FR3111569A1 - Apparatus for treating the air and the interior surfaces of a room comprising a turbine and a reservoir of decontaminating liquid composition for mixing with the air to be treated sucked in by the turbine. - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for treating the air and the interior surfaces of a room comprising a turbine and a reservoir of liquid decontaminating composition for mixing with the air to be treated sucked in by the turbine. The invention relates to an apparatus whose components have the function initially of cleaning the air by ionization and/or filtration then of mixing this disinfected air with droplets of a depolluting/decontaminating liquid substance, either by bringing it into contact cleaned air with a free surface of the substance, or by means of an atomizer. Figure for the abstract: Fig.3

Description

Apparatus for treating the air and the interior surfaces of a room comprising a turbine and a reservoir of liquid decontaminating composition for mixing with the air to be treated sucked in by the turbine.

The present invention relates to the field of the purification of the air and of interior and exterior surfaces, the air being likely to contain in suspension all types of pollution, contamination, bacterial, chemical, particulate, such as fungi and spores, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and formaldehyde, PM 10 and PM 2.5 particles…

The present invention aims to improve existing air purifiers, particles and aerosol purifiers, in particular in order to reduce their manufacturing and operating costs while guaranteeing constant and lasting efficiency over time.

Although described with reference to an air purification application, the invention applies to any purification of aerosols, microorganisms and particles.

The quality of the air inside buildings is a public health issue in France and around the world, of which the population is increasingly aware.

Indeed, the indoor environment offers a wide variety of situations of exposure to many physical agents and particulate, chemical or microbiological contaminants, the consequences of which on health vary in particular according to the nature of the pollutants, contaminants, the characteristics of the exposures, …

Different sources can be at the origin of the presence of pollutants in indoor air: sources specific to the building, its environment, its equipment or the behavior of its occupants.

In France, provisions exist in the Environment, Construction and Public Health Codes, which define the policy for indoor air quality. To reduce exposure to indoor air pollutants, current recommendations from public authorities focus on limiting emissions at source, aeration and ventilation.

In recent years, the indoor air purification market has been growing with the marketing of equipment claiming indoor air purification properties in the form of autonomous devices, as well as construction and decoration materials. highlighting their depolluting properties.

These devices and products are intended for the entire population, but may particularly target sensitive or sensitized subjects.

However, the question of their effectiveness and especially that of their harmlessness arises.

Air purification is based on two main principles: the trapping of contaminants or their destruction. The techniques implementing these two main principles are integrated into stand-alone devices or heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems (HVAC acronym Anglo Saxon for “Heating, ventilation, air conditioning”).

Regarding the trapping of contaminants, many air filtration techniques to address the growing problem of air pollution have been developed especially for the industrial sector. The general principle of filters consists of recycling the air by sucking in, filtering and then rejecting the air thus purified of its pollutants.

To trap particles or dust, mention may be made in particular of mechanical filters, hydraulic filters, filters with filtering layers, electric filters: [1].

Generally, there are several filters arranged one after the other in the flow of air to be filtered. A single filter combining different functional layers can also be implemented.

Electric filters, also known as electrostatic precipitators, electrostatic filters and electrofilters (ESP, English acronym for " ElectroStatic Precipitator "), are filtration processes used since the beginning of the ^20th century to purify fumes originating in particular from installations industrial (steel industry, waste incineration, cement plants, energy production units, etc.).

Precipitation or electrostatic collection is a method of choice that allows the collection of aerosol particles for a wide size range.

One type of air purifier or aerosol scrubber may include an ionizer and downstream, an electrostatic precipitator/collector.

Ionization is the transformation of an electrically neutral atom or molecule into an ion, by the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Electrostatic precipitation consists in precipitating particles previously charged from the air by the ionizer on electrodes carrying an electrical charge opposite to that of the ionized particles.

Particles with opposite charges can also attract each other and form heavier particles which will settle on surfaces more quickly.

There are several processes for ionizing an atom or a molecule. A distinction is made, for example, between ionization by electron impact, in which a beam of accelerated electrons meets an atom or molecule and tears off one or more electrons during the impact, and ionization by the action of radiation, which consists in subjecting a atom or a molecule to the action of radiation of a wavelength sufficiently energetic to eject a peripheral electron.

