KR20220123562A - Hvac home air filter - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) domestic air filter for removing airborne molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air within a dwelling space. The HVAC household air filter includes a support frame having a shape and size suitable for orienting the HVAC household air filter within a residential HVAC system. A filter medium is held within a support frame to remove airborne molecular contaminants and VOCs from the air flowing through the residential HVAC system. The filter media comprises a combination of media layers configured to exhibit relatively high filtration efficiency and low air pressure drop across the filter media. The support frame includes a plurality of elongate sections and corner sections disposed along a peripheral edge of the filter media to support the filter media within the residential HVAC system to guide air through the filter media.

Description

HVAC HOME AIR FILTER

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/668,772, entitled "Cabin Air Filter", filed March 25, 2015, and claims the benefit thereof, "HVAC System, filed December 18, 2015." Air Filter, which claims the benefit of and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 14/974,092 entitled "Air Filter," the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The field of the present disclosure relates generally to filter devices. More specifically, the field of the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for HVAC system air filters for the removal of airborne molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds from air within interior building spaces.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems generally operate to provide optimal indoor air quality to occupants within interior building spaces. HVAC systems achieve optimum indoor air quality by conditioning the air, removing particulate contaminants by ventilation and filtration of the air, and providing adequate building pressurization.

There are many different approaches to HVAC system design and operation, and while each building design is unique, HVAC systems generally share some basic design elements. For example, outside air (“supply air”) is generally drawn into a building's HVAC system through an air inlet. Once inside the HVAC system, the supply air is filtered to remove particulate contaminants, then heated or cooled, and then circulated throughout the building by an air distribution system. Many air distribution systems include a return air system configured to draw air from an interior building space and return air ("return air") to the HVAC system. Return air is then mixed with supply air and immediately filtered, conditioned and circulated throughout the building. Often, a portion of the air circulating within the building may be vented to the outside of the building to maintain the desired atmospheric pressure within the building.

As will be appreciated, the effectiveness of an HVAC system to provide optimal indoor air quality is highly dependent on the ability of an air filter within an HVAC system to remove particulate contaminants from the air within a building. HVAC system air filters typically include a fibrous material configured to remove solid particulates such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from air passing through the HVAC system. However, a drawback to conventional HVAC system air filters is that very effective air filters capable of removing very small contaminants such as air-carrying molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) tend to restrict air flow through the air filter and , which makes the HVAC system more difficult to operate and consumes more energy.

Another drawback to conventional HVAC system air filters is that dirty or clogged air filters are typically removed from the HVAC system and discarded, and a new HVAC system air filter installed. In addition, HVAC system air filters can be discarded and replaced unnecessarily in an effort to increase HVAC system airflow and thus reduce operating costs. Considering that there are millions of buildings equipped with HVAC systems worldwide, the amount of waste air filters that can be removed from landfills is staggering. Accordingly, there is a need for an HVAC system air filter that can be periodically cleaned and regenerated and configured to remove airborne molecular contaminants and VOCs without interfering with air flow through the HVAC system.

An apparatus and method are provided for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) domestic air filter for removing airborne molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air within a dwelling space.

The HVAC household air filter includes a support frame having a shape and size suitable for orienting the HVAC household air filter within a residential HVAC system. The filter media is maintained within the support frame and configured to remove airborne molecular contaminants and VOCs from the air flowing through the residential HVAC system. The support frame includes a plurality of elongate sections and corner sections disposed along a peripheral edge of the filter medium and configured to orient the filter medium within the residential HVAC system, each of the plurality of elongate sections and corner sections supporting a peripheral edge of the filter medium. and a U-shaped cross-sectional shape comprising an open side that provides a recess configured to receive. A filter medium is preferably disposed between the first and second screens to prevent warping of the filter medium due to air pressure, at least one of the screens comprising nylon. Filter media generally comprise a combination of one or more media layers, each of the one or more media layers having unique filtration properties, such that the combination of media layers exhibits a relatively high filtration efficiency and a relatively low air pressure drop across the filter media. . The support frame includes a plurality of elongate sections and corner sections disposed along a peripheral edge of the filter media and is configured to orient the filter media within the residential HVAC system.

In an exemplary embodiment, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) household air filter for removing air-carrying molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air within a residential space comprises a HVAC household air filter within a residential HVAC system. a support frame having a shape and size suitable for orientation; and a filter media retained within the support frame, wherein the filter media is configured to remove airborne molecular contaminants and VOCs from air flowing through the residential HVAC system.

