GB2624441A - Air treatment device - Google Patents

Air treatment device Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2624441A
GB2624441A GB2217293.6A GB202217293A GB2624441A GB 2624441 A GB2624441 A GB 2624441A GB 202217293 A GB202217293 A GB 202217293A GB 2624441 A GB2624441 A GB 2624441A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
jet
air
unit
suction
treatment device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
GB2217293.6A
Other versions
GB202217293D0 (en
Inventor
Bipin Patel Jesal
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dyson Technology Ltd
Original Assignee
Dyson Technology Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dyson Technology Ltd filed Critical Dyson Technology Ltd
Priority to GB2217293.6A priority Critical patent/GB2624441A/en
Publication of GB202217293D0 publication Critical patent/GB202217293D0/en
Priority to GB2317642.3A priority patent/GB2625208A/en
Priority to PCT/IB2023/061643 priority patent/WO2024105630A1/en
Publication of GB2624441A publication Critical patent/GB2624441A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F7/00—Ventilation
    • F24F7/007—Ventilation with forced flow
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F9/00—Use of air currents for screening, e.g. air curtains
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00—Details
    • F24C15/20—Removing cooking fumes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/26—Arrangements for air-circulation by means of induction, e.g. by fluid coupling or thermal effect
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/02—Ducting arrangements
    • F24F13/06—Outlets for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air diffuser
    • F24F2013/0612—Induction nozzles without swirl means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/12—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
    • F24F3/16—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by purification, e.g. by filtering; by sterilisation; by ozonisation

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ventilation (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Abstract

An air treatment device 100 wherein a jet unit 110 emits a jet of air (QJ, fig. 1) towards a suction unit 120 and entrains ambient air from around a perimeter of the jet, creating a combined airflow (QC, fig. 1). The suction unit comprises a suction inlet 122 through which the combined airflow is drawn into the suction unit, an air treatment unit treats the combined airflow which is then emitted through a suction outlet. The suction inlet may be greater cross-sectional area than the jet unit outlet and the combined airflow may be drawn into the suction inlet at a greater flowrate than the air jet emitted. The jet unit may be partly fed by a recirculated airflow from the suction unit using a return duct. The jet unit may further comprise a thermal unit 118 for heating/cooling the air jet and one or more guides may be arranged to cause the jet to move in a non-linear motion. The jet may be operated based on a pollutant detector (140, fig. 1) and there may be multiple jet units (310a and 310b, fig. 5). An extractor is also claimed.

