KR20050099973A - Arrangement for conditioning air - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for conditioning air which is to be introduced into a space, especially the interior space of a motor vehicle, said arrangement comprising devices (4, 4a, 4b) for purifying the air to be conditioned in an optionally multi-stage purification process, and devices (7, 8) for producing and/or supplying the neutral air thus obtained with substances having an olfactive action. According to the invention, the arrangement is provided with an air speed sensor (6) for determining the respective actual air volume flow rate, and means for controlling the quantity of olfactive substances to be dosed, according to the output signal of the air speed sensor (6).

Description

Air Handling Unit {ARRANGEMENT FOR CONDITIONING AIR}

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating air to be supplied to a space, in particular an interior space of a vehicle, wherein the apparatus comprises one step of purifying the natural air to be treated, or in some cases a multistep purifying process. A plant for purifying, and a plant for generating and / or supplying neutral air containing an olactive-active substance obtained in the above manner.

In German Laid-Open Patent Application No. 100 27 428, a device is known for supplying fragrance substances into the interior space of a motor vehicle, as well as in spaces such as, for example, stores, hotels, examination rooms or rest rooms, the application of which is particularly intended fragrance substance The amount of is related to the means suitable for metering in pulsed fashion, as desired and precisely. The metered addition should be made in a controlled manner by the microprocessor, in which case the timing and intensity of the supply of fragrance material should be freely programmable. The German patent application no. 100 27 428 also proposes to set the air to be supplied with a neutral substance to neutral by a suitable one-step purification process or, in some cases, a multi-stage purification process before supplying the perfume substance. This is because the supply of fragrance to the odorous air results in unsatisfactory results. Such a multistage purification process may comprise the following steps in accordance with the application: removing particles from the natural air to be purified, ozone treatment, removing odorous gases and vapors as well as bacteria and bacteria. Transferring the pre-purified air to a sorption catalytic converter in such a manner as to do so, and discarding the excess amount of ozone.

The disadvantage with the known device is that on the one hand the metered addition of the fragrance material is made in a highly precisely metered amount, but due to the addition of the pulsed method the overall concentration varies greatly. The pre-programmed aroma substance supply process, which is controlled by it, is pre-programmed so that no actual pressure ratio fluctuations in the air guide system or cabin can be taken into account which may affect the concentration of the metered substance.

1 is a schematic view of a device according to the invention formed as a module that can be inserted into an air conditioning device,

2 is a schematic view of an air conditioning device with a module inserted according to FIG. 1,

3 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to the invention formed as a "stand-alone" -module,

4 is a schematic view of a device according to the invention integrated into an air conditioning device,

5 is a further embodiment of the device according to the invention integrated into the air conditioning device.

It is an object of the present invention that the process of controlling the metered addition of olfactory material reacts quickly and flexibly to the actual situational fluctuations in the space or air line system to which the fragrance material is to be supplied, thereby realizing the actual contamination situation. It is to improve the device in the manner described in the preamble so that it is implemented accordingly.

This object is achieved by an apparatus having all the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The apparatus according to the invention for treating air to be supplied to a space, in particular to an interior space of a vehicle of a vehicle, is equipped with a facility for purifying the natural air to be treated in one stage of purification or in some cases, in multiple stages of purification. And a facility for generating and / or supplying neutral air containing oligofunctional substances obtained in such a manner, wherein each actual air volume flow rate in said apparatus is provided. The flow rate is detected by the air speed sensor and the amount of material to be metered to act olfactory is adjusted according to the output signal of the air speed sensor.

In other words, the air volume flow supplied to the space, for example the cabin of the motor vehicle, has been shown to vary significantly during transport with a fan and even when the fan speed is constant. An obvious cause of this fluctuation is the fluctuation in air resistance inside the air line of the air guide system which interconnects the installations and the corresponding air inlet and air outlet openings. The change in air resistance can be caused, for example, by a change in the position of the fan flap valve, or in the case of automobiles, by a change in running speed, a change from fresh air mode to a ventilation mode, in particular windows and / or slides. It may also be caused by the opening of a slide roof. If such fluctuations in the air volume flow are not taken into account in the measurement of the fragrance material, the fluctuation may lead to a metering error.