Ionizer aerosol purifiers most often implement electron impact ionization processes, either corona discharge (corona effect) or dielectric barrier discharge (BDD). If particles are the main target of ionization, an action on gaseous molecules can also be observed. Interactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and radicals formed during the generation of ions lead to a series of chemical chain reactions which should lead to mineralization when the reaction is complete.

An ionizer as such does not destroy the precipitated particles which must therefore be sucked up by another means, otherwise they risk returning to the room where the ionizer is installed.

In addition, studies have shown that some ionizers produce ozone pollution, which even in very small quantities is very harmful to health, causing chest pains, asthma and breathing difficulties. These devices are considered dangerous to health, in particular by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The main oxidation or contaminant-destroying techniques can be summed up in the use of plasma, ozonation or the implementation of photocatalysis.

The formation of a plasma (gas composed of a mixture of neutral particles, positive ions and free electrons) is obtained when a gas is subjected to a high intensity electric field, an intense electromagnetic field or sufficiently high temperatures, or when it is bombarded by particles. This results in ionization of the gas. When this is large enough for the number of electrons per unit volume to be comparable to that of molecules, the gas then becomes a highly conductive fluid called plasma.

In the field of indoor air purification, it is the technology of "cold" plasma or non-thermal plasma, i.e. when the average temperature of the gas is close to the initial temperature, which is used to generate active species, such as free radicals, which are capable of decomposing certain pollutants present in the air by oxidation.

The purification of the air by ozone is based on the emission into the air of ozone by ozone generators or ozone generators. The ozone molecule (O ₃ ), very reactive and relatively unstable, has a natural tendency to break down into dioxygen (O ₂ ) and atomic oxygen (O) which will react with other chemical compounds until they break down. This ability to easily give up an oxygen atom gives it a very strong oxidizing power. The technique of purification by ozonation is based on this property of ozone to be able to generate decomposition reactions.

The principle of photocatalysis is based on the decomposition of molecules by a succession of chemical reactions, until mineralization, following the activation of a catalyst by light radiation of sufficient energy.

Thus, in a simplified manner, the principle of photocatalysis is based on an electronic process which occurs on the surface of a catalyst, which is often titanium dioxide (TiO ₂ ) due to its low cost and high performance.

When the catalyst is subjected to radiation of sufficient light intensity, charges are created on its surface. Successive oxidation-reduction reactions then occur between the molecules adsorbed on the photocatalyst and these charges until, in theory, complete mineralization of the organic pollutant into water and carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ). Reactive oxygen derivatives are also formed (OH, O ₂ ^- , H ₂ O ₂ …) which contribute to the degradation of organic pollutants.

Other air purification techniques exist such as biological filtration (biofiltration) or ultraviolet light.

Biofiltration is based on the ability of certain microorganisms to metabolize pollutants. However, it has not yet been implemented for the purification of indoor air. Ultraviolet can have a germicidal action and a photocatalytic action on VOCs. Their commercial application today essentially concerns the elimination of microbial aerosols, however this technology is only identified in a few devices.

Finally, sprays have already been used to purify indoor air.

Two types of products have been identified: the sprayed products are based on essential oils or other active substances which can have an action (bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, acaricidal and insecticide) against the bio-contaminants of indoor air, and air fresheners which claim neutralization of odors, beyond masking, without the principle being well defined.

All the aforementioned devices, of very variable cost, are exclusively dedicated to the purification of the air and they carry it out with more or less efficiency and dangerousness.

They are not really designed to carry out the treatment as such of the interior surfaces of a room, in particular the walls and ceilings.

For these interior surfaces, few techniques have been implemented so far.

Of course, the treatment of soils by suction is widespread.

Steam cleaners have also made their appearance.

It is also known to incorporate particles with photocatalytic properties into building or decorative materials such as glazing, paints, tiles, etc.

Manufacturers are also developing coating materials which have at least one bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, acaricidal or insecticidal action. In particular, the French company Serge Ferrari announced very recently that it has developed composite membranes incorporating silver particles which make it possible to very significantly reduce the viral load of a virus such as Covid-19. Other companies have indicated that they have produced a virucidal varnish to be applied to printed papers.

All these solutions can be effective but at a very high price, and are therefore exclusively dedicated to the treatment of interior surfaces without really worrying about the treatment of interior air before it comes into contact with said surfaces.

There is a need to further improve existing devices, in particular in order to offer an effective and inexpensive solution that can perform the treatment of both the indoor air of a room and its indoor surfaces.