Description

AIR TREATMENT DEVICE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air treatment device.
Background of the Invention
It can be desirable to treat the air in an environment. For example, to change a temperature or humidity of the air, or to extract suspended pollutants from the air, for example to remove unwanted particulates, smells, or germs.
Conventional air treatment devices typically rely on high outlet flow rates to better mix treated air with untreated air within an environment. Accordingly, the untreated air is first spread around the environment before being treated. This can be disadvantageous when, for example, minimising the spread of the pollutants is important.
Summary of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an air treatment device comprising a jet unit and a suction unit spaced from the jet unit. The jet unit comprises a jet outlet through which a jet of air is emitted towards the suction unit and is arranged such that, as the jet of air travels from the jet unit to the suction unit, the jet of air entrains ambient air from around substantially all of a perimeter of the jet of air to create a combined airflow. The suction unit comprises a suction inlet through which the combined airflow is drawn into the suction unit, an air treatment unit for treating the at least a portion of the combined airflow, and a suction outlet through which treated airflow is emitted The air treatment device according to the first aspect of the present invention may be advantageous as the inventors of the present application have determined that providing a jet of air directed towards a suction unit can increase an amount of entrainment of ambient air into the jet of air to create a larger combined airflow, compared to providing only a suction unit.
The air treatment device according to the first aspect of the present invention may be advantageous as the inventors of the present application have determined that providing a jet of air directed towards a suction unit can increase a distance, relative to the suction unit, from which air can be drawn into the suction unit, compared to providing only a suction unit. That is, the air treatment unit may permit entrainment of ambient air that is not directly beneath the suction unit, and/or that is radially outward of the air treatment unit. For example, the air treatment unit may permit entrainment of ambient air from a distance from the suction inlet that is at least two times greater than a maximum diameter of the suction unit.
The air treatment device according to the first aspect of the present invention may be advantageous as the inventors of the present application have determined that providing a jet of air directed towards a suction unit can reduce mixing of a suspended pollutant with the air in an environment in which the air treatment device is operating, compared to providing only a recirculating suction unit. This may be important in settings in which contamination of airborne sources must be controlled, for example medical settings The air treatment device according to the first aspect of the present invention may be advantageous as the inventors of the present application have determined that providing a jet of air directed towards a suction unit can allow similar air treatment performance to be achieved with lower overall flow rates, compared to providing only a suction unit This may reduce the energy expenditure, noise, size and/or cost of the air treatment device to provide similar performance compared to providing only a suction unit.
The air treatment device according to the first aspect of the present invention may be advantageous as the inventors of the present application have determined that providing a jet of air directed towards a suction unit can allow improved air treatment performance to be achieved with similar overall flow rates, compared to providing only a suction unit This may reduce the time taken by the air treatment device to treat the air within an environment in which the air treatment device is operating compared to providing only a suction unit.
The suction inlet may have a greater cross-sectional area that the jet outlet, for example five times greater or ten times greater. As the jet of air travels towards the suction inlet and entrains ambient air to form the combined airflow, the cross-sectional area of the combined airflow increases compared to the cross-sectional area of the jet of air at the jet outlet. Providing a greater cross-sectional area at the suction inlet compared to the jet outlet can allow a greater proportion of the combined airflow to be drawn through the suction inlet.
The suction inlet may have a geometry sufficient to draw in all of the combined flow. For example, the suction inlet may have a greater equivalent diameter than the jet outlet. This may help to increase the efficiency and performance of the air treatment device. A jet of air tends towards a circular-shaped cross-section as is travels away from its source Accordingly, the suction inlet may have a diameter that is equal to or greater than the maximum diameter of the combined airflow at the suction inlet.
The jet outlet may have a perimeter and a cross-sectional area, the cross-sectional area may have an equivalent diameter D, and a ratio of the perimeter to the cross-sectional area of the jet outlet may be at least D/2 mm-1. This then has the benefit that, for a given cross-sectional area, the jet outlet has a relatively long perimeter. Consequently, the jet of air emitted from the outlet has a relatively large surface area which better encourages entrainment.
The jet outlet may be substantially circular or annular in shape. Alternatively, the jet outlet may be non-circular in shape. An increased perimeter of the jet outlet is associated with an increase in an amount of entrainment of ambient air by the jet of air. Accordingly, a non-circular jet outlet may increase the efficiency and performance of the air treatment device. For example, the jet outlet may be oval, triangular, rectangular, cross-shaped, or star-shaped.
The jet of air may be emitted from the jet of air at a first flow rate, and the combined airflow may be drawn into the suction inlet at a second, greater flow rate. Drawing the combined airflow through the suction inlet at a greater flow rate than a flow rate at which air is emitted from the jet outlet can allow a greater proportion of the combined airflow to be drawn through the suction inlet.
A flow rate of air at the suction inlet may be equal to or greater than a flow rate of the combined airflow. This may help to ensure that substantially all of the combined airflow is drawn through the suction inlet.