The present invention overcomes this problem by adjusting the amount to be metered in a simple manner for each actual air volume flow.

The air speed sensor can be placed anywhere inside the air guide system as long as the output signal is guaranteed to be in a renewable relationship with the air volume flowing through. As described below, the air speed sensor, which may include, for example, a measuring wire device, is preferably inserted below the flow direction of the particle filter which is typically present in the installation for regulating the air in the interior space. Such a particle filter is generally a component of an air inlet filter device in addition to the activated carbon filter, and the air inlet filter device filters particles, dust, gas, and vapor from natural air introduced through the air inlet opening. If the air velocity sensor is placed below the flow direction of the particle filter, the degree of clogging of the filter can be simply monitored, for example by comparing the actual output signal of the air velocity sensor to the reference air velocity of the uncontaminated filter. The signal generated as a result of the monitoring can be provided to the service computer and displayed accordingly. If the limit value is exceeded, the need for replacement of the filter may be indicated. By such a filter monitoring, the clogging of a filter can be recognized timely. Thus, particle filters can have a smaller structural size, and conventional prefilters are no longer needed even in current filter designs.

In fact, so-called combi-filters consisting of particle filters combined with activated carbon filters are also known. For example, the combi-filter can be implemented by placing activated carbon on a conventional particle filter, for example made of a filtering material such as a nonwoven. In such a combination filter, it is obvious that the air velocity sensor is disposed below the flow direction of the filter.

Filter monitoring using an air velocity sensor is known, for example, from EP-A-0 847 787. However, it is not known to simultaneously control the addition of olfactory-active substances based on the output signal of the air speed sensor.

Olfactory acting materials may be provided inside the carrier volume flow, for example by spraying, vaporizing, evaporating, or the like. Addition via partial volume flow is also conceivable. Such methods and corresponding devices are also known. The adjustment of the amount to be added, for example, the adjustment of the length or number of injection pulses at the time of injection or the temperature at the time of vaporization, is made according to the output signal of the air speed sensor disposed in the air guide system, according to the invention. In the ventilation mode, it is desirable in individual cases to reduce the amount of fragrance material to be metered added by the correction value, in order to prevent the accumulation of fragrance material continuously inside the space to which the fragrance material is to be supplied. Can be. Such individual cases may arise, for example, when no filtering is done in the ventilation mode.

Air velocity sensors are known and described in the literature. The operation of the sensor is generally based on variations in the electrical resistance of one measuring wire or group of measuring wires caused by flowing air. With regard to the selection of a suitable air speed sensor, the present invention is not limited at all.

If there is a fan for conveying air, the output signal of the air speed sensor may additionally be used to compensate to some extent by adjusting the level of the fan voltage the decrease in air volume flow which occurs as the blockage of the particle filter increases. Can be. In the same way the output signal can also be used to compensate for variations in the overall flow resistance caused by, for example, fluctuations in the discharge flap valve or dust pressure flap valve.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the olfactory functional material comprises ions and / or ozone. It is known that ions or ozone are metered in in small amounts to form an impression of fresh air. As such, the device according to the invention may also comprise a corresponding ionization plant or ozone treatment plant, in which case the amount to be added of ions and / or ozone is controlled via an air velocity sensor according to the invention. This document describes several times the air purification of ozone or ions through the oxidation of hazardous substances. However, the evaluation results for the above actions vary. However, the present invention does not exclude the further use of the corresponding ionization plant or ozone treatment plant.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an air quality sensor is provided for detecting the concentration of harmful substances in natural air supplied from the outside. The advantage of such an air quality sensor is that the intensity of the noxious substance removal can be adjusted to the amount of noxious substance actually present. This advantage is also positive in the subsequent process of treating air by adding olfactory substances, since the process of supplying the aromatics is preferably done in neutral air. The addition of aromatic substances to air with other substances that act on the sense of smell is generally offensive.

Air quality sensors are known. The operation of the sensor is also generally based on fluctuations in the measured resistance during generation of air toxic substances that can actually be oxidized or reduced. However, the present invention is not limited to the use of certain types of air quality sensors.

