen, from larger molecules from mixtures of harmful substances and particles. On a gas mask with a multilayer UGMA filter, by providing the effects of enhancing the retention of nanoporous and

- 6 040782 microcellular structure ensures the containment of emissions of harmful gases and a wide range of NBS substances when air is transferred to the air channel due to human inhalation and its cyclic circulation, and thus a wide range of substances can be retained, in contrast to the traditional masks and environmental filters for common harmful gases or substances. Instead of using a special texture for a sieve type filter, or exposure to a gas or a harmful chemical due to the lack of a common chemical interaction or screening mechanism, nanopores and microcellular structure in the mask or filtering air from the surrounding space, its service life is longer than 100 % more than traditional short life filters. In UGMA filtration, since the location of its placement and the number of devices is determined according to the physical distribution of the total circulating capacity and the performance according to the balance criteria determined by statistical measurement in accordance with the performance in terms of microbiological load, determined before filtering the air from the surrounding space , the period until the replacement of the UGMA filter element is determined according to the resistance factor to the continuously repeated decrease in microbiological load, and by using the division factor corresponding to this value as an automatic means of estimating the service life in the control unit of the UGMA air directing device, operation safety is ensured , not exceeding the upper limit of the microbiological load of air in the surrounding space. By comparing the device and filter serial number in an environment where multiple filter elements are used, and by monitoring the lifetime for all devices in the environment, the criteria tested environmental microbiological filtration performance is ensured by blocking other filters or used filters of a different type, not showing the same efficiency. By changing the ratios of substances added to the mixture to provide adhesion, viscosity and resiliency when the gel material provides high microbiological filtration efficiency according to the operating temperature range of the operating environment, and by adding additional chemicals that increase the melting points for a high temperature environment or for lower temperature surroundings that lower the freezing point, it is possible to achieve the desired physical properties suitable for the given surroundings. Changing the ratio of substances added to the mixture to provide adhesion, viscosity and elasticity, when the gel material provides high microbiological filtration efficiency in accordance with the operating range of relative humidity of the operating environment, and by adding additional chemicals that increase the melting points for the high temperature environment or for a lower temperature environment that lowers the freezing point, target physical properties suitable for that environment can be achieved. Since only non-toxic substances of organic origin are used in the UGMA filter, it is not harmful if accidentally swallowed. The UGMA filter can be subjected to standard disposal procedures as the frame (6) and fasteners are made from naturally occurring materials such as cardboard or wood, as well as ease of waste disposal, including incineration to avoid problems of direct contact with the microbiological load it has retained. the time of its use. Since the microbiological retention of the UGMA air filter is superior to traditional sieve type filters, the high bacteria retention capacity ensures that the shelf life of food products is extended without increasing the amount of additives, if any, or without using any additives in food production environments or food chains where it is used. The UGMA type filter prolongs the flavor aging time when used with cycling exceeding the filtration balance limit, according to the surrounding space in not fully insulated systems in warehouses, chambers or on shelves, due to its antimicrobial efficacy and high energy efficiency, or alternatively instead of By reducing the traditional 4 degree bacterial growth by lowering the temperature, it provides energy savings by equivalently limiting bacterial reproduction at higher temperatures.

Due to these properties of reducing microbiological contamination in the air during food production, for example, in a dairy plant, it is possible to increase the shelf life of products by more than 100% without the use of additives. Similarly, unlike traditional filters, it is possible to reduce the microbiological load in the air with low energy loss in sensitive environments such as hospitals and in crowded environments such as public transport and schools, and thus infectious and allergic effects can be significantly reduced, including significant numbers of bacteria and viruses.

Change in the level of microbiological load of the surrounding space in time for those cases when air is filtered in the surrounding space in a closed cycle with

- 7 040782 using a traditional sieve type HEPA filter and a UGMA filter can be seen in FIG. 7 is proportional to the original values. Accordingly, while traditional sieve-type filters in the case of HEPA reduce the level of microbiological load in the surrounding space by converging to an asymptote that decreases as the size of the sieve openings decreases, the UGMA filter, as its operating time increases, brings the level of microbiological load to zero. The microbiological load can be transferred to another environment by being held on to larger particles, which are usually suspended in the air. Viruses are the smallest structures and are less than 0.1 micron in size. The size of bacteria is in the range of 0.15-0.30 microns. Molds are up to 0.35 microns in size. Due to their protein structure, microbiological agents have a flexible structure. Therefore, they can pass through pores smaller than themselves, provided there is a strong air flow. Those. since the structures of traditional filters are composed of inorganic materials, most substances with an organic structure are able to pass through their pores. When examining the level of microbiological load reduction of HEPA filters over time, it can be seen that they easily pass smaller structures (viruses, bacteria, yeasts, molds) that are retained to a certain level. In the case of UGMA filters, the previously measured microbiological load level is approximately halved within an hour and reaches zero CFU.