The jet outlet and the suction inlet may be co-axially arranged. This may help to increase an amount of ambient air that is entrained by the jet of air and ultimately drawn into the suction unit to be treated by the air treatment unit.
The jet unit may comprise a first airflow generator for generating the jet of air. This may provide a more compact jet unit compared to providing a separate airflow generator. The suction unit may comprise a second airflow generator for drawing the combined airflow into the suction unit. This may provide a more compact suction unit compared to providing a separate airflow generator.
The suction unit may comprise an airflow generator for drawing the combined airflow into the suction unit, and the air treatment device may comprise a return duct arranged to return, to the jet unit, at least part of the combined airflow drawn through the suction inlet. The jet unit may emit the airflow returned by the return duct as at least part of the jet of air. This may provide a more efficient and compact air treatment device compared to an air treatment device comprising an airflow generator in each of the jet and suction units.
S
The jet unit may comprise a jet inlet through which ambient air is drawn, said ambient air subsequently forming at least part of the jet of air. This may increase the distance, relative to the suction unit, from which ambient air is ultimately drawn into the suction unit and treated, compared to airflow returned by the return duct forming all of the jet of air.
The jet unit may comprise a thermal unit arranged to heat and/or cool the jet of air relative to the ambient air. Depending on the relative positions of the jet and suction units, providing a jet of air that is hotter or cooler than the ambient air can increase an amount of entrainment of the ambient air as the jet of air travels from the jet outlet towards the suction inlet, compared to a jet of air at ambient temperature. By way of example, the thermal unit may employ an electric heater, a Peltier device, or a vapour-compression cycle.
The jet unit may comprise one or more guides, such as one or more vanes or a fan, arranged to cause, in use, the jet of air to travel between the jet outlet and the suction inlet in a non-linear motion. This may help to increase an amount of entrainment of the ambient air as the jet of air travels from the jet outlet towards the suction inlet, compared to a jet of air travelling in a linear motion.
A separation distance between the jet outlet and the suction inlet may be at least 200mm Providing a separation distance of at least 200mm can help to increase an amount of entrainment of the ambient air as the jet of air travels from the jet outlet towards the suction inlet, compared to lesser separation distances.
The air treatment unit may comprise one or more of a thermal unit, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, a filter, and an ioniser to treat the combined airflow drawn into the suction unit via the suction unit. Accordingly, an air treatment device according to the invention may be suitable for a plurality of air treatment processes.
The suction unit may emit the treated airflow back into the environment in which the air treatment device is located. Additionally, or alternatively, the suction unit may emit the treated air into an exhaust duct arranged to expel the treated air from the environment.
The air treatment device may comprise a detector arranged to detect a parameter of the ambient air. The air treatment device may comprise a controller connected to the detector and arranged to cause the jet of air to be directed towards the suction inlet in response to the detector indicating that a predetermined treatment criterion is met. This may help to increase the efficiency of the air treatment device. The detector may be arranged to detect a pollutant, air temperature and/or air humidity. For example, the detector may comprise a pollutant detector and the controller may be configured to cause the jet unit to emit an oscillating jet of air in the event that no pollutant is detected by the detector, and to cause the jet unit to direct the jet of towards the suction unit in the event that a pollutant is detected by the detector and until the pollutant is removed from the air. In another example, the air treatment device may be arranged to be inactive until the predetermined treatment criterion is met. The predetermined treatment criterion may be that a pollutant concentration, air temperature and/or air humidity percentage meets or exceeds a threshold level.
The air treatment device may comprise a user interface operable by a user to select one or more operating parameters of the device. This may allow the air treatment device to be operable as required by the user.
The air treatment device may comprise at least one additional jet unit arranged to emit an additional jet of air towards the suction unit The additional jet of air entrains ambient air to create an additional combined airflow, and the suction inlet is arranged to draw at least a portion of each of the combined airflow and the additional combined airflow into the suction unit. Such an arrangement may increase an amount of entrainment of the ambient air as the jet of air travels from the jet outlet towards the suction inlet, compared to employing a single jet unit. Such an arrangement may increase the distance, relative to the suction inlet, from which ambient air is ultimately drawn into the suction unit via the suction inlet, which may increase the performance of the air treatment device.
The suction inlet may have a geometry sufficient to draw in all of the combined airflow and the further combined airflow. This may help to increase the efficiency and performance of the air treatment device.
The jet unit and the further jet unit may be inclined towards one another such that the combined airflow and further combined airflow cross paths as the combined airflows travel towards the suction inlet. This may decrease the sum of the cross-sectional areas of both combined airflows so that a smaller suction inlet is required to draw in both combined airflows compared to an example in which the combined airflow and the further combined airflow do not cross paths According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an extractor comprising an array of pollutant sources, an extractor hood arranged above the array and comprising a suction inlet, and a jet generator comprising a jet outlet, the jet outlet positioned substantially at a centre of the array and arranged to direct a jet of air towards the suction inlet. As the jet of air travels from the jet unit to the suction unit, the jet of air entrains ambient air from around substantially all of a perimeter of the jet of air to create a combined airflow, and the suction inlet is arranged to draw the combined airflow into the extractor hood.
