NL1043826B1 - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

An air cleaning module (1) comprises: a housing (10); partitioning walls (14A, 14B) for partitioning the housing into a central compartment (31) and at least one side compartment (32, 33); at least one fan (20) arranged within the central compartment of the housing for drawing air up into the housing through at least one opening (21) in a bottom (12) of the housing. Each side compartment has one or more exit openings (34) in its bottom or sidewall. Each side compartment accommodates at least one UV lamp (41, 42) positioned between the exit openings and the corresponding partitioning walls.

Description

ref: P 2020 NL 014 TITLE: Alr cleaner

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to an apparatus for improving air quality, briefly indicated as air cleaner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a need for improving environmental air quality, particularly indoors. The quality, in the context of the present invention, relates to the presence of particulate matter, i.e. dust, and importantly germs, bacteria, viruses. This need is already felt in residential buildings, and already exists with a view to the more traditional germs such as the influenza virus. This need has, obviously, increased recently with a view to the corona virus, and with a view to buildings that are occupied by larger groups of persons, such as for instance offices buildings, schools, shops, but also public transport such as bus, train, airplane. Said buildings are examples of buildings where already attention is given to air quality, but the general emphasis of air quality apparatus in such buildings is climate control, i.e. temperature, humidity, and oxygen i.e. "fresh" air from outside. However, climate control systems / air conditioning systems are not always ideal with a view to germs, and without proper design and maintenance such systems may be places where bacteria flourish. It will in general be difficult, time-consuming and expensive to adapt existing systems such that they offer better performance in germ reduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple, cost- efficient and easy to install modular system that meets the above-described need.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained by the following description of one or more preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which same reference numerals indicate same or similar parts, and in which: figure 1 Is a schematic top view of an air cleaning module according to the present invention, illustrating the general lay-out of its various components, and figure 2 is a schematic cross section along the line H-l in figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 schematically shows a top view of the interior of an embodiment of an air cleaning module 1 according to the present invention, and figure 2 is a schematic cross section along the line IH! in figure 1.

The air cleaning module 1 comprises a housing 10. The housing 10 as shown has a substantially rectangular block shape, having a top 11, a bottom 12 and a sidewall 13. Conveniently, the bottom 12 and sidewall 13 may be shaped as a box with the top 11 being shaped as a lid. In a practical embodiment, the housing may have dimensions of 60 cm x 80 cm wide and about S cm high.

Basically, the housing 10 is closed, with the top 11 as a lid sealingly attached to the sidewall 13, apart for a few openings in the bottom 12. Inside the housing 10, two partitioning walls 14A, 14B are arranged, standing on the bottom 12 and extending the full distance between two opposite sidewalls 13, at some distance from each other, preferably substantially parallel to each other. The partitioning walls 14A, 14B have a height smaller than the inside height of the housing 10, so that a small gap 15 remains between the upper end of the partitioning walls 14A, 14B and the top

11. Alternatively to such gap 15, or additionally, the partitioning walls 144, 148 may have openings close to their upper ends and/or recessions in their upper ends, The partitioning walls 14A, 14B partition the interior 30 of the housing 10 into a central compartment 31 and two side compartments 32, 33. In an alternative embodiment, only one partitioning wall may be praesent, defining only one side compartment and a central compartment that is positioned out of centre. In the embodiment shown, the arrangement is symmetrical.

The air cleaning module 1 comprises at least one fan 20 or similar air moving device arranged within the central compartment 31 of the housing 10 for drawing air up into the housing 10 through at least one opening 21 in the bottom 12. The opening 21 may be implemented as one sufficiently large opening, or an array of smaller openings, as shown. From the central compartment 31, the air flows towards the one or more side compartments 32, 33 through the gap 15 and/or the one or more openings or recessions, as indicated by arrow AF 1. This gap 15 and/or one or more openings act as air entrance of the side compartments 32, 33. Dimensioning of the partitioning walls 14A, 148 is such that the air is distributed substantially evenly over the length of the side compartments 32, 33.

In the bottom 12 part of each side compartments 32, 33, one or more exit openings 34 are arranged for allowing air to flow down out of the side compartments 32, 33. As shown in figure 2, each opening 34 is preferably provided with flow deflectors or flow guides 35 for directing the outflow of air in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to the bottom 12, away from the central compartment 31, as indicated by arrow AF3 in an enlargement. Preferably, as shown, the openings 34 are of elongate shape having their longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the partitioning walls 14A, 14B. The openings 34 may extend over substantially the entire distance between two opposite sidewalls. The embodiment shown has two such openings 34 extending in parallel to each other per side compartment. In alternative embodiments, only one such elongate opening may be present, or the number of parallel openings may be 3 or higher. lt is also possible that such elongate opening is replaced by two or more openings placed in a row.

The air cleaning module 1 comprises at least one UV lamp 41, 42 arranged within the side compartments 32, 33, respectively, positioned between the exit openings 34 and the corresponding entrance openings 15. The UV lamp 41, 42 preferably is a UV-C lamp, preferably and as shown of elongate tubular type, preferably arranged parallel to the partitioning walls 14A, 14B. Each side compartment 32, 33 may accommodate two or more UV lamps.

The air cleaning module 1 is particularly suitable for being mounted in, or integrated in, a suspended ceiling, such that the bottom 12 is flush with such ceiling. In situations where no suspended ceiling is available, the air cleaning module 1 may be arranged below the ceiling. In such case, an alternative embodiment is possible in which the exit openings 34 are arranged in the sidewalls 13. Exit openings in the bottom 12 may be omitted then, and the overall size of the module may be smaller.