The general object of the invention is then to meet this need at least in part.

To do this, the subject of the invention is first of all, according to a first alternative, an air treatment device and interior surfaces of a room, comprising:

- an aeraulic envelope comprising:

an inlet for the air to be treated,

a treated air outlet,

a duct comprising a convergent part and a divergent part downstream of the convergent part, the duct being shaped to create a venturi effect by passing a flow of air to be treated through the duct, the inlet orifice being connected to the converging part of the duct while the outlet port is connected to the diverging part of the duct

- at least one first ionizer and/or at least one filter arranged in the ventilation envelope between the inlet orifice and the converging part of the duct, the ionizer(s) and the filter(s) (s) being able to respectively ionize and retain at least some of the dust and particles in suspension in the air to be treated;

- a first reservoir containing a decontaminating composition in liquid form;

- a second tank connected to the first tank, the second tank being arranged in the aeraulic casing such that the free surface of the liquid composition which it contains constitutes at least one zone of the convergent part of the duct so that the flowing air sweeps said free surface; the second reservoir being fed by the first reservoir when the free surface of the liquid composition that the latter contains is below a predetermined height;

- a turbine maintained in the aeraulic casing downstream of the first and the second tank, the turbine being adapted to create a vacuum in the conduit between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice.

Advantageously, the second reservoir is arranged such that the free surface of the liquid composition that it contains constitutes at least one zone of the convergent part of the duct, the neck between the convergent and divergent parts, and at least one zone of the divergent part of the duct.

According to an advantageous variant, the device comprises a level sensor for measuring the level of the decontaminating composition in the second reservoir. Real-time knowledge of the level of the decontaminating composition makes it possible to precisely adjust its free surface.

A further subject of the invention, according to a second alternative, is an apparatus for treating air and interior surfaces of a room, comprising:

- an aeraulic envelope comprising:

an inlet for the air to be treated,

a treated air outlet,

a duct comprising a convergent part and a divergent part downstream of the convergent part, the duct being shaped to create a venturi effect by passing a flow of air to be treated through the duct, the inlet orifice being connected to the converging part of the duct while the outlet port is connected to the diverging part of the duct

- at least one first ionizer and/or at least one filter arranged in the ventilation envelope between the inlet orifice and the converging part of the duct, the ionizer(s) and the filter(s) (s) being able to respectively ionize and retain at least some of the dust and particles in suspension in the air to be treated;

- a first reservoir containing a decontaminating composition in liquid form;

- at least one atomizer arranged in the conduit downstream of the ionizer(s) and/or of the filter(s), the atomizer being fed by the first tank to project micro and/or nano drops of the decontaminating liquid composition;

- a turbine held in the aeraulic casing downstream of the sprayer, the turbine being adapted to create a vacuum in the conduit between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice.

According to an advantageous variant, the filters comprise at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) filter and at least one membrane filter to trap airborne particles other than VOCs.

Advantageously, the device comprises at least one prefilter held in the aeraulic casing, upstream of the filters, the prefilter being capable of retaining the dust in suspension in the air to be treated.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the part of the duct in the extension of the inlet orifice comprises two truncated cones nested one inside the other by delimiting an annular space for the passage of the air flow to be treated, each two truncated cones supporting or forming part of the electrodes of the first ionizer and the collection electrodes of an electrostatic filter.

According to this mode, one and/or the other of the truncated cones is (are) rotatably mounted, so as to generate during their rotation an ionization of the flow of air to be treated which circulates.

According to an advantageous embodiment, comprising downstream of the turbine, at least one second ionizer.

According to this advantageous embodiment, the part of the duct opening onto the outlet orifice being a fixed cylinder, the second ionizer comprises an ionization electrode supported or formed by the fixed cylinder and a plurality of ionization electrodes supported by a shaft which extends along the axis of the cylinder and rotatably mounted around the latter. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the shaft supporting the plurality of ionization electrodes is fixed and the supported or formed ionization electrode is rotatable around the shaft. Cumulatively, it is also possible to implement both the rotating shaft and cylinder together, in the same direction or in the opposite direction, according to the needs observed by sensors and/or by measurements.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the device comprises an atomizer connected to the first reservoir and arranged in parallel with the outlet orifice to project droplets of the decontaminating liquid composition as close as possible to the interior surfaces of the room.

