FI129479B

FI129479B - Maze, apparatus and method for cleaning gases

Info

Publication number: FI129479B
Application number: FI20176059A
Authority: FI
Inventors: George Frankey
Original assignee: Silver Group Finland Oy Ltd
Priority date: 2017-11-24
Filing date: 2017-11-24
Publication date: 2022-03-15
Also published as: FI20176059A1

Abstract

A maze, apparatus and method for cleaning gases. Gas to be cleaned are directed By means of the maze (4) to pass several times through a liquid path (7) so that the gas becomes liquid washed.

Description

Maze, apparatus and method for cleaning gases Background of the invention The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning gases. The apparatus is intended for removing hazardous particles and unpleasant odors from gases.

The invention further relates to a maze and to a method of cleaning gases.

The field of the invention is defined more specifically in the preambles of the independent claims.

An air purifier or air cleaner is a device which removes contaminants from the air in a room or other indoor space. The air cleaner may be based on filter elements which are configured to trap airborne particles by size exclusion. Air is forced through a filter and particles are physically captured by the filter. The known air cleaning devices have shown to contain some disadvantages. Documents US-7192469- Bl, CN-104492200-A and GB-571311-A disclose gas purifiers which utilize combination of a liquid baths and mazes when separating particles from gases.

Brief description of the invention An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved maze, apparatus and method for cleaning gases. The maze according to the invention is characterized by the characterizing features of a first independent N 25 apparatus claim. N The apparatus according to the invention is S characterized by the characterizing features of a second O independent apparatus claim. = The method according to the invention is * 30 characterized by the charactering features and steps of an 3 independent method claim. = An idea of the disclosed solution is that gas is Q cleaned by directing it several times through a liquid bath whereby dirt and particles carried by the gas are separated from the gas by means of liquid. In other words, the gas is purified by means of wet washing. At least one maze is utilized for directing the gas several times through the liquid bath. The maze may comprise a labyrinth-like structure which serves as a gas flow directing element.

An advantage of the disclosed solution is that effective cleaning of the gas is achieved when the gas is directed through a liquid bath several times. The gas is forced several times into the liquid and becomes purified before discharged from the maze. The structure of the maze and the entire cleaning apparatus may be simple, durable and easy to manufacture. The apparatus does not require any changeable filter elements and service of the apparatus is fast and easy to execute. Since the maze and the apparatus have no moving components subjected to wear, operation of the maze and the apparatus is reliable.

According to an embodiment, a maze of a gas cleaning apparatus has a labyrinth-like structure for directing flow of gas to be cleaned through a liquid bath. The maze comprises several successive filter plates. The filter plates are made of material impermeable to gas, whereby they serve as gas directing elements. The filter plates are orientated parallel relative to each other, whereby between the successive filter plates are gaps for the flow of gas. Further, the maze is intended to be immersed partly inside a liguid bath. Thus, the maze is configured to direct the gas to be cleaned to zigzag above and below a top surface S of the liquid bath. When the gas dives through the liquid & bath, it becomes simultaneously wet washed. The structure <Q of the maze may be simple and durable.

N 30 According to an embodiment, the liguid inside the E apparatus is in non-flowing state. An advantage of this 2 embodiment is that the structure of apparatus may be simple 2 when no control means are required for controlling = continuous flow of the liquid.

N 35 According to an embodiment, the maze comprises at least 30 parallel filter plates. An advantage is that the gas is forced to penetrate through liquid path 15 or more times so that washing of the gas is effective and quality of the gas exhausted from the apparatus is high. According to an embodiment, the maze comprises at least 50 filter plates. Such a great number of filter plates guarantees high purification results, and still, the structure of the maze may be simple.

According to an embodiment, number of the filter plates is adjustable. The filter plates are mounted in a removable manner to the frame of the maze. This way properties of the maze and the apparatus may be adjusted according to the need. The structure also allows modular basic structure so that mazes with different properties may be manufactured cost effectively.