The arrangement is such that air, drawn in by the fan 20, is forced to flow past the UV lamps 41, 42, in close proximity thereof, before reaching the exit openings 34, as shown by arrow AF1. During such passage, any germs in the air are killed by the UV light from the UV lamps 41, 42. The speed of the fan 20 is preferably selected such that the resulting air flow is laminar and the residence time within the housing 10, taking into account the intensity of the lamps 41, 42, is sufficiently long to ensure destruction of a high percentage of bacteria and viruses, preferably close to 100%. Air speed is preferably low such as to be barely perceptible in order not to compromise comfort.

in a room with negligible air movement, the air cleaning module 1 creates a general flow pattern that is directed upwards in the centre and downwards at some distance from the centre. The air cleaning module 1 thus services a cell within the room that is quickly devoid of germs. With air movement in the room, the cleansed air spreads over the room and "fresh" air reaches the area serviced by the air cleaning module 1, Best results are achieved if the module is operated continuously. In larger rooms, it may be adequate to install more modules.

UV light, particularly UV-C light, may be damaging to human skin and human eyes. It is therefore preferred that the air cleaning module 1 is provided with safety means 36 for preventing as much as possible that UV light exits the housing 10, and in any case for preventing direct line-of-sight contact between the UV lamps 41, 42 and the surroundings outside the housing 10. Figure 2 illustrates such safety means 36 implemented as light shields 36. It is noted that the top 11 and walls 13 may be made of reflective metal material, and the shielding should also apply to the UV light reflected from said top and walls. It is further noted that the partitioning walls 14A, 14B also serve to prevent UV light from exiting the housing 10 via the entrance openings 21. In a possible embodiment, illustrated in enlargement in figure 2, the air cleaning module 1 may comprise skirt walls 24A and 24B suspended from the top 11 and positioned in between the partitioning walls 14A, 14B and the corresponding UV lamps 41, 42. Each pair of partitioning wall 14A, 14B and adjacent skirt wall 244A, 24B defines an S-shaped path for the air, as illustrated by arrow AF2, that acts as a light block for blocking light passage, as illustrated by arrows L2. For improved efficiency, surfaces of the partitioning walls 14A, 14B and adjacent skirt walls 24A, 24B as well as the part of the top 11 between the skirt walls 244A, 248 may be blackened. A similar arrangement may be positioned downstream of the UV lamps 41, 42.

Apart from the UV functionality, the air cleaning module 1 further comprises one or more ionizing devices 50. Each ionizing device 50 comprises one or more high voltage terminals to charge airborne particles, which may include dust, bacteria, viruses. The air cleaning module 1 comprises one or more earthed conductors to aftract the charged particles and thus remove them from the air flow; in a convenient embodiment, one or more of the top, bottom and sidewalls of the housing 10 may be made from metal that is electrically connected to the mains earth terminal. The ionization will help to inactivate and/or remove bacteria and viruses.

The ionizing device(s) 50, or in any case their high voltage terminals, is/are preferably arranged within the central compartment 31 of the housing 10, at a position between the fan 20 and the passage opening(s) 15 to the side compartments 32, 33. The ions are preferably generated in close proximity of the fan 20, and/or are directed towards the fan 20, so that they are mixed with the air flow at the source of that air flow and are blown through the entire space.

It should be clear to a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed above, but that several variations and modifications are possible within the protective scope of the invention as defined in the appending claims. For instance, it is possible to have more than two compartments with respective UV lamps arranged around a central fan, It is even possible to have multiple fans. it is further possible to have air flow guides forcing the air flow in each UV compartment to pass multiple UV lamps, or to pass an UV lamp multiple times.

Even if certain features are recited in different dependent claims, the present invention also relates to an embodiment comprising these features in common.

Even if certain features have been described in combination with each other, the present invention also relates to an embodiment in which one or more of these features are

5 omitted.

Features which have not been explicitly described as being essential may also be omitted.

Any reference signs in a claim should not be construed as limiting the scope of that claim.

Claims (10)

\ 6 CONCLUSIONS An air cleaning module (1) comprising: a housing {10}; partition walls (14A, 14B) for dividing the housing into at least one central compartment (31) and at least one side compartment (32, 33); at least one fan {20} arranged within the central compartment of the housing for drawing air upwardly into the housing through at least one opening {21) in a bottom (12) of the housing; wherein each side compartment has one or more exit openings (34) in its bottom and/or side wall; and wherein each side compartment accommodates at least one UV lamp (41, 42) positioned between the exit openings and the corresponding partition walls. An air cleaning module according to claim 1, wherein each exit opening is provided with flow deflectors or flow guides (35) to direct the outflow of air in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to the bottom of the housing, away from the central compartment. An air cleaning module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each exit opening is provided with light screens (36) to prevent UV light from passing through the exit opening. Air cleaning module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the partition walls (14A, 14B) are provided with light blocking means (24A, 248) for allowing air flow and thereby preventing the passage of UV light. Air cleaning module according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one ionizer. An air cleaning module according to claim 5, wherein the ionizer is arranged in the central compartment, An air cleaning module according to claim 6, wherein the ionizer is arranged in close proximity to the fan (20) and/or is arranged such that ionized particles are directed towards the fan. An air cleaning module according to claim 6 or 7, wherein at least two ionizers are arranged on either side of the fan. An air cleaning module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing has horizontal dimensions of the order of 80 cm x 80 cm, or slightly smaller, to fit into a standard framework of a standard ceiling system. 10. Air cleaning module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing has air outlet openings in one or more side walls (13).