The filter(s) can be soaked in a decontaminating composition in liquid form.

Advantageously, the decontaminating liquid composition is that described and claimed in the international application filed on November 22, 2019 under number PCT/EP2019/082236. This decontaminating composition has both bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal properties and comprises as active components:

- at least 1% by weight of clays;

- at least 1% by weight of seaweed;

- at least 5% by weight of eugenol;

- at least 0.5% by weight of eugenol acetate;

- at least 0.01% by weight of vanillin;

- at least 0.1% by weight of carvacrol;

relative to the total weight of the composition.

The apparatus may include casters for moving the apparatus.

The aeraulic casing can be fixed to a wall or to the ceiling of a room or placed on a fixed support inside a room.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the device comprises an electronic control-command unit programmed to control the operation of the suction turbine and, where applicable, of the atomizer, and of the ionizer(s) according to ranges predefined schedules and/or by enslavement of sensors for measuring pollutants - contaminants in the ambient air.

The device may include an electrical power outlet and/or electrical energy storage means for electrically powering the suction turbine, and where applicable the atomizer and the ionizer(s).

Thus, the invention essentially consists of an apparatus whose components have the function initially of cleaning the air by ionization and/or filtration then of mixing this disinfected air with droplets of a depolluting/decontaminating liquid substance, either by bringing the cleaned air into contact with a free surface of the substance, or by means of an atomizer.

This mixture is expelled into the ambient air which allows the complete treatment of a given closed volume, ventilated or not of a room, including all of its interior surfaces.

According to an advantageous mode, the device comprises just before its outlet orifice an ionizer to ionize the cleaned air/droplets of decontaminating composition mixture. It is widely accepted today that the ionization of the air (anions) has advantages for its sanitation. But the negative ions are very quickly attracted by the neighboring walls and therefore they cannot act isotropically in a given volume. The fact of associating the negative ions of the air with the droplets of decontaminating substance makes that the latter act as a vehicle which will bring the cleaned air as far as possible in the closed space of a room.

The decontaminating activity of the droplets is reinforced by their ionization and their size means that they are distributed throughout the volume of the air to be treated. Typically, the diameter of the droplets that the apparatus according to the invention produces can be between 0.1 and 30 micrometers, depending on the settings made. Advantageously, the diameter of the droplets can be reduced to drops, of nanometric (nanodroplets) or even picometric (picodroplets) dimensions.

The advantage of creating a depression to entrain the air allows it to cross the aeraulic envelope, in a coherent and non-disordered way. Indeed, the fact of creating a depression pulls the air, which crosses all the aeraulic envelope in an orderly way. When an overpressure is created, a principle widely used until now, a disorder is created and amplified at each obstacle encountered by the overpressured air. In the end, the air is deeply destructured, which cannot be harmful for a sanitation treatment.

The advantage of carrying out ionization at the inlet of the device makes it possible to ionize the dust and make it fall to the ground immediately. This dust is then treated by the cleaned air/droplets of decontaminating composition mixture that comes out of the device. This characteristic brings a significant reduction in energy consumption compared to vacuum cleaners according to the state of the art and makes it possible to envisage an autonomous device which embeds its energy source.

A variant is to introduce a pre-filter at the inlet to filter at least most of the dust contained in the air to be treated, so that nothing can clog the rest of the device, and that the treatment of pollution and contamination is carried out with the greatest optimization of efficiency, the air being cleared of any disturbance of the dust type.

Whatever option is chosen, i.e. filter(s) and/or ionizer at the device inlet, the aim is to rid the incoming air of at least all dust and particulate contamination as soon as airflow inlet. Depending on the applications and/or environment, a single ionizer may suffice if its performance makes it possible to replace the functions of the usual filter(s) and therefore to eliminate them. The presence of the filter(s) can thus be made unnecessary.

The device according to the invention therefore allows a sanitation of all of the air inside a closed volume of a room and all of the interior surfaces, that is to say the ceilings, walls, floors, but also all surfaces of furniture or interior objects, such as tables, furniture, equipment, lighting, etc.