The extractor may, for example, be a kitchen extractor and the array of pollutant sources 25 may comprise an array of cooking hobs The extractor hood may comprise an air treatment unit as described with reference to the first aspect and an exhaust for emitting the combined airflow drawn into the extractor hood by the suction inlet.
Optional features of aspects of the present invention may be equally applied to other aspects of the present invention, where appropriate.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating an air treatment device according to the present invention; (basic) Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section view illustrating the air treatment device according to Figure 1, Figure 3 is a graph plotting average pollution concentration against time for a traditional air treatment device and an air treatment device according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating an air treatment device according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating an air treatment device according to the present invention; Figure 6 is schematic view illustrating an extractor device according to the present invention; and Figure 7 is a schematic top view of a portion of the extractor device of Figure 6.
Detailed Description of the Invention
There will now be described air treatment devices for drawing in air from an environment in which the air treatment device is located and treating the air that is drawn in The air treatment devices may be arranged to provide any suitable form of air treatment(s) in use, for example filtration, heating, cooling, purification, humidification, dehumidification, and ionisation.
Figures 1 and 2 show a first example of an air treatment device 100. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the air treatment device 100 of Figure 1 The air treatment device 100 comprises a jet unit 110 and a suction unit 120 spaced apart from the jet unit 110 by approximately 1.5m. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the jet unit 110 and suction unit 120 may be at any other suitable distance apart.
The jet unit 110 comprises a first airflow generator 116 for generating a jet of air 102. In this example the first airflow generator 116 comprises a rotating fan blade, but it will be appreciated that any other suitable airflow generator may be employed.
The jet unit 110 comprises a jet inlet 114 through which air is drawn into the jet unit 110 when the first airflow generator 116 is in use. In this example, ambient air 104 from the environment is drawn into the jet unit 110 via the jet inlet 114. The jet inlet 114 comprises a plurality of apertures in an outer surface of the jet unit 110 and is fluidly connected to a jet outlet 112 of the jet unit 110, through which the jet of air 102 generated by the first airflow generator 116 is emitted towards the suction unit 120. The jet outlet 112 is substantially cross-shaped, but it will be appreciated that any other suitable shape may be employed. As noted below, the jet of air 102 emitted from the jet outlet 112 entrains ambient air from the surrounding environment. A benefit of using a cross-shaped jet outlet 112 is that, for a given cross-sectional area, the outlet 112 has a relatively long perimeter. Consequently, the jet of air 102 emitted from the outlet 112 has a relatively large surface area which better encourages entrainment. Accordingly, whilst the jet outlet 112 may have alternative shapes, there are potential benefits in having a jet outlet 112 for which the ratio of the perimeter to the cross-sectional area of the jet outlet 112 is relatively high.
The jet unit 110 is arranged such that, as the jet of air 102 travels from the jet unit 110 to the suction unit 120, the jet of air 102 entrains ambient air 104 from the environment to create a combined airflow 106. As such, a cross-sectional area of the jet of air 102 increases as the combined airflow 106 is formed between the jet outlet 112 and the suction inlet 122.
The jet of air 102 is emitted from the jet outlet 112 at a first flow rate, Qr, and the combined airflow 106 reaches the suction inlet 122 at a second, greater flow rate, Qc, due to the entrainment of the ambient air 104. Altering the first flow QJ rate can alter an amount of entrainment of the ambient air 104 such that a ratio between the first and second flow rates QJ, Qc can be changed by changing the operating characteristics of the jet unit 110.
The jet of air 102 entrains the ambient air 104 from around substantially all of a perimeter of the jet of air 102. That is, no physical barriers are positioned between the jet unit 110 and the suction unit 120 that might impede entrainment by the jet of air 102of ambient air 104 that is radially outward of the jet of air. Accordingly, ambient air comprising pollutants emitted from a pollutant source located remotely from the air treatment device 100 is drawn towards the air treatment device 100 by the jet of air 102 and into the suction unit 120.
The suction unit 120 comprises a second airflow generator 132 for drawing the combined airflow 106 into the suction unit 120. In this example, the second airflow generator 132 comprises a rotating fan blade, but it will be appreciated that any other suitable airflow generator may be employed. The first and second airflow generators 116, 132 may be communicably connected such that an change in a flow rate generated by the first airflow generator 116 causes a corresponding change in a flow rate generated by the second airflow generator 132. This may help to ensure that substantially all of the combined airflow 106 is drawn into the suction unit 120.
The suction unit 120 comprises a suction inlet 122 through which the combined airflow 106 is drawn into the suction unit 120 when the second airflow generator 132 is in use. The suction inlet 122 and the jet outlet 112 are co-axially arranged along a longitudinal axis 10 of the air treatment device 100 The suction outlet 122 has a greater cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the jet outlet 112 and a greater equivalent diameter than the jet outlet 112. In this example, the suction outlet 122 is at least five times greater in cross-sectional area than the jet outlet 112. The suction inlet 122 has a greater cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the combined airflow 106 such that substantially all of the combined airflow 106 is drawn into the suction unit 120 via the suction inlet 122.
The suction inlet 122 comprises a plurality of apertures formed in an inlet surface 124 and the combined airflow 106 is drawn through the plurality of apertures. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the suction inlet 122 may take any other suitable form, for example a single aperture.