In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media comprises paper, foam, cotton, spun fiberglass, or other known filter material, woven or non-woven material, synthetic or natural, or any combination thereof. In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media may be pleated to increase the surface area through which the air stream to be cleaned passes. In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media is disposed between the first and second screens, at least one of the first and second screens comprises nylon, the support frame is disposed along a peripheral edge of the filter media and and a plurality of elongate sections and corner sections configured to orient the filter media within the residential HVAC system.

In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media comprises a combination of one or more media layers, each of the one or more media layers having unique filtration properties, so that the combination of one or more media layers provides a relatively high filtration efficiency across the filter media and Relatively low air pressure drop. In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media exhibits a filtration efficiency of at least 38% and a basic filtration efficiency of substantially 43.3%. In another exemplary embodiment, the combination of one or more media layers includes a first media layer and a second media layer, the first media layer having a fiber density that is relatively lower than the fiber density of the second media layer. In another exemplary embodiment, the filter medium has a fiber density that generally increases in the direction of air flow through the filter medium. In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media has a weight range of substantially 96.6 grams per square meter (gm/m ² ) to 106.8 gm/m ² . In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media has a thickness ranging from substantially 2.54 mm to substantially 4.57 mm. In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media has an air permeability range from substantially 2.08 cubic meters/sec of air/square meter of filter media (m ³ /sm ² ) to substantially 2.44 m ³ /sm ² .

In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media comprises a combination of one or more media layers, each of the one or more media layers having a unique appearance, the combination of one or more media layers having a relatively high filtration efficiency across the filter media and a relatively low is configured to exhibit an air pressure drop, and the unique appearance is configured to indicate a desired direction of air flow through the filter medium. In another exemplary embodiment, the combination of one or more media layers includes a first media layer and a second media layer, wherein the first media layer has a gold color, the second media layer has a white color, and the gold color is of the filter media. The air inlet side is indicated, and the white color is the air outlet side of the filter medium.

In another exemplary embodiment, the electrostatic portion of the filter media is configured to electrostatically adsorb and agglomerate particulate contaminants in air flowing through a residential HVAC system. In another exemplary embodiment, the electrostatic portion of the filter medium comprises at least a portion of the fibers treated with a coating of antimicrobial molecules configured to destroy microorganisms, the antimicrobial molecules distributed around the periphery of each of the at least some fibers and the filter medium positively charged molecules configured to cooperate with polarized fibers within. In another exemplary embodiment, the filter media is configured to electrostatically trap particulate contaminants and release perfume into air flowing through a residential HVAC system, wherein the filter media comprises antimicrobial molecules configured to destroy the entrapped particulate contaminants. wherein the filter media comprises at least one substance configured to release perfume into air passing through the filter media, wherein the at least one substance is positioned downstream of the antimicrobial molecule to avoid destruction of the perfume molecule by the antimicrobial molecule. .

In an exemplary embodiment, a method of cleaning a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) household air filter installed in a residential HVAC system is provided, the method comprising: removing the HVAC household air filter from the residential HVAC system; cleaning any debris trapped therein in the residential HVAC system; and flushing contaminants from the filter media of the HVAC household air filter by means of a water hose; allowing water and contaminants to drain from the filter medium; and allowing the filter media to dry.

In another exemplary embodiment, removing the HVAC household air filter further includes disassembling a support frame comprising the HVAC household air filter and removing the filter medium from the support frame. In another exemplary embodiment, washing the contaminants from the filter media further comprises removing the filter oil composition from the filter media using a solvent. In another exemplary embodiment, allowing the filter media to dry further comprises applying a filter oil composition to the filter media.

Reference is made to the drawings to embodiments of the present disclosure.
1 depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplary use environment in which an HVAC system air filter is incorporated into an HVAC system of a building in accordance with the present disclosure;
2 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a residential HVAC system including an HVAC domestic air filter in accordance with the present disclosure;
3 shows an exemplary embodiment of an HVAC household air filter in accordance with the present disclosure.
4 shows an enlarged perspective view of a corner of the HVAC household air filter of FIG. 3 in accordance with the present disclosure;
5 depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of a composite filter media configured to trap particulate contaminants by electrostatic adsorption and agglomeration.
6 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a polarized fiber and an unpolarized passive fiber exposed to particulate contaminants in an air stream flowing from an upstream region to a downstream region.
While this disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail herein. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific form disclosed, but rather, the present invention covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, specific numerical references may be made, such as "a first portion." However, specific numerical references should not be construed as a literal sequential order, rather, that "a first part" is to be construed as being different from a "second part". Accordingly, the specific details described are exemplary only. It is contemplated that certain details may differ from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and still fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The term "coupled" is defined to mean connected directly to or indirectly to a component through another component. Also, as used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” to any numerical value or range means that the part or collection of components functions for its intended purpose as described herein. Appropriate dimensional tolerances that allow