The device according to the invention has few parts, a small footprint and reduced weight. The ease of use and the possibilities of use are almost endless and limitless.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge better on reading the detailed description of examples of implementation of the invention given by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the following figures.

there is a schematic view in longitudinal section of an apparatus according to a first alternative of the invention.

there is a schematic view in longitudinal section of an apparatus according to a second alternative of the invention.

there is a cross-sectional view along AA of the

there is a schematic view of an apparatus showing different modes and variants of the invention.

there is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an ionizer arranged at the device outlet, according to an advantageous embodiment.

detailed description

Throughout this application, the terms "inlet", "outlet", "upstream" and "downstream" are to be understood by reference to the direction of the air flow to be treated through a device according to the 'invention. Thus, the inlet orifice designates the orifice of the device through which the air to be treated is sucked in, while the outlet orifice designates the one through which the air flow exits.

There is shown in Figures 1 and 2 two alternatives of a device according to the invention generally designated by the reference numeral 1, intended to carry out the treatment of air and the interior surfaces of a room.

The device 1 comprises a body 10 which forms a box housing all of the components of the device.

The box 10 first incorporates an aeraulic casing 2 comprising an inlet 20 for the air to be treated, an outlet 21 for the treated air, and a duct 22.

The duct 22 comprises a convergent part 220 and a divergent part 221 downstream of the convergent part, the duct being shaped to create a venturi effect by passing a flow of air to be treated through the duct 22. The convergent part 220 of the duct may include a truncated cone immediately downstream of the inlet 20.

The inlet 20 connected to the converging part 220 of the conduit 22.

The outlet orifice 21 is connected to the divergent part 221 of the conduit 22.

Immediately downstream of the inlet orifice 20 is arranged at least one ionizer 3 and/or at least one filter 4. The ionizer 3 and the filter(s) 4 are respectively capable of ionizing and retaining the least a substantial portion of the dust and airborne particles to be treated.

An advantageous embodiment of an ionizer 3 is shown in .

In this mode, the part of the duct 22 in the extension of the inlet orifice 20 comprising two truncated cones nested one inside the other by delimiting an annular space 222 for the passage of the flow of air to be treated, each two truncated cones supporting or forming part of the electrodes 30, 31 of the ionizer and the collection electrodes 30, 31 of an electrostatic filter. It is possible to provide one and/or the other of the truncated cones 30, 31 either rotatably mounted, so as to generate during their rotation an ionization of the air flow to be treated. which circulates.

The filters 4 may advantageously consist of a volatile organic compound (VOC) filter, a membrane filter to trap airborne particles other than VOCs and a pre-filter held in the ventilation envelope. , upstream of the filters, the pre-filter being capable of retaining the dust in suspension in the air to be treated.

The box 10 also houses a storage tank 5 containing a decontaminating composition in liquid form.

According to a first alternative illustrated in , there is another tank 6 connected to the storage tank 5. This tank 6 is arranged in the aeraulic casing 2 in such a way that the free surface of the liquid composition that it contains constitutes at least one zone of the part convergent 220 of the duct, the neck 223 between the convergent 220 and divergent 221 parts, and at least one zone of the divergent part of the duct.

When the free surface of the liquid composition that reservoir 6 contains is below a predetermined height, then a quantity of decontaminating liquid composition is sent to reservoir 6 from reservoir 5. A level sensor can be arranged to measure the level of the decontaminating composition in the tank 6 and, which makes it possible to know in real time the level of the decontaminating composition and to precisely adjust its free surface.

According to a second alternative illustrated in , there is provided instead of the reservoir 6 with a free surface, an atomizer 7 arranged in the pipe 22 downstream of the ionizer 3 and/or of the filter(s) 4. The atomizer 7 is powered by the storage tank 5 to project micro and/or nano drops of the decontaminating liquid composition.

Whatever the alternative, the box finally houses a turbine 8 to create a depression in the conduit 22 between the inlet 20 and the outlet 21.

An advantageous embodiment is illustrated in : an ionizer 9 is arranged downstream of the turbine 8 just before the outlet orifice 21.

The ionizer 9 is advantageously made as illustrated in . The part of the duct opening onto the outlet orifice 21 is a cylinder. The ionizer 9 comprises an ionization electrode 90 supported or formed by the cylinder and a plurality of ionization electrodes 91 supported by a shaft 92 which extends along the axis of the cylinder and mounted around the latter. The cylinder and/or shaft 92 can be fixed or rotatably mounted. Depending on the applications and/or the local environment, the shaft 92 and/or the cylinder can be rotated, rotating in the same direction or in the opposite direction to one another.