Air is drawn into the suction unit 120 by the second airflow generator 132 at a third flow rate, Qs. In this example, the third flow rate Qs is equal to or greater than the second flow rate Qc corresponding to a flow rate of the combined airflow 106 at the suction inlet 122. This may help to ensure that substantially all of the combined airflow 106 is drawn into the suction unit 120.
The suction unit 120 comprises an air treatment unit 126, which in this example comprises a REPA filter 127. It will be appreciated that in other examples, any other suitable filter or combination of filters may be employed. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the air treatment unit 126 may comprise any other suitable form of air treatment unit for treating the air drawn into the suction unit 120. The filter 127 is arranged within the suction unit 120 such that substantially all of the combined airflow 106 drawn into the suction unit 120 passes through the filter U7 to remove particulates from the combined airflow 106 and generate a treated airflow 108.
The suction unit 110 comprises a suction outlet 128 through which the treated airflow 108 is emitted from the suction unit 110. The suction outlet 128 may emit the treated airflow 108 in any direction other than a direction that opposes either the jet of air 102 or the flow of ambient air 104 towards the jet of air 102.
The suction outlet 128 comprises a plurality of apertures formed in an outlet surface HO and the treated airflow 108 is emitted through the plurality of apertures. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the suction outlet 128 may take any other suitable form, for example a single aperture.
The suction outlet 128 is located on an upper surface of the suction unit 110. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the suction outlet 128 may be formed in more than one surface of the suction unit, for example on a plurality of side surfaces of the suction unit 110, which may ensure even distribution of the treated airflow 108 around the environment.
In this example, the treated airflow 108 is emitted back into the environment in which the air treatment device 100 is located. In other examples, the treated airflow 108 may be emitted into an exhaust duct arranged to expel the treated air from the environment. is
The treated airflow 108 is emitted from the suction outlet 128 at a fourth flow rate, QT. In this example the fourth flow rate Ql is substantially equal to the third flow rate Qs, corresponding to a flow rate at which air is drawn into the suction unit 120 by the second airflow generator 132.
The jet unit 110 comprises a thermal unit 118 arranged to heat and cool the jet of air 102 relative to the ambient air. The thermal unit 118 is arranged upstream of the first airflow generator 116, but in other examples could be positioned downstream of the first airflow generator 116. The thermal unit 118 comprises a temperature sensor (not shown) arranged to determine a temperature of the ambient air and to heat or cool the jet of air 102 in order to alter an amount of entrainment of the ambient air 104 by the jet of air 102. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the thermal unit 118 may be omitted.
The jet unit 110 comprises a plurality of vanes (not shown) positioned adjacent to the jet outlet 112 and arranged to cause, in use, the jet of air 102 to travel between the jet outlet 112 and the suction inlet H2 in a swirling motion. It will be appreciated that in other examples, other forms of guide may be employed to cause the jet of air to travel between the jet outlet 112 and the suction inlet 122 in a non-linear motion. By moving in a nonlinear motion (e.g., swirling), the jet of air 102 may entrain a greater amount of ambient air as the jet of air 102 travels between the jet outlet 112 and the suction inlet 128.
The air treatment device 100 comprises a pollutant detector 140 and a controller (not shown) connected to the pollutant detector 140. The pollutant detector 140 is arranged to detect one or more pollutants in the environment and to send a signal indicative of whether the one or more pollutants are detected to the controller. The controller is arranged to cause the jet of air 102 to be directed towards the suction inlet 122 in response to the signal being indicative that one or more of the pollutants have been detected. It will be appreciated that in other examples, for example in which the air treatment device 100 is for providing other air treatment to the air, any other suitable type of detector may be employed. For example, the air treatment device 100 may comprise a dehumidifier and a humidity detector, and the controller may be arranged to cause the jet of air 102 to be directed towards the suction inlet U2 if a humidity of the environment is detected to be above a threshold humidity. In this example, the pollutant detector 140 is located on the jet unit 110, but it will be appreciated that the pollutant detector 140 may alternatively be located on the suction unit 210.
The air treatment device 100 comprises a user interface 150 operable by a user to operate the air treatment device 100. The user interface 150 may comprise one or more of a button, switch, toggle, knob, touch screen or wireless communication module for communicating with a smart device. The user interface 150 may enable a user to turn the air treatment device 100 on or off and/or to adjust one or more operating parameters of the air treatment device 100, for example an amount of heating or cooling of the jet of air 102 by the thermal unit 118 or a flow rate of the first and/or second airflow generators 116, 132. In this example, the user interface 150 is located on the jet unit 110, but it will be appreciated that the user interface 150 may alternatively be located on the suction unit 210.
Figure 3 is a graph depicting the performance of an air treatment device according to the present invention (solid line), in this case an air purifier, against a traditional air purifier (dashed line) for corresponding flow rates. In this demonstration, the flow rate of the traditional air purifier was 601/s and the flow rate at the suction inlet, Qs, was also 601/s.
Figure 3 shows that the reduction in the average pollution concentration of the traditional air purifier rate follows a substantially exponential decay. Conversely, the rate of reduction in the average pollution concentration of the air treatment device according to the present invention is significantly greater, particularly in the first 5-10 minutes. The graph can be explained by the increased amount of ambient air that is drawn towards the jet of air and into the suction unit.