According to an embodiment, each of the filter plates of the maze have flat surfaces serving as gas directing surfaces. The filter plates may be formed of conventional sheet billets having flat surfaces. This way the filter plates are easy to manufacture utilizing normal sheet work principles and machines. Thus, manufacturing costs may be low. A further advantage is that flat surfaces of the filter plates remain clean since no particles accumulate on their smooth surfaces.

According to an embodiment, structure of the filter plates and their fastening to the frame is executed without using welding and bending. The filter plates may be formed S by cutting and punching and their fastening to the frame & may be based on shape locking. Therefore, the maze is fast <Q and easy to manufacture and manufacturing costs may be low. N 30 According to an embodiment, the filter plates are E without any elements or surface features capable to trap o particles of the gas to be cleaned. In other words, the o filter plates are not designed to execute physical particle = trapping, but instead the liquid does it. Since the filter N 35 plates serve as gas flow directing walls or surfaces, their structure may be very simple and durable.

According to an embodiment, the filter plates of the maze have vertical orientation. Between the parallel successive filter plates are vertical gaps and size of the vertical gaps 1s less than 10 mm. An advantage of this embodiment is that the maze may have a compact structure despite of a large number of vertical filter plates.

According to an embodiment, the filter plates are rectangular in shape and comprise opposite vertical sides and opposite horizontal sides. The mentioned horizontal sides of the filter plates are supported to a frame of the maze and the filter plates have parallel vertical orientation. The filter plates may be individual elements which are not connected directly to each other. The filter plates may be supported to the frame by means of shape locking, whereby their mounting and removal are easy and fast to execute.

According to an embodiment, the maze comprises two type of filter plates, namely several first filter plates and several second filter plates. Each of the first filter plates comprise at least one first trough opening at the horizontal top side portion of the filter plates for directing the gas flow between the mentioned gaps and above the liquid bath. Each of the second filter plates comprise at least one second through opening at the horizontal bottom side portion of the filter plates for directing the gas flow between the gaps in the liguid bath. The successive first N and second filter plates are arranged in an alternative N order so that the openings of the filter plates provide the P maze with alternating top and bottom horizontal flow paths N 30 between the gaps. Shape of the first and second openings E may be rectangular. The horizontal top and bottom edges of 2 the filter plates may be supported against inner surfaces 2 of filtering chamber or corresponding support surfaces or = elements. N 35 According to an embodiment, the first filter plates disclosed in the previous embodiment comprise several top openings.

The top openings may be arranged in 1 - 3 horizontal rows.

This way number of top openings may be great, which ensures effective gas flow above the liquid bath.

The air flow above the liquid bath should not be 5 restricted since no gas cleaning occurs above the liquid level.

Free flow above the liquid level is beneficial for energy consumption.

According to an embodiment, the second filter plates comprise several bottom openings.

The bottom openings may be arranged in one single horizontal row.

According to an embodiment, the filter plates are blind plates without any through holes for the gas flow.

Since the filter plates are made of gas tight material, no gas flows pass through them.

The maze has vertical inner height and the filter plates have vertical dimension which is minor than the mentioned inner height of the maze.

The successive filter plates are arranged in an alternative order so that between horizontal sides of the filter plates and horizontal inner surfaces of the maze are horizontal gaps serving as gas flow paths.

In other words, the gas passes the horizontal top and bottom edges of the filter plates alternatively.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus for cleaning gases comprises a housing inside which is a filter chamber.

The gas to the cleaned is fed through a feed port of duct into the filter chamber and after being purified S the gas is discharged through a discharge port to & surrounding air space of the apparatus or to a gas passage P or conduct.

The gas is cleaned inside the filter chamber by N 30 means of a maze and liguid.

At a bottom part of the filter E chamber there is a liquid reservoir or corresponding liquid o tight space.

The maze is located at a bottom part of the o filter chamber so that it is partly immersed in a liquid = bath and is configured to direct gas flow to dive several N 35 times into the liguid bath before being discharged from the filter chamber.

The maze and the liquid bath execute together wet wash for the gas passing through the apparatus.