Generally, the present disclosure describes apparatus and methods for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) household air filters for removing airborne molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air within a residential space. The HVAC household air filter includes a support frame having a shape and size suitable for orienting the HVAC household air filter within a residential HVAC system. The filter media is maintained within the support frame and configured to remove airborne molecular contaminants and VOCs from the air flowing through the residential HVAC system. Filter media generally comprise a combination of one or more media layers configured to exhibit relatively high filtration efficiency and relatively low air pressure drop across the filter media. The support frame includes a plurality of elongate sections and corner sections disposed along a peripheral edge of the filter media and configured to orient the filter media within the residential HVAC system such that air flowing through the residential HVAC system passes through the filter media. do.

1 depicts an exemplary use environment 100 in which an air filter 104 is incorporated within an HVAC system 108 of a building 112 to clean an air stream drawn through the air filter 104 . Although building 112 shown in FIG. 1 is a multi-story office building, it should be understood that building 112 may include any of a variety of habitable structures, such as residential houses, apartments, condominiums, and the like. After passing through air filter 104 , the air stream is directed into one or more building spaces 116 by supply piping 110 . Air in the building space 116 is routed back to the HVAC system 108 by return piping 114 . Building 112 may include multiple floors each containing one or more building spaces 116 as shown in FIG. 1 , or may include single-story buildings including, but not limited to, independent residential homes. can

2 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a residential HVAC system 108 that may be used to clean air within a residential living space 116 . The residential HVAC system 108 generally includes a fan 120 configured to draw a return air stream 124 from the residential living space 116 through an air filter 104 , and thus air-carrying molecular contaminants, volatile organic Compounds, and other particulate contaminants are removed from the air stream. Particulate contaminants removed from return air stream 124 are collected in air filter 104 . Fan 120 then pushes clean air stream 128 through air conditioning system 132 and heater core 136 and into residential living space 116 . As will be appreciated, the air conditioning system 132 and the heater core 136 facilitate providing a constant stable temperature within the residential living space 116 by cooling and heating the clean air stream 128, respectively, as needed. . As further shown in FIG. 2 , return air stream 124 is provided with bypass air stream 130 as well as outside air stream 126 to maintain a desired atmospheric pressure within residential HVAC system 108 and within residential living space 116 . It can also be combined with In some embodiments, an exhaust air stream 134 may be incorporated into the residential HVAC system 108 to further maintain a desired barometric pressure and allow entry of an outside air stream 126 .

3 shows an exemplary embodiment of an air filter 104 according to the present disclosure. The air filter 104 generally includes a filter medium 144 held within a support frame 148 . The support frame 148 is configured to orient the air filter 104 within the residential HVAC system 108 such that the return air stream 124 is guided through the filter medium 144 . Accordingly, the support frame 148 includes a shape and size suitable for supporting the air filter 104 within the residential HVAC system 108 . It will be appreciated that the shape and size of the support frame 148 will vary depending on the make and model of the residential HVAC system 108 in which the air filter 104 will be used.

Filter media 144 provides an area for the air stream to pass through and traps particulates and other contaminants that flow with the air stream. Filter media 144 may include paper, foam, cotton, spun fiberglass, or other known filter material, woven or non-woven material, synthetic or natural, or any combination thereof. The filter media 144 may be pleated to increase the surface area through which the air stream to be cleaned passes. Accordingly, the length of the filter medium 144 may generally be greater than the length of the air filter 104 due to the pleats, and thus the surface area of the filter medium 144 is greater than the surface area of the air filter 104 .

In some embodiments, filter media 144 may be a composite filter media comprising one or more media layers each having unique filtration properties, so that the combination of media layers provides a relatively high filtration efficiency and high filtration efficiency across filter media 144 , in some embodiments. Relatively low air pressure drop. 3 to 4 , the filter media 144 includes a first media layer and a second media layer. The first media layer has a fiber density that is relatively less than that of the second media layer. Accordingly, the filter medium 144 generally includes an increasing fiber density in the direction of air flow through the filter medium. In one embodiment, the filter media 144 has a filtration of at least 38% as measured by a TSI Model 8130 automated filter tester using a 0.1 μm particle number median diameter salt (NaCl) aerosol at a flow rate of substantially 85 liters/min. efficiency and substantially a basic filtration efficiency of 43.3%.