If the ventilation mode is set, for example in the case of a car, and air pollution is high, the air quality sensor additionally switches the ventilation flap valve to the ventilation mode for the safety of the vehicle occupant. Can be used. Switching to the ventilation mode also has other filtering technical advantages, such that the amount of harmful substances that accumulate in the air inlet filter disposed behind the ventilation flap valve is reduced. Thus, in the case of adsorptive filters, the amount of material adsorbed, for example activated carbon, can be kept smaller, resulting in less outflow resistance. Overall, the size of the part can be reduced. When using a filter of the same size as the conventional one, the lifetime of the activated carbon is also extended in correspondence with the conventional amount of activated carbon.

It may also be desirable to provide an air quality sensor for the interior space to which the fragrance material is to be supplied, since the interior air may also be heavily polluted, for example by tobacco smoke or new car-pollutant emissions. . Thus, in the case of an increase in the harmful substances entrained in the internal air, the fan voltage and, in addition, the fan rotation speed are increased, so that the air replacement is accelerated, for example, the output signal of the internal air quality sensor may increase the fan voltage. Can be used to adjust. As in the out-of-air quality sensor, even in this case, the increase in the air purification strength positively affects the aroma material supply process.

If there is an internal air quality sensor and an external air quality sensor, the ventilation flap valve position can be adjusted, for example, by comparing the output signals of the internal air quality sensor and the external air quality sensor. In this way, the fresh air can be switched to the ventilation mode when the harmful material contamination is greater. On the contrary, if the concentration of harmful substances in the vehicle is increased to such an extent that the outside air pollution is less than the inside air pollution, for example, cigarette smoke, it is switched to the fresh air mode again.

Depending on the application, it may be desirable to form the device according to the invention as a module that can be simply used, for example, in existing air conditioning devices and heating installations.

However, the device according to the invention is for example a "stand-alone" for purifying and treating the air in an interior space contaminated with harmful substances peculiar to the interior space, such as cigarette smoke, for example in the cabin of a large taxi. "-Can also be used as a solution. In this application, the internal space air is purified and treated by a module inserted into the cabin according to the ventilation mode method.

The device according to the invention can also be embodied in such a way that the parts of the device are not arranged as compact modules, but rather separately arranged in predetermined places of the air conditioning device and the heating installation. In this case, preferably all parts are connected to the air conditioning electronics at the center.

The device according to the invention can generally be used for purifying and treating air supplied to any interior space. The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in motor vehicles.

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

1 shows an apparatus according to the invention formed as a module. The module 1 comprises a housing 2 which can be formed, for example, as an injection molding receiving frame, which has an air inlet opening 2a and an air outlet opening 2b. Inside the housing 2 an air quality sensor 3 and an air inlet filter device 4 with a combi-filter are arranged in the flow direction. The air inlet filter device 4 is sealed against the wall of the housing 2 by the sealing member 5. According to the invention, an air speed sensor 6 is arranged just below the air inlet filter device 4 in the flow direction. The air velocity sensors 6 are individually used to detect the actual air volume flow rate, so that the amount of material to be metered can not only be detected accurately throughout, but also information relating to filter contamination or filter consumption. It is additionally delivered. Below the flow direction of the air inlet filter device 4 is also arranged an ionization- and / or ozone treatment device 7 and an aroma substance supply device 8. On the outer wall of the housing 2, there is a central electronic interface with a connection plug 9.

Air entering the module 1 through the air inlet opening 2a passes through the air quality sensor 3. The output signal of the air quality sensor 3 is provided via the central interface 9 to an air conditioning electronic device, not shown in FIG. 1, for further processing there, for example to regulate a ventilation flap valve, not shown as well. Is converted to a control signal.

However, air quality sensors are also known that include units for processing and converting input signals into control signals. Such an air quality sensor delivers the control signal directly as an output signal.

The air stream also passes through the air inlet filter device 4. Inside the air inlet filter device 4, harmful substances and odors in the form of particles and gases are filtered out from the natural air. Below the flow direction of the air inlet filter device 4, the purified air stream passes through the air speed sensor 6. The signal of the air speed sensor 6 is likewise provided to the air conditioning electronics, which are used to form and meter, or ionize, and / or form an ion and / or ozone in an amount that matches the actual air volume flow rate. Alternatively, the signal is sent to supply the fragrance substance to the ozone treatment device 7 or the fragrance substance supply device 8.