The operation of a device 1 which has just been described is as follows:

Device 1 is positioned in a room to be treated.

After checking the filling level of liquid composition in the storage tank 5, the turbine 8 as well as, where appropriate, the ionizers 3, 9 are started.

The air to be treated is sucked in through the inlet 20. The dust is retained in the filter(s) 4 and/or ionized by the ionizer 3. The heaviest dust falls by gravity onto the floor. The other dust is collected by the filter(s) or the electrostatic precipitator and is removed later by scraping.

The air thus cleaned is mixed with the sanitizing micro or nano droplets either from tank 6 or from atomizer 7.

Ionizer 9 ionizes the cleaned air/droplets of decontaminating composition mixture. Thus the decontaminating activity of the droplets is reinforced by this ionization. The droplets of the decontaminating solution mixed with the cleaned and ionized air are distributed throughout the volume of the room to be treated. Typically, the air cleaned and mixed with sanitizer droplets is expelled in the form of a cloud at a speed between 1 and 10km/h in the volume.

There illustrates advantageous component variations and arrangements.

Another atomizer 11 connected to the storage tank 5 can be installed in parallel with the outlet orifice 21 to spray droplets of the decontaminating liquid composition as close as possible to the walls of the room.

An electronic control-command unit 12 can be installed in the space above between the aeraulic casing 2 and the wall of the box 10. This unit 12 is advantageously programmed to control the operation of the turbine 8, of the (es ) atomizer(s) 7, 11 and ionizer(s) 3, 9 according to predefined time slots and/or by enslavement of sensors for measuring ambient air pollutants.

Electrical energy storage means 13 can be installed in the space below between the aeraulic casing 2 and the wall of the box 10. These means 1 can electrically supply the turbine 8, the storage tank 5, the ( es) atomiser(s) 7 and 11 and the ioniser(s) 3, 9. The apparatus 1 can thus be completely autonomous.

The device 1 can be provided with wheels 14 to move it easily in the room to be treated.

The device 1 can be very compact with typically HxW dimensions of the order of 10x5cm to 20x10cm. The power consumption of device 1 can be very low, typically 72 to 100 Watt.

Other variants and improvements can be considered without departing from the scope of the invention.

First of all, the device can be equipped with an adjustable outlet head to bring the treated air to a desired area.

Furthermore, it is possible to arrange in the device a plurality of sensors configured to determine, in real time, in particular the ionization power to be applied at the input, the charge density of the air by the decontaminating liquid solution, the power of ionization to be applied at the output, the depression value to be supplied by the turbine. All of these sensors will be connected to the control unit of the device for operation by servo-control according to pre-established instructions.

Depending on the premises to be treated by the device, it is possible to arrange downstream of the ionizer at the outlet of the device, an ozone trap, possibly connected to the aforementioned sensors.

A radar and/or mapping system can be integrated into the device in order to move the device autonomously in a determined volume of room without human intervention, and possibly outside the hours of occupation of the room.

To move the device, wheels 14 can be provided as illustrated in . Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a movement system suspended by cable, or on a rail, in order to initiate the processing of the volume of the room, preferably at height.

The control-command unit of the device can be controlled remotely, by a wireless communication system, of the Wifi or Bluetooth® type.

Cited reference:

[1]: R. Gouri, “ Electrical and geometrical optimization of an electrofilter with dielectric barrier in wire-square tube configuration. Application to submicron particles ”, thesis of the University of Poitiers, 2012.

Claims (17)

Apparatus (1) for treating air and the interior surfaces of a room, comprising:

• an aeraulic casing (2) comprising:

an inlet (20) for the air to be treated,
an outlet orifice (21) for the treated air,
a duct (22) comprising a convergent part (220) and a divergent part (221) downstream of the convergent part, the duct being shaped to create a venturi effect by passing a flow of air to be treated through the duct , the inlet orifice being connected to the converging part of the duct while the outlet orifice is connected to the diverging part of the duct;

• at least one first ionizer (3) and/or at least one filter (4) arranged in the aeraulic envelope between the inlet orifice and the converging part of the duct, the ionizer(s) and the filter(s) being suitable respectively for ionizing and retaining at least some of the dust and particles in suspension in the air to be treated;
• a first tank (5) containing a decontaminating composition in liquid form;
• a second tank (6) connected to the first tank, the second tank being arranged in the aeraulic casing such that the free surface of the liquid composition which it contains constitutes at least one zone of the convergent part of the duct so that the flowing air sweeps said free surface; the second reservoir being fed by the first reservoir when the free surface of the liquid composition that the latter contains is below a predetermined height;
• a turbine (8) held in the aeraulic casing downstream of the second tank, the turbine being adapted to create a vacuum in the conduit between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice.

Treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 1, the second reservoir being arranged such that the free surface of the liquid composition which it contains constitutes at least one zone of the convergent part of the duct, the neck (222) between the convergent (220) and divergent (221) parts, and at least one zone of the divergent part of the duct. Treatment apparatus (1) according to one of Claims 1 or 2, comprising a level sensor for measuring the level of the liquid composition in the second reservoir. Apparatus (1) for treating air and the interior surfaces of a room, comprising:

• an aeraulic envelope (2) comprising:

an inlet (20) for the air to be treated,
an outlet orifice (21) for the treated air,
a duct (22) comprising a convergent part and a divergent part downstream of the convergent part, the duct being shaped to create a venturi effect by passing a flow of air to be treated through the duct, the orifice of inlet being connected to the converging part of the duct while the outlet orifice is connected to the diverging part of the duct;

• at least one first ionizer (3) and/or at least one filter (4) arranged in the aeraulic envelope between the inlet orifice and the converging part of the duct, the ionizer(s) and the filter(s) being suitable respectively for ionizing and retaining at least some of the dust and particles in suspension in the air to be treated;
• a first tank (5) containing a decontaminating composition in liquid form;
• at least one atomizer (7) arranged in the duct downstream of the ionizer(s) and/or of the filter(s), the atomizer being supplied by the first tank to project microphones and/or or nanodrops of the decontaminating liquid composition;
• a turbine (8) maintained in the aeraulic casing downstream of the sprayer, the turbine being adapted to create a vacuum in the conduit between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice.

Treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the filters comprising at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) filter and at least one membrane filter for trapping airborne particles other than VOCs. Treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 5, comprising at least one pre-filter held in the aeraulic casing, upstream of the filters, the pre-filter being capable of retaining the dust in suspension in the air to be treated. Apparatus (1) for treatment according to one of the preceding claims, the part of the duct in the extension of the inlet orifice comprising two truncated cones nested one inside the other by delimiting an annular space (223) of passage of the air flow to be treated, each of the two truncated cones supporting or forming part of the electrodes (30, 31) of the first ionizer and of the collecting electrodes (30, 31) of an electrostatic filter. Treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 7, one and/or the other of the truncated cones being mounted rotatably, so as to generate during their rotation an ionization of the air flow at treat that circulates. Treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising downstream of the turbine, at least one second ionizer (9). Treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 9, the part of the duct opening onto the outlet orifice being a cylinder, the second ionizer comprising an ionization electrode (90) supported or formed by the cylinder and a plurality of electrodes (91) supported by a shaft (92) which extends along the axis of the cylinder and mounted around the latter, the cylinder and/or the shaft being fixed or rotatably mounted. Treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an atomizer (11) connected to the first reservoir (5) and arranged in parallel with the outlet orifice (21) to spray as close as possible to the interior surfaces of the room droplets of the decontaminating liquid composition. Treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the filter(s) being soaked in a decontaminating composition in liquid form. Apparatus (1) for treatment according to one of the preceding claims, the decontaminating liquid composition exhibiting both bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal properties and comprising as active components:
- at least 1% by weight of clays;
- at least 1% by weight of algae;
- at least 5% by weight of eugenol;
- at least 0.5% by weight of eugenol acetate;
- at least 0.01% by weight of vanillin;
- at least 0.1% by weight of carvacrol;
relative to the total weight of the composition. Treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising rollers (14) for moving the device. Treatment device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 14, the ventilation envelope being fixed to a wall or to the ceiling of a room or placed on a fixed support inside a room. Treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an electronic control-command unit programmed to control the operation of the suction turbine and, where applicable, of the atomizer, and of the ionizer(s). ) according to predefined time slots and/or by enslavement of sensors for measuring ambient air pollutants. Treatment apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an electrical power supply socket and/or electrical energy storage means for electrically supplying the suction turbine, and if applicable the atomizer and the ionizer(s).