The combination of media layers comprising filter media 144 is generally lightweight and relatively thin. In one embodiment, filter media 144 has a basis weight of substantially 3.0 ounces/square yards (ounce/yd ² ) and a weight range of substantially 2.85 to 3.15 ounces/yd ² . In one embodiment, the filter media has a basis weight of substantially 101.7 grams per square meter (gm/m ² ) and a weight of substantially 96.6 gm/m ² to 106.8 gm/m ² . The base thickness of the filter media 144 is substantially 0.140 inches, or 3.56 millimeters (mm), and the thickness of the filter media 144 ranges substantially from 0.100 inches (2.54 mm) to 0.180 inches (4.57 mm).

In one embodiment, the filter medium 144 comprises an air permeability range of substantially 410 cubic feet of air per minute per square foot of filter medium (cfm) to substantially 480 cfm, including a base air permeability of substantially 445 cfm. do. In one embodiment, the air permeability of the filter medium 144 ranges from substantially 2.08 cubic meters of air per second per square meter of filter medium (m ³ /sm ² ) to substantially 2.44 m ³ /sm ² , 144) is substantially 2.26 m ³ /sm ² .

As will be appreciated, each of the media layers comprising filter media 144 may have a unique appearance due, at least in part, to the different fiber densities described above. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the unique appearance of the media layer may indicate a desired direction of air flow through the filter media 144 . For example, in the embodiment shown in Figures 3-4, the first media layer comprises gold and the second media layer comprises white. Thus, the first side of the air filter 104 may have a gold color and may represent the air inlet side of the filter, and the second side of the air filter may have a white color that may represent the air outlet side of the filter. Since the color of the first and second sides of the air filter 104 can serve to ensure proper installation of the air filter within the residential HVAC system 108 , the fiber density of the filter medium 144 is generally increases in the direction of air flow through 104 .

The support frame 148 may include a variety of fastening or support structures and materials that are suitably configured to secure the air filter 104 within a particular residential HVAC system 108 . To this end, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , a support frame 148 is disposed along a peripheral edge of the filter medium 144 and is configured to support the filter medium 144 within the residential HVAC system 108 . It includes an elongate section 152 and a corner section 156 . However, in other embodiments, the support frame 148 includes any of a variety of rigid supports, shapes, and recesses configured to orient the air filter 104 within the residential HVAC system 108 of various make and models. can do. Therefore, the various structures, shapes and materials incorporated throughout the support frame 148 and thus the air filter 104 can be adapted to the particular residential HVAC system in which the air filter 104 will be used without detracting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 108) may vary.

It will be appreciated that the filter media 144 is generally held within the support frame 148 . 3-4 , the elongate section 152 and the corner section 156 comprise a U-shaped cross-sectional shape, the open side of which is a recess suitable for receiving a peripheral edge of the filter medium 144 . (160). When assembling the elongate section 152 and the corner section 156 as shown in FIGS. 3-4 , the recess 160 extends along the inner periphery of the support frame 148 , thus providing a filter within the support frame. Holds medium 144 . As best shown in FIG. 4 , corner section 156 includes folded portions 164 disposed on opposite sides of corner section 156 as well as opposite ends of corner section 156 . In the illustrated embodiment, each of the folded portions 156 includes a tab that extends toward the interior of the recess 160 and is configured to slidably hold the edge of the elongate section 152 .

As will be appreciated, the folded portion 156 cooperates to maintain the elongate section 152 within the corner section 156 as shown in FIG. 4 . Folded portion 164 allows the practitioner to insert elongate section 152 into corner section 156 to assemble support frame 148 as shown in FIG. It is contemplated to grip the elongate section 152 with a force sufficient to provide sufficient friction to maintain the support frame 148 in an assembled state during use. Additionally, the sliding relationship between the elongate section 152 and the corner section 156 generally permits adjustment of the length and width of the support frame 148 to accommodate variations in the shape and size of the conduit within the residential HVAC system 108 . It is envisioned to facilitate For example, it is not uncommon for air filters sized appropriately for a particular residential HVAC system 108 to allow for small gaps due to variations in the assembly of the HVAC system, allowing unfiltered air to bypass the filter media. . However, upon installation of the air filter 104 , the elongate sections 152 and corner sections 156 define the length and width of the support frame 148 such that substantially all unfiltered air passes through the filter media 144 . can be adjusted to fit