Figure 4 shows a further example of an air treatment device 200 according to the present invention. The air treatment device 200 is substantially similar to the air treatment device 100 depicted in Figures 1 and 2 and described above. Like components have the same reference number, but increased by 100, and will not be described again for brevity. Any features described with reference to the air treatment device 100 may be equally applicable to the air treatment device 200.
The air treatment device 200 comprises a return duct 260 for permitting airflow to pass from the suction unit 220 to the jet unit 210. The return duct 260 may comprise a non-return valve (not shown) to prevent airflow from passing in an opposite direction. In this example, the return duct 260 is positioned to a side of the suction unit 220 and the jet unit 210.
In some examples, the return duct 260 adjoins a centre of the suction inlet 222 with a centre of the jet outlet 212, such that the return duct 260 is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis 20 of the air treatment device 200. This can help to provide a more compact arrangement without substantially inhibiting an amount of entrainment by the jet of air 202, since the outer perimeter of the jet of air 202 is not affected by the presence of the return duct 260 and the return duct does not impede ambient air 204 as it is drawn towards the jet of air 202.
In this example, the suction unit 220 comprises an airflow generator and the jet unit 210 does not. In use, a proportion of the combined airflow 206 that is drawn into the suction unit 220 is exhausted from the suction unit 220 via the return duct 260 to form a return airflow. The return airflow forms the jet of air 202 that is emitted from the jet outlet 210.
It will be appreciated that in other examples, the jet unit 210 may also comprise an airflow generator and the return airflow may form a portion of the jet of air 202.
The return airflow has a flow rate, QR, which in this example is substantially equal to the first flow rate Qi, corresponding to the flow rate at the jet outlet 212. In this example, the fourth flow rate Q), corresponding to the flow rate at the suction outlet 228, is less than the third flow rate Qs, corresponding to the flow rate at the suction inlet 222. That is, Q = Qs -QR The return duct 260 is positioned downstream of the air treatment unit (not shown) such that a portion of the treated airflow 208 is returned to the jet unit 210.
Figure 5 shows another example of an air treatment device 300 according to the present invention. The air treatment device 300 is substantially similar to the air treatment device depicted in Figures 1 and 2 and described above. Like components have the same reference number, but increased by 200, and will not be described again for brevity. Any features described with reference to the air treatment devices 100, 200 may be equally applicable to the air treatment device 300.
The air treatment device 300 comprises two jet units 310a, 310b each arranged to emit a jet of air 302a, 302b. The suction unit 320 is arranged to draw in the combined airflows 306a, 306b of each jet unit 310a, 310b The flow rate Qc of both of the combined airflows 306a, 306b is greater than a flow rate of the combined airflow of the air treatment devices 100, 200 described above, even when the combined flow rate (Q.b+Qm) at the jet units 310a, 310b is substantially equal to the flow rate Qi at the jet unit 110, 210, because providing two jets of air 302a, 302b causes a greater amount of entrainment of ambient air compared to providing a single jet of air 102, 202.
The jet units 310a, 310b are inclined towards one another such that the combined airflows 306a, 306b substantially entirely cross paths at the combined airflows 306a, 306b travel towards the suction unit 320. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the jet units 310a, 310b may be arranged to emit substantially parallel jets of air 302a, 302b that do not or only partially cross paths, and the suction unit 320 may be arranged such that the suction inlet 322 is of sufficient equivalent diameter to drawn in substantially all of both combined airflows 306a, 306b.
Figures 6 and 7 show an extractor 400 according to the present invention. The extractor 400 is substantially similar to the air treatment device 100 depicted in Figures 1 and 2 and described above. Like components have the same reference number, but increased by 300, and will not be described again for brevity. Any features described with reference to the air treatment devices 100, 200, 300 may be equally applicable to the extractor 400.
The extractor 400 comprises a suction unit 420 in the form of an extractor hood. The extractor hood 420 is arranged above an array of pollutant sources 480. The extractor hood 420 comprises a suction inlet 422 defined in a lower surface of the extractor hood 420. In this example, the array of pollutant sources 480 is an arrangement of four gas rings on a cooking hob. In the example shown in Figures 6 and 7, two of the gas rings are in use and are supporting and heating respective saucepans 482. The saucepans 482 are emitting unwanted heat, smells, and particulates. It will be appreciated that in other examples, there may be a greater or lesser number of pollutant sources in the array 480.
The extractor 400 comprises a jet unit 410 comprising a jet outlet 412. The jet outlet is positioned at the centre of the array 480 and arranged to direct a jet of air 402 towards the suction inlet 222. As the jet of air 402 travels from the jet unit 410 to the suction unit 420, ambient air 404 in entrained from around substantially all of a perimeter of the jet of air 402 to create a combined airflow 406. The combined airflow 406 comprises the entrained unwanted heat, smells and particulates emitted from the saucepans 482 The jet outlet 412 is in the shape of a cross. As noted above, this increases the perimeter of the jet outlet 412 compared to, say, a circular outlet having the same cross-sectional area, which can help to increase an amount of entrainment of ambient air. It will be appreciated that any other suitable shape may be employed in other examples.
Whilst particular examples and embodiments have been described, other embodiments are envisaged which fall within the scope of the invention. For example, whilst the figures depict the suction unit being located vertically above the jet unit, the jet and suction units could be positioned at any other position relative to one another as long as the jet of air is directed towards the suction inlet, for example the jet unit and suction unit could be provided at the same height from the ground and the jet of air directed horizontally. For example, the air treatment device may comprise more than two jet units.