The change in the weighted average particle size in the surrounding space over time during the operation of UGMA, HEPA and ULPA filters in a closed cycle is shown in Fig. 8. These graphs were obtained by measuring the reduction levels of particles of various sizes during the first 5 hours in a closed environment using a HEPA filter, ULPA filter and UGMA filter. Since the pore size of the HEPA filter is 0.33 microns, it is able to retain particles of 0.33 microns or more. Smaller pore size ULPA filters can retain particles as small as 0.12 microns or larger. UGMA filters are able to retain particles of 0.1 microns or larger in the first 4 hours due to the gel filtration technology they contain. The amount of reduction in longer operation is superior to commercially available traditional sieve type filters.

In screen type filters, the screen openings from HEPA to ULPA are reduced, but pressure loss is increased. Based on the parameters specified in the EN 779 standard, which classifies the characteristics of HEPA filters, the measured pressure drops vary according to the amount of air flowing through the filter. As the air flow increases, the resistance increases and thus the pressure drop increases. HEPA filters can achieve a pressure drop of 450 Pa at an airflow rate in the wind test chamber of 0.983 m ³ /s. To retain smaller particles, it is necessary to reduce the pore size. In other words, holding smaller particles creates a larger pressure drop. While the pressure generated in ULPA filters, which retain particles of 0.12 microns and larger, is at a maximum level of 450 Pa, in UGMA filters, this value for reducing the content of particles of the same size in the surrounding air is 110 Pa. In FIG. 9 shows the decrease in pressure drop as a function of resistance to air flow through the filter element according to the weighted average particle size, while the amount of atmospheric air of the UGMA filter and sieve type air filters (HEPA/EPA/ULPA) in closed circuit operation will be decrease. The pressure loss decreases as the particle size increases. The pressure loss in MJH filters is 30-120 Pa. This value is much lower than in traditional filters. Because its structure is different from other mechanisms, its breathability is high.

Since the particles trapped in the EPA, HEPA and ULPA filters clog the pores, the airflow that can pass to the opposite side decreases as the operating time increases and thus pressure drop losses increase. Therefore, as the number of days of operation increases, the power consumption increases, and therefore the daily power consumption increases. However, UGMA filters do not have any obstruction to the air flow as the operating time increases. As the number of days of use of the UGMA filter increases, since the pressure loss in the main filter element does not change, and the changes associated with the coarse filter and non-woven filter layers are very small, the amount of change in daily energy consumption is much lower compared to filters EPA/HEPA/ULPA. In FIG. 10 shows the change in power consumption (PU - per unit) over the operating time of the UGMA filter and HEPA filters, normalized per unit in accordance with the value at the first time of operation.

In addition, traditional filters filter the air from outside, condition it and deliver it to the interior space. Replacement is carried out at least 6 times per hour. In other words, air heated or cooled and delivered to the surrounding area is discharged according to the number of replacements. This leads to additional energy consumption as well as pressure loss.

- 8 040782

Since the indoor air in UGMA filtration systems is filtered in a cycle and introduced into the surroundings completely or in a higher ratio compared to HEPA filtration, most of the conditioned air remains within the surroundings and the energy consumption associated with its discharge and conditioning is reduced.

The essential features of the Ultra High Efficiency Organic Gel Microbiological Filter Cartridge (1) (UGMA) are as follows: a layer of nanoporous texture (11) on a randomly distributed organic gel (3) in a spongy backbone with an average density selected in the range of 10-50 pores per inch depending on the place of use, while the air passing through the channels (9) for air inlet from the surface into the filter cartridge (1) UGMA with a sandwich structure and organic gel (3) randomly distributed in a sponge core containing randomly distributed pores, which serves as a means of retaining microorganisms, blows over the nanopores, generating microscopic turbulence inside the spongy structure air inlet channels (10), and this ensures that the microbiological load with sizes less than 0.1 μm is retained by the pores. Thus, bacteria and viruses of such a small size can be retained in the filter that they are not limited by the sieve openings of HEPA, ULPA filters, which are of the sieve type.

Another distinguishing feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) is that, since the air inlet holes of the sponge pores are 0.5-2.5 mm (10-50 pores per inch) in the organic gel randomly distributed in the sponge backbone ( 3), which serves as a microorganism containment means, is 1000 times the diameter of the smallest microbiological load retained, the airflow permeability is high, and the pressure loss is low by blowing the pores of the nanoporous texture (11) reduced to nanometer size. This, compared to increasing energy loss as particle retention decreases, as in sieve type EPA/HEPA/ULPA filters, results in energy savings regardless of particle retention size or microbiological load. In FIG. 9 shows the decrease in pressure drop as a function of airflow resistance across the filter element according to the weighted average particle size, while the amount of atmospheric air of sieve type air filters (HEPA/EPA/ULPA) will decrease during closed circuit operation.