It is contemplated that any of a variety of fasteners or structures may be implemented to retain the filter media 144 within the support frame 148 . In some embodiments, the support frame 148 may include a grating or similar structure that encloses the filter media 144 within the support frame 148 without restricting air flow through the filter media 144 . In some embodiments, the filter media 144 may be associated with a wire support configured to inhibit bending of the filter media 144 due to an air stream passing through the filter media. For example, a filter medium may be disposed between the first screen and the second screen. 3-4, the first and second screens comprise nylon. However, in other embodiments, the first and second screens may comprise rigid materials such as, but not limited to, any of a variety of suitable plastics or metals.

In some embodiments, the support frame 148 may be molded directly onto the edge of the filter media 144 to hold the filter media within the frame. In some embodiments, the support frame 148 may be molded to a wire support of the filter media 144 . For example, in certain embodiments in which the filter media 144 is disposed between a first screen and a second screen, the support frame 148 may support the first and second screens to hold the filter media 144 within the support frame 148 . 2 Can be molded on the screen. Also, in some embodiments, the support frame 148 may include crimped portions that are folded onto the first and second screens and the filter media 144 to hold them within the support frame. However, it should be appreciated that fastening the filter media 144 to the support frame 148 will not allow the filter media 144 to be removed from the support frame 148 . While the filter media 144 may not be removable from the frame in some embodiments, in preferred embodiments the filter media 144 is provided to the support frame 148 without detracting from the scope of the present disclosure as described herein. It should be understood that it can be removed from

It is contemplated that the practitioner may periodically clean the filter media 144 rather than replacing the air filter 104 as is typically done in conventional air filter systems. It is envisioned that the air filter 104 may be removed from the residential HVAC system 108 and any trapped debris may be removed directly from the residential HVAC system 108 . The elongate section 152 and the corner section 156 can be disassembled to release the filter media 144 from the support frame 148 , after which a water hose is used to flush the contaminants from the filter media 144 . , it can clean the filter and make it ready for reuse. In some embodiments, filter media 144 includes a filter oil composition, and a solvent may be used to remove filter oil from filter media 144 . Once the filter media 144 is sufficiently dry, an appropriately formulated filter oil composition can be applied and permeated into the filter media 144 . The elongate section 152 and corner section 156 can then be assembled to the filter media 144 as described above, and the air filter 104 can be reinstalled into the residential HVAC system 108 . Those skilled in the art will be aware of various other cleaning methods within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, filter media 144 comprises a filter oil composition, wherein filter media 144 comprises at least one cotton gauze comprising 4 to 6 layers of cotton gauze disposed between two epoxy coated aluminum wire screens. It may contain parts. However, as noted above, the wire screen may comprise nylon or other suitable thermoplastic material. Cotton may preferably be treated with the filter oil composition described above to cause tack throughout the fine strands comprising filter media 144 . The nature of cotton allows for high volume airflow and, when combined with the tackiness of the filter oil composition, creates a strong filtration medium that ensures a high degree of air filtration.

During operation of the residential HVAC system 108 , contaminant particles adhere to the fibers within the volume of the filter medium 144 and become part of the filter medium 144 , a process referred to as “depth loading”. It will be appreciated that depth loading allows the air filter 104 to capture and retain much more contaminants per unit area than conventional air filters. The contaminant particles are stopped by a layer of cotton gauze and held stationary by the filter oil composition, so that contaminants collected on the surface of the filter medium 144 have little effect on airflow for most of the life of the air filter 104 . does not give Also, as the filter media 144 collects a greater amount of contaminants and debris, the trapped air stream 124 on the surface of the filter media 144 before passing through the deeper layers within the filter media 144 . An increase in the degree of filtration begins to occur because the contaminants must first pass through. Essentially, the trapped contaminants begin to act as additional filter material preceding the filter media 144 . Accordingly, the air filter 104 continues to exhibit a high degree of air flow and filtration throughout the life of the filter, thus reducing the operating cost of the residential HVAC system 108 .

