WO1997030755A1

WO1997030755A1 - Air cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO1997030755A1
Application number: PCT/CH1997/000043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Riedo
Original assignee: Andair Ag
Priority date: 1996-02-22
Filing date: 1997-02-12
Publication date: 1997-08-28
Also published as: AU1539597A; CH691432A5

Abstract

The invention relates to an air cleaner (10) comprising means for drawing in, cleaning and distributing air from outside in at least one closed space, in particular in containment areas and/or shelters. Said device is in the form of an independent installation unit with an air-tight housing (12), an air-intake pipe (18) for the air to be cleaned and an outlet pipe (72). The housing (12) surrounds a fan (58), at least one unused filter unit (42) packaged to be air-tight and an integrated by-pass (46) for the filter unit(s) (42). Cleaned air is constantly blown into the containment areas and/or the shelters where it produces a slight but permanent excess pressure and escapes through leakage points in the containment areas and/or through an excess pressure valve in the shelters.

Description

Air purifier

The invention relates to an air cleaning device with means for sucking in, cleaning and distributing outside air in at least one closed room, in particular in safety and / or protective rooms. The invention further relates to a method for operating the air purification device.

A generic device is known for example from DE, AI 4215773. The device provided there consists of an essentially cylindrical element, which can hold a filter or a filter unit, and two end caps of the cylindrical element, which each contain an adapter for connecting the device on the air inlet and air outlet side. In addition, a cyclone filter for separating coarse dust is permanently installed in the cover on the air inlet side.

A filter unit that can be used in the device described above is known from DE, AI 3841895. The filter unit is preferably cylindrical and consists of nested individual filters, which as a whole ensure protection against atomic, biological and chemical (ABC) active substances. A fan flanged on from the outside is used to put the device into operation. When setting up a ventilation system for shelters from the components just mentioned, it must be ensured in a complex manner that all components are matched to one another both in terms of construction and in terms of their functional parameters.

During test runs of a ventilation system, the regularly must be carried out, the function of all involved components and the sufficient tightness of the rooms is checked. Proof must be provided that a prescribed room pressure is reached. The activated carbon filter must be kept outside the system so that it is not moistened prematurely and triggers the aging process.

DE, C1 3521536 presents a room filter unit in which the filter and a pipe section are connected in a "piggyback" arrangement so that during test runs of the ventilation system, the pipe section serves as a bypass for the filter for which However, if necessary, the filter is always kept near its place of use. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that, if necessary, both the filter and the bypass have to be moved during the conversion, and that the connection points for the air inlet and outlet have to be opened and closed again, which often leads to leaks.

The object of the invention is to provide an air purification device of the type mentioned at the outset and a method for its operation without having to coordinate a large number of individual components with one another before commissioning, and at the same time that caused by a large number of adapter pieces and seals To greatly reduce the risk of leaks in the device. The unprotected penetration of outside air should not be possible even in the case of leaky rooms and / or wind. In addition, the filter unit should be stored in the vicinity of its place of use, protected against aging and mechanical damage, so that it can be used immediately, even after years of storage, without any modifications to the device.

In relation to the device, the object is achieved according to the invention in that an air cleaning device designed as an autonomous installation unit with an airtight one Housing, an air inlet connector for the air to be cleaned and an outlet connector, a fan, at least one unused and airtightly packed filter unit and an integrated bypass for the filter unit / s. Special and further developments of the air cleaning device are the subject of dependent patent claims.

By avoiding the use of adapters and connectors between the components in the air cleaning device, the risk of leaks is greatly reduced.

A filter unit preferably consists of a coarse dust filter, a particulate filter and one or, if necessary, several activated carbon filters, which are arranged one after the other in this order and through which the air to be cleaned flows. The activated carbon filter can be filled with impregnated activated carbon, which specifically protects against warfare agents, or with activated carbon, which adsorbs the radionuclide mixtures contained in the air in the event of a nuclear accident. In their entirety, they ensure protection against ABC active ingredients or against nuclear power plant accidents.