According to an embodiment, the housing comprises at least one liquid feed port for feeding clean liquid into the bottom of the filter chamber.

And further, the housing further comprises at least one liquid discharge port for discharging dirty liquid out of the filter chamber.

Feeding of clean liquid may be controlled by means of at least one feed valve and discharge of dirty liquid may be controlled by means of at least one discharge valve.

The liquid needs to be changed from time to time since the liquid washes out particles carried by the flowing gas.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one liquid feed port above a maze for top feed of the liquid to a filter chamber.

The fed liquid may be directed through a diffuser plate so that a shower is formed.

The generated liquid shower is used for washing filter plates of the maze by directing liquid flow through the inlet port.

Alternatively, the liquid is fed through nozzles or corresponding liquid directing elements.

An advantage of this embodiment is that no complicated and time consuming service is needed since the filter plates may be cleaned simultaneously when the liquid of the liquid bath is changed.

A housing of the apparatus need not to be opened.

Further, it is possible to arrange a special filter plate washing sequence during which a liquid discharge port is N open, and the liauid is fed through the feed port for a N defined time period.

The cleaning process of the apparatus <Q may be automated too.

N 30 According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises E at least one blower for feeding the gas to be cleaned to 2 the feed port and for causing the gas to flow through the 2 apparatus.

Since the apparatus is provided with the blower = of its own, the apparatus may be an independently operable N 35 stand-alone device.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus is connected to an air channel wherein the gas to be cleaned is moved by means of a blower external to the cleaning apparatus. In this solution the apparatus has no dedicated blower but instead the feed and discharge ports may be connected to a larger gas handling system.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus is a module which is mountable in one piece to an operational site. Transport and mounting of such apparatus are easy and fast.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus has a frame configuration of which frame is a transport container. An advantage of this embodiment is that the apparatus does not necessarily require any separate room space, shelter and foundation, but may instead be mounted directly on the ground.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus is a stand-alone air cleaning unit. Alternatively, the apparatus is part of a larger air handling system.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one control unit for controlling operation of the apparatus. The control unit is configured to control at least magnitude of the gas flow through the filter chamber. The control unit may comprise a processor for executing a software program comprising instructions, control parameters and control strategy for controlling the S apparatus. The control unit may be a computer which is in eu data connection with one or more electronic terminal ? devices, laptops, servers, smart phones and cloud services. N 30 According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises E several sensors sensing data of which sensors is transmitted 2 to the control unit. The apparatus may comprise sensors for 2 sensing one or more of the following features: quality of = the cleaned gas discharged from the apparatus; pressure of N 35 the gas flow before and after the filtering chamber;

operational state of the apparatus; condition of the apparatus. According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to monitor dirtiness of the liquid and is configured to automatically change the liquid of the liquid bath according to a predetermined threshold value. The control unit may control automatically electronically operable control valves. Alternatively, the control unit may generate an alarm signal or message for informing an operator of the need for the change of the liquid.

According to an embodiment, the control unit comprises at least one data transmission unit for wireless data transmission between at least one electronic device external to the control unit. Thus, the control unit may send and receive data from a smart phone, a portable computer, a remote controller or a cloud service. This way the apparatus may be remote controlled and may provide the operator with needed data on cleaning process and condition of the apparatus.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to generate monitoring data of the operation and state of the cleaning apparatus and is configured to transmit the data to at least one external electronic device or to generate visual indication by means of a signal lamp or a display device, for example.

According to an embodiment, the housing comprises a S bypass system allowing the gas to be filtered to be eu selectively directed through the filter chamber without <Q entering the maze. The bypass system may be used when there N 30 is need to circulate gas without a need to clean it.