As will be appreciated, treating the filter media 144 with a filter oil composition generally allows the filter media 144 to trap contaminants by blocking, thus allowing dust particles to travel with the return air stream 124 . The same contaminants come into direct contact with the fibers comprising filter media 144 and are thereafter held in place by the filter oil composition. Since larger or heavier particles are generally captured by impact, the inertia or moment of the particles causes the particles to deviate from the path of the return air stream 124 through the filter media 144 , instead of the particles being drawn straight into the fiber. It collides and is entrapped by the filter oil composition.

Particulate contaminants with very small sizes can be trapped by diffusion. As will be appreciated, small particles are greatly affected by the forces in the return air stream 124 through the filter medium 144 . Changes in velocity, changes in pressure, and the interaction of air molecules with forces induced by other particles generally cause the small particles to follow a random and disorderly flow path through the filter medium 144 . As a result, the small particles do not follow the return air stream 124 , and their erratic motion causes them to collide with the fibers comprising the filter media 144 and remain entrapped by the filter oil composition. The diffusion and filter oil composition allows the air filter 104 to trap particulate contaminants having a size much smaller than the openings between the fibers comprising the filter media 144 . The filter oil composition also enables the air filter 104 to trap contaminants throughout the volume of the filter medium 144 as well as at the surface of the filter as is common in conventional air filters. The multiple layers of cotton fibers comprising filter media 144 combined with the tack provided by the filter oil composition provide multiple levels of contaminant retention, so that the air filter 104 is better than what is possible with conventional air filters. It makes it possible to retain much more contaminants per unit area of filter medium 144 .

As will be appreciated, the filter oil compositions of the present disclosure are important in the improved airflow and filtration properties of the air filter 104 . In some embodiments, the filter oil composition comprises an oil formulation that is non-reactive, has good oxidation stability, has good thermal stability, and maintains adequate viscosity at normal operating temperatures of the residential HVAC system 108 . In some embodiments, the filter oil composition may be a mixture of a coloring dye and an oil suitable for enhancing the tackiness of the filter medium 144, such as, but not limited to, paraffinic oils, polyalphaolefins, and the like. In some embodiments, the filter oil composition comprises a mixture of 96.74 vol % paraffinic oil, 3.20 vol % polyalphaolefin (PAO) and 0.06 vol % coloring dye. In some embodiments, the filter oil composition has a viscosity in the range of substantially 7.2 to 7.6 centistokes (cST) at 100 DegC. It should be understood that the particular oils and dyes, as well as their color or viscosity, and their individual concentrations in the filter oil composition may be varied within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, a layer of cotton gauze treated with the filter oil composition may be combined with portions of filter media 144 where other filtration mechanisms are used, thus reducing airborne molecular contaminants and VOCs from the return air stream 124 . It is possible to form a composite filter media 144 capable of removing . In some embodiments, the composite filter media 144 may include a cotton gauze portion and an electrostatic portion as described herein.

5 shows a cross-sectional view of an electrostatic portion 168 of a composite filter media 144 that may be disposed downstream of a cotton gauze portion and configured to utilize electrostatic adsorption and agglomeration to trap particulate contaminants. The embodiment of FIG. 5 may be configured to capture contaminant particles having a diameter on the order of substantially 0.3 microns. The electrostatic portion 168 of the composite filter media 144 includes a central screen 172 configured to be electrically charged to a high electrostatic potential. In some embodiments, the center screen 172 may be positively charged to substantially 7,000 VDC. The central screen 172 may be covered on each side by at least one electrically polarizable fibrous layer 176 . 5 , each of the at least one polarizable fiber layer 176 may be covered by an external ground wire screen 180 . Positive charging of the central screen 172 causes the polarizable fibers 176 to act to polarize the incoming particle contaminants in the return air stream 124 , causing the contaminants to be electrostatically adsorbed to the polarizable fibers 176 . . Accordingly, particulate contaminants that would otherwise not otherwise collide directly with the fibers 176 are electrostatically entrapped and entrapped within the filter media 144 .

6 shows a cross-sectional view of a polarized fiber 184 and an unpolarized passive fiber 188 exposed to particulate contaminants in an air stream 192 flowing from an upstream region 196 to a downstream region 200 . As shown in FIG. 6 , electrostatic adsorption between the particle contaminants and the polarized fibers 184 uniformly disperses the contaminants on the surface of the polarized fibers 184 . Electrostatic adsorption ensures entrapment of contaminants that would otherwise continue to flow past fibers 184 into downstream region 200 without direct impact. Unlike polarized fibers 184 , unpolarized passive fibers 188 rely only on direct impingement between particulate contaminants and fibers, allowing unimpacted contaminants to continue to flow into downstream region 200 .