Claims (14)

  1. Claims 1. An air treatment device comprising a jet unit and a suction unit spaced from the jet unit, wherein: the jet unit comprises a jet outlet through which a jet of air is emitted towards the suction unit; the jet unit is arranged such that, as the jet of air travels from the jet unit to the suction unit, the jet of air entrains ambient air from around substantially all of a perimeter of the jet of air to create a combined airflow; and the suction unit comprises a suction inlet through which the combined airflow is drawn into the suction unit, an air treatment unit for treating the at least a portion of the combined airflow, and a suction outlet through which treated airflow is emitted.
  2. 2. An air treatment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suction inlet has a cross-sectional area that is at least five times greater than a cross-sectional area of the jet outlet.
  3. 3. An air treatment device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the jet of air is emitted from the jet unit at a first flow rate, and the combined airflow is drawn into the suction inlet at a second, greater flow rate.
  4. 4. An air treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the jet unit comprises a first airflow generator for generating the jet of air, and the suction unit comprises a second airflow generator for drawing the combined airflow into the suction 25 unit
  5. 5. An air treatment device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the suction unit comprises an airflow generator for drawing the combined airflow into the suction unit, and the air treatment device comprises a return duct arranged to return, to the jet unit, at least part of the combined airflow drawn through the suction inlet, and the jet unit emits the airflow returned by the return duct as at least part of the jet of air.
  6. 6. An air treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the suction inlet has a greater equivalent diameter than the jet outlet.
  7. 7. An air treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the jet outlet has a perimeter and a cross-sectional area, the cross-sectional area has an equivalent diameter D, and a ratio of the perimeter to the cross-sectional area of the jet outlet is at least D/2 mm-1.
  8. 8. An air treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the jet unit comprises a thermal unit arranged to heat and/or cool the jet of air relative to the ambient air.
  9. 9. An air treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the jet outlet and the suction inlet are co-axially arranged.
  10. 10. An air treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the jet unit comprises one or more guides arranged to cause, in use, the jet of air to travel between the jet outlet and the suction inlet in a non-linear motion.
  11. 11. An air treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a pollutant detector and a controller connected to the pollutant detector, wherein the controller is arranged to cause the jet of air to be directed towards the suction inlet in response to the pollutant detector detecting a pollutant.
  12. 12. An air treatment device of any preceding claim, comprising at least one additional jet unit arranged to emit an additional jet of air towards the suction unit, wherein the additional jet of air entrains ambient air to create an additional combined airflow, and the suction inlet is arranged to draw at least a portion of each of the combined airflow and the additional combined airflow into the suction unit.
  13. 13 An air treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a separation distance between the jet outlet and the suction inlet is at least 200 mm.
  14. 14. An extractor comprising: an array of pollutant sources; an extractor hood arranged above the array and comprising a suction inlet; and a jet unit comprising a jet outlet, the jet outlet positioned substantially at a centre of the array and arranged to direct a jet of air towards the suction inlet; wherein, as the jet of air travels from the jet unit to the suction unit, the jet of air entrains ambient air from around substantially all of a perimeter of the jet of air to create a combined airflow, and the suction inlet is arranged to draw the combined airflow into the extractor hood.
GB2217293.6A 2022-11-18 2022-11-18 Air treatment device Pending GB2624441A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2217293.6A GB2624441A (en) 2022-11-18 2022-11-18 Air treatment device
GB2317642.3A GB2625208A (en) 2022-11-18 2023-11-17 Extractor assembly
PCT/IB2023/061643 WO2024105630A1 (en) 2022-11-18 2023-11-17 Air extractor assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2217293.6A GB2624441A (en) 2022-11-18 2022-11-18 Air treatment device