E According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises o at least one gas dryer which is located at a section between o the maze and the discharge port, and wherein the gas dryer = is configured to remove liquid vapor and moisture of the N 35 cleaned gas.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution is utilized for cleaning indoor air by means of the liquid bath. Further, water is used as wet wash agent in the liquid bath. Then, gas flow is directed to pass through the water at least 20 times before leaving the maze.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution is utilized for cleaning indoor air of a machine shop or an engineering works.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution is utilized for cleaning welding fumes.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution is utilized for cleaning fumes of a foundry.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution is used as a wet indoor dust remover. The apparatus may also be implemented for removing pollen and harmful fine particles from incoming air of a building. The apparatus is beneficial to allergy sufferers and asthmatics, and at reducing or eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke, for example.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution is designed to clean the gases only by means of the water bath.

The above disclosed embodiments may be combined in order to form suitable solutions having those of the above features that are needed.

N Brief description of the figures N Some embodiments are described in more detail in S the accompanying drawings, in which N Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a gas cleaning = 30 apparatus, > Figure 2 is a schematic side view of another gas 3 cleaning apparatus, = Figures 3a and 3b are schematic side views of filter N plates of a maze, Figures 4a and 4b schematic side views of alternative filter plates of a maze,

Figure 5 is a schematic and partly sectional view of a maze comprising several vertically parallel filter plates, and Figures 6 - 8 are schematic views of a gas filtering apparatus.

For the sake of clarity, the figures show some embodiments of the disclosed solution in a simplified manner. In the figures, like reference numerals identify like elements.

Detailed description of some embodiments Figure 1 shows a gas cleaning apparatus 1 comprising a housing 2 inside which is a filter chamber 3. At a bottom part of the housing 2 is a maze 4 through which gas flow is directed. Inside the filter chamber 3 may be partition walls ba and 5b as well as a guide wall 6 for guiding the gas flow. The bottom part of the housing may be filled with liquid, such as water, so that the bottom part of the filter chamber 3 comprises a liquid bath 7. In order to feed clean liquid into the filter chamber 3 there is a liquid feed port 8 at the bottom part of the housing 2, and correspondingly a liquid discharge port 9 for discharging dirty liquid. The liquid ports 8, 9 may be provided with wvalves 10, 11 or corresponding liquid flow control elements. At a top portion of the housing 2 may be a feed port 12 for feeding dirty gas into the filter chamber 3, and correspondingly a N discharge port 13 for discharging clean gas. The feed and N discharge ports 12, 13 may be connected to separate gas S conducts or gas conveying systems, whereby the apparatus N does not necessarily have a blower of its own. = 30 Alternatively, the feed port 12 is connected to a blower B, > which is configured to generate gas flow and pressure needed 3 for the cleaning process. At a top part of the housing 2 = may be a bypass system comprising gas ports 14, 15 both N provided with valves 16, 17 so that gas may be directed to flow through the apparatus 1 without being cleaned. Further,

between the maze 4 and the discharge port 13 may be a gas dryer 18 for removing water vapour. Figure 1 further discloses by means of arrows how the gas flow zigzags inside the maze 4 and dives several times into the water bath 7. The gas flow becomes wet washed. Further, operation of the apparatus 1 may be controlled by means of a control unit CU. Figure 2 discloses a gas cleaning device 1 wherein a maze 4 comprises several parallel and vertically oriented filter plates which extend from top to bottom of a filter chamber 3. The maze 4 comprises several first filter plates 19a and several second filter plates 19b. The first filter plates 19a comprise first through openings 20a at their top portion and the second filter plates 19b comprise second through openings 20b at their bottom portion. The gas flow is guided by means of the filter plates 19a, 19b and their openings 20a, 20b so that the gas flow dives several times into the liquid bath 7, as it is indicated by arrows. Figure 2 further discloses that a feed port 1? and a discharge port 13 may be connected to gas conveying lines 21, 22 so that no blower and other gas flow control means are necessarily needed in the apparatus 1. Further, at the bottom part of a housing 2 may be a liquid port 23 for changing liquid of the liquid bath 7. Figure 3a discloses a first filter plate 19a of a maze, and Figure 3b discloses a second filter plate 19b. N The filter plates 19a, 19b may be planar plates provided N with several through openings 20a, 20b. Shapes of the filter P plates 19a, 19b may be rectangular and their side surfaces N 30 may be smooth. The filter plates 19a, 19b may be made of E metal material, such as stainless steel plate material. o However, the filter plates may alternatively be made of o plastic material of any other material suitable for the

N S purpose.