As further shown in FIG. 6 , contaminants impinging on the passive fibers 188 tend to accumulate upstream of the passive fibers 188 . It will be appreciated that as the accumulation of contaminants on the upstream side of the passive fibers 188 grows, the air stream 192 is proportionally restricted. Accordingly, filter media comprising unpolarized passive fibers 188 are prone to clogging and greater loadings than would normally occur with filter media comprising polarized fibers 184 . An experimental test to determine the relationship between the fine dust loading and the resulting pressure drop across each of several air filter devices was that the filter media comprising polarized fibers 184 contained only unpolarized passive fibers 188. It has clearly demonstrated that more contaminants are captured with a lower pressure drop across the filter than is possible with conventional filter media.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the fibers comprising the composite filter media 144 may be treated with a coating of antimicrobial molecules configured to destroy microorganisms upon contact. Preferably, the coating of antimicrobial molecules surrounds substantially the entire perimeter of each fiber strand being treated. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial molecules may include positively charged molecules configured to cooperate with the polarized fibers 176 of the composite filter media 144 . Because many microbes and VOCs are negatively charged, incorporating antimicrobial molecules into the composite filter media 144 can electrostatically trap particulate contaminants, thereby displacing the air filter 104 from the return air stream 124 . It is contemplated that it will be possible to remove particles as small as 0.001 microns in diameter or smaller, for example, many odors, irritants, toxic compounds, and the like.

In some embodiments, the fibrous material comprising a portion of the composite filter media 144 may include at least one substance configured to release perfume into the air passing through the composite filter media. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the air filter 104 may be configured to introduce a desired fragrance into the residential living space 116 . It is contemplated that the various HVAC household air filters 104 may include various fragrances, thus allowing the user to select the air filter 104 according to the desired fragrance. In some embodiments, certain perfumes or fragrances may be dispensed through the residential HVAC system 108 into the residential living space 116 to provide aroma therapy by the air filter 104 .

In some embodiments, substances configured to release perfume may be incorporated into the composite filter media 144 comprising antimicrobial molecules. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the composite filter media 144 may utilize electrostatic adsorption and treated cotton gauze to trap particulate contaminants while simultaneously releasing the fragrance into the residential living space 116 . However, it will be appreciated that the material for releasing the perfume is preferably located in the composite filter media 144 downstream of the antimicrobial molecules to avoid destruction of the perfume molecules by the antimicrobial molecules.