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GB202217293D0 GB202217293D0 (en) 2023-01-04
GB2624441A true GB2624441A (en) 2024-05-22

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GB2217293.6A Pending GB2624441A (en) 2022-11-18 2022-11-18 Air treatment device
GB2317642.3A Pending GB2625208A (en) 2022-11-18 2023-11-17 Extractor assembly

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GB2317642.3A Pending GB2625208A (en) 2022-11-18 2023-11-17 Extractor assembly

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WO (1) WO2024105630A1 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004072558A1 (en) * 2003-02-14 2004-08-26 Yoshiaki Kanaya Method and device for local ventilation by guiding airflow and separating airflow
EP3045822A1 (en) * 2015-01-16 2016-07-20 Berbel Ablufttechnik Gmbh Device for extracting waste air
WO2016189379A1 (en) * 2015-05-27 2016-12-01 Tre P Engineering S.R.L. Blowing cooking hob

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2163927A5 (en) * 1971-12-07 1973-07-27 Cometal
DE8301489U1 (en) * 1983-01-21 1983-06-16 Helms, Henning, 2000 Hamburg, De COOKING STOVE
DE602008001977D1 (en) * 2008-06-27 2010-09-09 Univ Nat Taiwan Science Tech Pollutant removal device and dual air curtain area cap with the device
WO2013129786A1 (en) * 2012-02-29 2013-09-06 Jin Nam Gi Local hood exhaust pressure device

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004072558A1 (en) * 2003-02-14 2004-08-26 Yoshiaki Kanaya Method and device for local ventilation by guiding airflow and separating airflow
EP3045822A1 (en) * 2015-01-16 2016-07-20 Berbel Ablufttechnik Gmbh Device for extracting waste air
WO2016189379A1 (en) * 2015-05-27 2016-12-01 Tre P Engineering S.R.L. Blowing cooking hob

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WO2024105630A1 (en) 2024-05-23
GB2625208A (en) 2024-06-12
GB202217293D0 (en) 2023-01-04

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