Another feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) according to the subject matter of the present invention is that the pore density of the backbone in which the randomly distributed organic gel (3) is located in the spongy backbone is 10-50 pores per inch. More preferably, a porous material with a pore density of 15-25 pores per inch is typically used. An even more commonly used pore density of 20 pores per inch in a standard single layer filter corresponds to an average pore opening size of 1.2 mm. Since the core pore opening has a value in millimeters (0.5-2.5 mm), and substances suspended in air do not reach this value, depending on the time of operation, as occurs in filters of the sieve type, the change in daily energy consumption due to increased power consumption due to clogging is at negligible levels compared to conventional HEPA and ULPA filters (FIG. 10).

Another feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) according to the subject matter of the present invention is that it contains a hydrogel-based nanoporous texture (11) obtained from a mixture of organic gelatin, glycerol, water and glucose. The coating is applied to the inner surfaces of the sponge structure of the filter component in the form of a film; thus, an air channel structure of the microorganism retaining means of completely natural origin, without toxic effects, is obtained, in which the distribution of porosity is determined by the ratio of the basic materials in the mixture.

The nanoporous texture (11) herein is designed to be immobile when fed into its composition with a microbiological load held by glucose or other organic nutrients, and at the same time it can be removed with an optional carbonate.

The inner surface of the filter element contains small pores to retain molecules of substances that form odors from the incoming air, and the desired flavor added to the mixture of hydrogel and glycerin can be mixed with the exhaust air, i.e. into a nanoporous texture (11), and thus desirable odors can be provided at the same time that unwanted odors are removed from the air without the use of deodorant suppressive chemicals. Moreover, an organic coloring agent can be added to the nanoporous texture (11) contained in the UGMA filter cartridge (1).

An additional feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) is that it is designed to retain particles and microbiological load becoming smaller in size, converging towards zero, as application time increases, since the probability of retaining particles or microorganisms of a certain size is randomly distributed. nanoporous texture (11) on the inner surface of an organic gel randomly distributed in the spongy core (3) is proportional to the total volume of the air being cleaned,

- 9 040782 if continuous circulation of air from the surrounding space in a closed cycle is ensured in the device (18) for cyclic air cleaning inside the same surrounding space; thus, while the particle size filtered from the air cannot be reduced below the sieve opening in sieve-type filters such as HEPA, UGMA filters (as shown in Figures 7 and 8) can also be reduced in microbiological load content even smaller in the surrounding space as the operating time of the system in a closed cycle increases.

An additional distinguishing feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) is that the energy loss due to large particles that impair the properties of the nano-organic, randomly distributed organic gel (3) in a spongy backbone, is kept relatively low by means of a coarse filter (2). cleaning felt type attached to its inlet.

An additional feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) is that particles that can penetrate from the non-woven layer (4) to retain the particles and the randomly distributed organic gel (3) in the spongy backbone are retained and thus prevent particles from entering the surrounding space. containing a microbiological load in their body.

The method for producing an ultra-high performance microbiological gel (UGMA) filter cartridge (1) is characterized in that the non-gelled sponge (16) is immersed in a bath (13) for heating and impregnation with a nanoporous texture (11), in which there is a mixture based on a hydrogel, melted by heating to 55°C, and then cover all the inner surfaces of the nanoporous texture (11) with it by drawing from the cylinder (14), and the fact that it includes the stages of the drying process (15).

Another feature of the process for producing the UGMA filter cartridge (1) is that the felt-type coarse filter (2) material and materials drawn from the particle-retaining non-woven layer (4) are jointly drawn from the cylinder, the UGMA filter cartridge (1) the required size is obtained by automatic cutting, while the edge leakage of filtered air inside the cartridge is prevented by ultrasonic welding (17) and the resulting three-layer structure is placed on the supporting frame (6) using lines (7) holding the wave-like structure, with a wave-like structure (5 ) in the air inlet direction, whereby the efficiency in terms of energy consumption is increased due to the increase in the total surface area.

An additional feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) according to the subject matter of the present invention is that glycerin, water, sugar and other additives are added to the hydrogel material covering the sponge texture (nanoporous texture (11)) and that the pore size distribution in nanometers can be controlled. and micrometer scales. Thus, it is possible to perform efficiency optimization according to the purpose based on the period of activity, service life and minimum particle size according to the place of sale.

Another distinguishing feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) is that by increasing the surface area of the filter in the wave-like structure (5) and the volume of the UGMA filter cartridge (1), energy losses due to pressure drop are reduced while increasing the air flow rate.