Perfumes are known in the art and can be any natural, synthetic material (including aldehydes, ketones, esters, and other chemical constituents) or combinations thereof suitable for use in candles to impart a malodor, fragrance, or fragrance. I think it can be. In some embodiments, suitable natural and synthetic flavoring/flavouring substances may include substances compiled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Section 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 172.510 and 172.515, respectively. In some embodiments, suitable flavoring agents may include perfume oils, essential oils, fruit oils, and the like. In some embodiments, suitable perfumes may include perfume ingredients such as, for example, benzaldehydes, phenols, cinnamic aldehydes and esters, octadiene, dienes, cyclohexadiene, terpenes, and the like. Additional details regarding the diffusion of fragrances by air filters and perfume compositions are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/544,157, filed August 13, 2003, for "Vehicle cabin air filter freshener," each of which The entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The air filter 104 is not limited to treating air within buildings and independent dwelling houses, but includes, by way of non-limiting examples, cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, buses, civil engineering equipment and tractors with closed cabins, crane operators, etc. It should be understood that it may be used for vehicle passenger cabins occupied by passengers, drivers, and occupants, such as cabins, various cargo moving vehicles, locomotives, rail passenger vehicles, aircraft, helicopters, ship cabins, airship cabins, and the like. The air filter 104 may also be incorporated into HVAC systems other than those shown in FIG. 1 , such as, but not limited to, central HVAC systems, roof HVAC systems, wall-mounted HVAC systems, portable HVAC systems, and the like. have.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific modifications and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the illustrated modifications or drawings. Further, where the methods and steps described above represent certain events occurring in a certain order, those skilled in the art will recognize that the order of the predetermined steps may be modified and such modifications are subject to variations of the present invention. Also, certain steps may be performed concurrently in parallel processes where possible, as well as sequentially as described above. This patent is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the spirit of the present disclosure or equivalent to the present invention as found in the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) household air filter for removing airborne molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air within a residential space,
a support frame having a shape and size suitable for orienting an HVAC household air filter within a residential HVAC system; and
An HVAC residential air filter comprising: a filter medium held within a support frame and configured to remove airborne molecular contaminants and VOCs from air flowing through the residential HVAC system. The HVAC household air filter of claim 1 , wherein the filter media comprises paper, foam, cotton, spun fiberglass, or other known filter material, woven or non-woven material, synthetic or natural, or any combination thereof. The HVAC household air filter of claim 1 , wherein the filter medium is pleated, otherwise shaped, or contoured to increase the surface area through which the air stream to be cleaned passes. 2. The filter medium of claim 1, wherein the filter medium is disposed between the first screen and the second screen, at least one of the first screen and the second screen comprises nylon, and the support frame is disposed along a peripheral edge of the filter medium and is for residential use. An HVAC household air filter comprising a plurality of elongate sections and corner sections configured to orient a filter medium within the HVAC system. The filter medium of claim 1 , wherein the filter media comprises a combination of one or more media layers, each of the one or more media layers having unique filtration properties, such that the combination of the one or more media layers has a relatively high filtration efficiency and a relatively high filtration efficiency across the filter media. HVAC household air filters exhibiting low air pressure drop. 6. The HVAC household air filter of claim 5, wherein the filter media exhibits a filtration efficiency of at least 38% and a basic filtration efficiency of substantially 43.3%. 6. The HVAC household air filter of claim 5, wherein the combination of one or more media layers includes a first media layer and a second media layer, the first media layer having a fiber density that is relatively lower than the fiber density of the second media layer. 6. The HVAC household air filter of claim 5, wherein the filter media generally comprises an increasing fiber density in the direction of air flow through the filter media. 6. The HVAC household air filter of claim 5, wherein the filter media has a weight range of substantially 96.6 grams per square meter (gm/m ² ) to 106.8 gm/m ² . 6. The HVAC household air filter of claim 5, wherein the filter media has a thickness ranging from substantially 2.54 mm to substantially 4.57 mm. 6. The HVAC household air filter of claim 5, wherein the filter media has an air permeability range from substantially 2.08 cubic meters of air/sec/square meter of filter media (m ³ /sm ² ) to substantially 2.44 m ³ /sm ² . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the filter media comprises a combination of one or more media layers, each of the one or more media layers having a unique appearance, the combination of one or more media layers having relatively high filtration efficiency across the filter media and relatively low air quality. An HVAC household air filter configured to exhibit a pressure drop, and wherein the distinctive appearance is configured to indicate a desired direction of air flow through the filter medium. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the combination of one or more media layers comprises a first media layer and a second media layer, the first media layer having a gold color, the second media layer having a white color, and the gold color being the air of the filter media. HVAC household air filter with inlet side and white color representing the air outlet side of the filter media. The HVAC household air filter of claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic portion of the filter medium is configured to electrostatically adsorb and agglomerate particulate contaminants in air flowing through the residential HVAC system. 15. The filter medium of claim 14, wherein the electrostatic portion of the filter medium comprises at least a portion of the fibers treated with a coating of antimicrobial molecules configured to destroy microorganisms, the antimicrobial molecules distributed around the periphery of each of the at least some fibers and the filter medium An HVAC household air filter comprising positively charged molecules configured to cooperate with polarized fibers within. 15. The filter medium of claim 14, wherein the filter medium is configured to electrostatically trap particulate contaminants and release perfume into air flowing through the residential HVAC system, the filter medium comprising an antimicrobial molecule configured to destroy the entrapped particulate contaminants; , the filter medium comprises at least one material configured to release perfume into air passing through the filter medium, the at least one material being positioned downstream of the antimicrobial molecule to avoid destruction of the fragrance molecule by the antimicrobial molecule. household air filter. A method for cleaning an HVAC household air filter installed within a residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
removing the HVAC household air filter from the residential HVAC system;
cleaning the residential HVAC system of any debris trapped therein;
flushing contaminants from the filter media of an HVAC household air filter with a water hose;
allowing water and contaminants to drain from the filter medium; and
allowing the filter media to dry. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein removing the HVAC household air filter further comprises disassembling a support frame comprising the HVAC household air filter and removing the filter media from the support frame. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein washing the contaminants from the filter media further comprises removing the filter oil composition from the filter media using a solvent. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein allowing the filter media to dry further comprises applying a filter oil composition to the filter media.

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