Figure 4a discloses a first filter plate 19a comprising several first through openings 20a in several horizontal rows. Figure 4b discloses a second filter plate 19b, which is a blind plate without any through openings. The filter plate 19% may be supported by means of suitable support elements 24 so that gas flow may flow through a horizontal gap 25 formed between a bottom surface 26 of a filter chamber and a bottom edge of the filter plate 19b.

Figure 5 discloses a maze 4 comprising several first filter plates with first through openings 20a and several second filter plates 19b with second through openings 20b. Between the vertically oriented filter plates 19a, 19b are vertical gaps 27 for directing gas flows inside the maze 4.

The filter plates 19a, 19b may be supported to a support bar 28 a top side surface of which is provided with several mounting grooves 29 configured to receive edges of the filter plates 19a, 19b. Thus, mounting of the filter plates 19a, 19b may be based on shape locking principle. Top edges of the filter plates may have corresponding support and mounting.

Figure 5 further discloses that number of the filter plates 19a, 19b of the maze may vary. Figures 6 — 8 disclose a gas cleaning apparatus 1 comprising a closed box like housing 2 which is provided with an openable lid 30. Between the lid 30 and a maze 4 S may be a washer plate 31 or diffusor element the purpose of eu which is to diffuse the liguid fed through a feed port 10 <Q and to thereby generate a liquid shower for washing the N 30 filter plates 19a, 19b when liquid is fed to the filtering E chamber 3. The washer plate 31 may be pierced so that the 2 fed liguid may pass through it. Further, between edges of 3 the lid 30 and the housing 2 may be an intermediate element = 32 which may have a frame-like structure. By means of the N 35 intermediate element a liguid space is formed between the lid 30 and the washer plate 31. The mentioned liquid space improves the washing of the filter plates. The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. In its details, the invention may vary within the scope of the claims.

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Claims

1. A maze (4) of a gas cleaning apparatus (1), wherein the maze (4) is configured to direct flow of gas to be cleaned through a labyrinth-like structure of the maze (4); the maze (4) comprises several successive filter plates (19a, 19b), which plates are made of material impermeable to gas; the filter plates (19a, 19b) are orientated parallel relative to each other and between the successive filter plates are gaps (27) for the flow of gas; the maze (4) is configured to be immersed partly inside a liquid bath (7), whereby the maze (4) is configured to direct the gas to be cleaned to zigzag above and below a top surface of the liquid bath (7); the filter plates (19a, 19b) have vertical orientation; the filter plates (19a, 19b) are provided with through openings (20a, 20b) for directing the gas flow between the gaps (27); and above the maze (4) is at least one liquid feed port (10) for top feed of the liquid and for washing the filter plates (19a, 19b) of the maze (4) by directing liquid flow through the liquid feed port (10); characterized in that N the maze (4) comprises two type of filter plates, N several first filter plates (19a) and several second filter <Q plates (19b); N 30 each of the first filter plates (19a) comprise at E least one first trough opening (20a) at the horizontal top o side portion of the filter plate for directing the gas flow o between the mentioned gaps (27) and above the liquid bath S (7) 7 N 35 each of the second filter plates (19b) comprise at least one second through opening (20b) at the horizontal bottom side portion of the filter plate for directing the gas flow between the gaps (27) in the liquid bath (7); and the successive first and second filter plates (19a, 19b) are arranged in an alternative order so that the openings (20a, 20b) of the filter plates provide the maze (4) with alternating top and bottom horizontal flow paths between the gaps (27).

2. The maze as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the maze (7) comprises at least 30 parallel filter plates (19a, 19b).

3. The maze as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the each of the filter plates (19a, 19b) have flat surfaces serving as gas directing surfaces.