The air conditioning electronics also detect the filter fill level from the signal of the air speed sensor 6. Such detection is carried out regularly on the basis of the value detected immediately after filter replacement, for example at each motor start. Depending on the amount of filter charge, the blower voltage is adjusted high to maintain a predetermined air volume flow rate if an indication is given of the need to replace the filter or if it is still less charged.

Finally, the air treated as described above is discharged from the module 1 through the air outlet opening 2b.

In the following drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts.

2 shows the arrangement of the module 1 according to FIG. 1, for example, arranged in the air conditioning apparatus 10 of a motor vehicle. The module 1 can be inserted into the air conditioning apparatus 10 without limiting generality in the illustrated embodiment. On the inlet side of the module 1, a fan 11 for conveying air inside the air conditioner 10 can be seen. On the outlet side of the module 1 is a vaporizer 12 of an air conditioner. The amount of ions and / or ozone released from module 1 may be measured to be sufficient to remove bacteria and fungi from vaporizer 12 in addition to supplying the fragrance material. Through a central electronic interface with a connection plug, the module 1 is connected to the air conditioning electronics 14. Within the air conditioning electronics 14 sensor data is received and evaluated, and optionally processed. Thus, within the air conditioning electronics 14 each actual air volume flow rate is detected from the sensor signal, from which the incidence and metering rate for the ions, ozone or optionally the fragrance material used is determined. In addition, the air conditioner electronic device 14 adjusts the position of the ventilation flap valve based on the signal of the air quality sensor 3, and in some cases, a filter replacement instruction or the like is made. Furthermore, the air conditioning electronics 14 are also responsible for controlling and adjusting all other processes that are typically performed within the air conditioning apparatus 10.

3 shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the device according to the invention is formed as a "stand-alone" module, which module is preferably used for purifying the air in the interior spaces contaminated with harmful substances peculiar to the interior spaces, for example in the cabins of large taxis. Used. Internal space air introduced into the module through the air inlet opening 2a, contaminated with harmful substances such as cigarette smoke, for example, passes through the air quality sensor 3, the particle filter 4a and the activated carbon filter 4b, There, the gases and vapors accompanied by particles, dust and smoke are purified. An air velocity sensor 6 disposed below the air inlet filter device 4 in the flow direction generates a signal depending on the flowing air volume flow, which signal is provided to a control unit not shown in the figure. From there, drive control of the fragrance substance supply device 8 and the ionizer 7 is made. Finally, air provided with an olfactory acting amount of ions and fragrance material exits the module through the air outlet opening 2b. The fan 11 is used to transport air in the module. The fan 11 is drive controlled corresponding to the output signal of the internal-air quality sensor. If a high degree of hazardous contamination is detected, air circulation through the air purge-and-treatment module is raised through the fan voltage, thereby increasing the air purifying intensity. Preferably, the supply of aroma material is made only when the output signal of the air quality sensor and, together with the hazardous material contamination, fall below a predetermined threshold. This applies in general to all other devices according to the invention with internal and / or external air quality sensors.

4 and 5 show preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention, for example integrated in the air conditioning device 10. Air entering through the air inlet opening 10a of the air conditioner 10 passes through the air quality sensor 3a, which adjusts the position of the ventilation flap valve, not shown. In the air inflow filter 4 provided with the particle filter 4a and the activated carbon filter 4b, the air of the air content accompanying smoke is purged in some cases of dust, particle | grain, and gas form. Neutral air purified in this manner passes through the vaporizer 12 of the air conditioner and finally reaches the aroma material feed- and ionizer. In the aroma substance supply and ionizer, a quantity of aroma substance and ions measured in accordance with the output signal of the air velocity sensor 6 disposed downward in the flow direction from the air inlet filter 4 is metered in. This purified and treated air finally reaches the cabin interior through the air outlet opening 10b. For air delivery, a fan, not shown in the figure, may be provided. An additional air quality sensor 3b is provided in particular in the cabin 20 without limiting generality. The air quality sensor inspects the quality of the air inside the cabin 20 and, for example, in the ventilation mode, is responsible for comparing the pollution of fresh air introduced from the outside with the air inside the cabin. If the internal pollution is higher than the external air pollution, the ventilation flap valve is switched to the outside air.