An additional feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) is that instead of reducing the particle load and microbiological load by repeatedly circulating in free air during breathing, sponge layers with different pore sizes from larger to smaller are used: Spongy air gap from inlet to outlet in filter layers (30) of a personal protective mask filter based on organic gel with large pores, filter layers (31) based on organic gel with medium pores and filter layers (32) based on organic gel with small pores. In this way, air is filtered in a single pass in applications such as a protective mask.

An essential feature of the UGMA filter cartridge (1) is that it contains an outside air treatment unit (25) for filtering the UGMA at the outside air inlet when fresh air from the outside needs to be added to the surroundings. As an alternative to reducing microbiological load and particle load by multiple cycling in a separate compartment, more than one use of a gel-coated sponge bed in a housing (26) for several successive cartridges is provided. Thus, in addition to keeping air in the interior space, the microbiological load of which is reduced due to a single passage of air with a target level of purification, an equal pressure drop between the layers is also ensured in accordance with the change in the size of the pore openings.

An important feature of the outside air treatment unit (25) for said UGMA filtration is that the size of the pore openings and the thickness of the sponge layers are sorted by size so that the pressure drop distribution per layer is kept in equilibrium with an equal air flow and thus the total service life is extended by preventing shortening

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Claims (9)

due to additional wear of the input layer. Pore spacings range from 8 to 15 pores per inch, based on the total number of layers in the first inlet. If the number of layers is greater than 6, it starts with a maximum spacing of 12 pores per inch. PPI values for each layer increase from inlet to outlet. In the last layer, the pore density is 20-25 pores per inch, in accordance with the upper limit of the air flow rate in the system. If intermediate porous layers are not available in standard preparation, the group reduction method can be used. For example, 9 layers can be made as follows: 10, 10, 15, 15, 15, 20, 20, 20, 20 ppi respectively from inlet to outlet. If the pore diameters are sorted from large to small in the application of the outdoor air inlet multi-layer filter according to the situation of equal pore openings, early-mid period wear due to pressure imbalance in the inlet layer is prevented. The reduction amounts of the pore openings are determined according to the number of layers. The maximum number of layers is 12. The case where the number of layers in the external inlet is 12 is the case of being equal to the number of internal cycles per hour in the standard. In the case when there are less than 12 layers, the remaining cycles within the closed cycle are reduced. The layers in Fig. 5 represent the block from intake to exhaust. CLAIM 1. A filter cartridge (1) of an ultra-high-efficiency microbiological organic gel air filter (UGMA), characterized in that it contains an organic gel (3) randomly distributed in the sponge body as a means of retaining microorganisms formed by a layer covering the inner surfaces of the sponge body, containing randomly distributed pores with a size selected in the range of 0.5-2.5 mm; a nanoporous texture (11) of an organic gel (3) in a spongy core, the pore diameters of which are randomly distributed; channels (9) for air inlet, allowing air to pass into the filter cartridge (1) UGMA with a sandwich structure; and channels (10) for air flow, designed to hold microbiological load with pores of less than 0.1 μm, while the filter cartridge (1) is configured to generate turbulence with inlet air when blowing nanopores. 2. Filter cartridge (1) UGMA according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains an organic gel in a randomly distributed sponge core containing airflow holes at the millimeter level of the pores of the sponge so that the pore size of the microorganism retaining means is 1000 times larger diameter of the smallest retained microbiological load, which is less than 0.3 microns. 3. UGMA filter cartridge (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a hydrogel-based nanoporous texture (11) obtained from a mixture of organic gelatin, glycerol, water and glucose. 4. Filter cartridge (1) UGMA according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that it contains a nanoporous texture (11) containing carbonate. 5. UGMA filter cartridge (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface of the filter component contains small pores to retain odor molecules from the incoming air. 6. Filter cartridge (1) UGMA according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that it contains a nanoporous texture (11) comprising a mixture of hydrogel with glycerin containing natural flavoring. 7. UGMA filter cartridge (1) according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that it contains a nanoporous texture (11) containing nutrients (12) based on trihydroxyl and glucose. 8. Filter cartridge (1) UGMA according to claim 1, characterized in that to ensure the retention of particles and microbiological load, decreasing with convergence to zero as the time of use increases in order to allow retention of particles or microorganisms of a certain size, proportional to the total volume purified air, it contains a randomly distributed nanoporous texture (11) on the inner surface of an organic gel (3) randomly distributed in the spongy core, if continuous air circulation from the surrounding space is provided using a device (18) for cyclic air purification inside one and the same surrounding space. 9. UGMA filter cartridge (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a felt-type coarse filter (2), which limits the energy loss due to larger particles at the inlet, relatively degrading the properties of the nano-organic randomly distributed in the spongy core gel (3). -