4. The maze as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the filter plates (19a, 19b) have vertical orientation; between the parallel successive filter plates (19a, 19b) are vertical gaps (27); and wherein size of the vertical gaps (27) is less than _ 10 mm.

S eu 5. The maze as claimed in any one of the preceding ? claims 1 - 4, characterized in that N 30 the filter plates (19a, 19b) are rectangular in E shape and comprise opposite vertical sides and opposite o horizontal sides; and o the mentioned horizontal sides of the filter plates = are supported to a frame of the maze (4) and the filter N 35 plates (19a, 19b) have parallel vertical orientation.

6. An apparatus (1) for cleaning gases, comprising a housing (2) inside which is a filter chamber (3); at least one feed port (12) for feeding gas to be cleaned into the filter chamber (3); at least one discharge port (13) for feeding cleaned gas out of the filter chamber (3); at least one filter element inside the filter chamber (3) for filtering the gas flowing from the feed port (12) towards the discharge port (13); and wherein the filter element comprises a maze (4), which is located at a bottom part of the filter chamber (3); the bottom part of the filter chamber (3) is configured to serve as a liguid reservoir, whereby the maze (4) is partly immersed in a liguid bath (7); and the gas to be cleaned is directed through the maze (4) which is configured to pass the gas several times through the liguid bath (7) in order to wet wash the gas; characterized in that the maze (4) is in accordance with claims 1 - 5; and wherein the filter plates (19a, 19b) extend from top to bottom of the filter chamber (3).

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the housing (2) comprises at least one liquid feed S port (8) for feeding clean liguid into the bottom of the & filter chamber (3); <Q the housing (2) further comprises at least one N 30 liquid discharge port (9) for discharging dirty liquid out E of the filter chamber (3); and o at least one feed valve (10) and at least one o discharge valve (11) for controlling the feed and discharge = of the liquid selectively. N 35

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises at least one blower (B) for feeding the gas to be cleaned to the feed port (12) and for causing the gas to flow through the apparatus (1).

9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 6 - 8, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises at least one control unit (CU) for controlling operation of the apparatus (1); and the control unit (CU) is configured to control at least magnitude of the gas flow through the filter chamber (3).

10. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 6 - 9, characterized in that the housing (2) comprises a bypass system allowing the gas to be filtered to be selectively directed through the filter chamber (3) without entering the maze (4).

11. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 6 - 10, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises at least one gas dryer (18) which is located at a section between the maze (4) and the discharge port (13), and wherein the gas dryer (18) is S configured to remove moisture of the cleaned gas.

N <Q

12. A method of cleaning gases, the method N 30 comprising: E directing gas flow into a filter chamber (3) o comprising at least one maze (4); o passing the gas to be cleaned by means of the maze = (4) several times through a liquid bath (7) in order to N 35 clean the gas, whereby the gas is cleaned by utilizing a wet wash principle; and directing the gas through openings (20a, 20b) of vertically orientated filter plates (19a, 19b) of the maze (4); and washing the filter plates (19a, 19b) of the maze (4) by directing a liquid flow above the maze (4) when filling the liquid bath (7); characterized by providing the maze (4) with two type of filter plates, several first filter plates (19a) and several second filter plates (19b) and extending the filter plates (19a, 19b) from top to bottom of the filter chamber (3); directing the gas flow above the liquid bath (7) through at least one first trough opening (20a) at the horizontal top side portion of each first filter plate (19a); directing the gas flow in the liquid bath (7) through at least one second through opening (20b) at the horizontal bottom side portion of each second filter plate (19b); and directing the flow paths in the maze provided with the successive first and second filter plates (19a, 19b) arranged in an alternative order so that the openings (20a, 20b) of the filter plates provide the maze (4) with alternating top and bottom horizontal flow paths between the gaps (27). N

13. The method according to claim 12, N characterized by <Q cleaning indoor air by means of the liquid bath (7); N 30 using water as wet wash agent in the liquid bath E (7); and 2 directing the gas flow to pass through the water at 3 least 20 times before leaving the maze (4).