The apparatus of FIG. 5 is substantially different from the apparatus of FIG. 4 in that an ozone treatment device 7 for vaporizer sterilization is provided on the inlet side of the vaporizer 12 in a known manner. In order to remove excess ozone generated in some cases, activated carbon filter 4b is also present in the downward direction from the vaporizer 12 in the flow direction.

As an alternative to the automatic control of the addition of olfactory-active substances, it is also possible to manually operate the metering process, in which case the unit of quantity to be metered each time the operating device is operated is an air velocity sensor. Can be set according to the output signal of the. The advantage of this setting method is that the concentration can be set in advance according to the amount of air, but on the other hand it is also possible to separately weigh it later.

The foregoing embodiments show possible implementations of the invention. However, the invention is in no way limited to these examples. Many variations are possible, especially with regard to the combination and arrangement of the facilities for purifying and treating air. In addition, other component parts for air treatment and air purification, which are not mentioned herein, may be added. It is easy to find the best solution whenever necessary.

Claims (16)

An apparatus for treating air to be supplied to a space, Neutral containing equipment for the purification of natural air to be treated in a single step or, in some cases, in a multistage step, and olfactory functional substances obtained in this way. An air treatment apparatus comprising a facility for generating or supplying air) An air velocity sensor 6 for detecting each actual air volume flow rate, and for adjusting the amount of material to be metered addition in accordance with the output signal of the air velocity sensor 6 An air treatment device, characterized in that a means is provided. The method of claim 1, The air treatment device comprises a particle filter 4a, Air treatment, characterized in that the air speed sensor 6 is formed and arranged so that the output signal of the air speed sensor 6 can be further used to detect the filling level of the particle filter 4a. Device. The method of claim 2, Air treatment device, characterized in that the air speed sensor (6) comprises a measuring wire made of an electrically resistive material, arranged downstream of the flow direction of the particle filter (4a). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The air treatment device comprises a fan (11), Air treatment device, characterized in that the output signal of the air speed sensor (6) can be used to regulate the voltage of the fan. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The air treatment device characterized in that the air treatment device comprises an activated carbon filter (4b), and the particle filter is formed as a combi-filter (4). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An apparatus for producing air, characterized in that the plant for generating or supplying neutral air containing the olfactory acting substance comprises ions, ozone, or a plant for generating ions and ozone. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Plants for generating or supplying neutral air containing olfactory substances, for producing or metering addition of aromatic substances, substances containing aromatic substances, or substances containing aromatic substances and aromatic substances (8) Air treatment device, characterized in that it comprises a. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An air treatment apparatus, characterized in that an air quality sensor (3a) is provided for detecting the concentration of harmful substances in natural air supplied from the outside. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An air treatment apparatus, characterized in that an air quality sensor (3b) is provided for detecting the concentration of harmful substances in the interior space. The method of claim 8, Vented flap valve is provided, The position of the ventilation flap valve is determined by the output signal of the outer-air quality sensor 3a, by the output signal of the inner space-air quality sensor 3b, or by the outer-air quality sensor 3a and the inner space-. Air treatment device, characterized in that can be adjusted by the output signal of the air quality sensor (3b). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And an ozone treatment facility, an ion treatment facility, or an ozone treatment facility and an ion treatment facility for sterilizing a vaporizer. The method of claim 11, An ozone filter is connected after the ozone treatment facility for sterilizing the vaporizer, after the ion treatment facility, or after the ozone treatment facility and the ion treatment facility. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Air treatment device, characterized in that the air treatment device is formed as a module (1) that can be inserted into the air conditioning device (10). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Air treatment device, characterized in that the air treatment device is integrated in the air conditioning device (10). The method of claim 1, And said space is an interior space of a vehicle of an automobile. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Air treatment device, characterized in that the air treatment device comprises an activated carbon filter (4b) or the particle filter is formed as a combi-filter (4).