According to the invention, the filter unit is stored in the housing of the air cleaning device with the activated carbon filter and is thus protected against mechanical damage and exposure to light through the housing wall. An airtight packaging of the filter unit, preferably by welding in a multi-stage film, ensures that the filter unit is still fully functional even after years of storage. An activated carbon filter in particular would age prematurely without such packaging simply by storing it. The advantage of this type of packaging is the saving of additional mechanical protection, which is already provided by the wall of the air purification device, and, if necessary, the simple unpacking from the film, without causing problems Screw or plug connections must be moved together with sealing material.

The packaged filter unit is expediently stored in the air cleaning device in such a way that, during test runs, the incoming air first flows through a cavity in the air cleaning device, the functional bypass, then hits the packaged filter unit and flows around it and finally enters the fan.

If necessary, the unpacked filter unit is placed in the cavity mentioned directly under the intake manifold and pressed against a seal so that the incoming air must flow through the filter unit. This concept avoids complex measures to replace the filter and bypass.

The gas-tight housing of the air cleaning device is preferably formed in two parts. The packaged filter unit and the cavity are easily accessible by opening quick-release fasteners. If necessary, this enables the filter unit to be used quickly.

According to a variant according to the invention, the cavity mentioned in the air cleaning device is so large that a further filter unit can be used there, in addition to the filter unit stored in the air cleaning device. This filter is preferably a dust and / or suspended matter filter, for example a pollen filter. In this configuration, the air purification device is able to blow dust-free or suspended matter-free, and thus also flower pollen-free, fresh air into the room in normal operation, in that allergic persons can stay free of symptoms. In its function as a built-in unit of a ventilation system for shelters in extraordinary locations, the air cleaning device is not adversely affected. Due to the two-part closure of the housing with quick-release fasteners Both filter units are easily accessible and can be exchanged for each other at any time. As a variant, the additional filter unit can of course also be completely removed if necessary and a necessary filter unit can be inserted in the cavities.

A silencer is preferably installed directly after the motor and / or hand-operated fan, still integrated in the air cleaning device, which reduces the fan noise of the air cleaning device. In practice, glass or mineral wool but also sound-insulating foam is used as the insulating material. A silencer significantly increases the comfort when staying in a room which is ventilated by the air cleaning device. This aspect is of particular importance when operating the air cleaning device with a dust and / or suspended matter filter.

As a use variant of a device according to the invention, the ventilation of several, even different, rooms is possible with the same air purification device. Here it proves to be a great advantage that the air purification device can only be connected to existing air conditioning components via intake and outlet connections and that adapter pieces and seals between individual, integrated components in the air purification device can be dispensed with. A very versatile use of the air purification device is possible in this way.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air purification device, all of the integrated components and the entire installation unit have an essentially axially symmetrical geometry.

In relation to the method for operating the air purification device, the object is achieved according to the invention in that the cleaned air is continuously fed into the safety and / or Blown protective rooms, where it escapes through the creation of a remaining, low excess pressure due to leaks in the safety rooms and / or a pressure relief valve in the protective spaces.

Security rooms, which are also arranged above ground, always have leaks. Therefore, a remaining low overpressure is of the same importance as in a higher standard of protection rooms, no outside air may enter. This is achieved with an excess pressure of just a few Pascals (Pa), for example 20 to 200 Pa. Even gusts of wind cannot do anything.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are also the subject of dependent patent claims. They show schematically:

1 shows a longitudinal section through an essentially cylindrical air cleaning device with a tightly closed filter unit,

2 shows a variant according to FIG. 1 with an additional, tightly closed filter unit, and FIG. 3 shows a section A-A according to FIG.

An air cleaning device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is of essentially cylindrical design and comprises a two-part housing 12. An essentially cup-shaped cover 14 can be fastened below the housing via a quick-release fastener 16. The air flowing through the air cleaning device 10 is indicated by arrows U.

The air cleaning devices are equipped in the area of the air inlet connector 18, also called an intake connector, with a sealing cap 20 and quick-release coupling 21. The sealing cap 20 can be sealed. Even with air leakage a corresponding system can be arranged. Of course, the sealing cap 20 must be removed before commissioning, otherwise the air cannot flow through, as shown in FIG. 1.

A seal 24 is inserted in a cylindrical circumferential step 22, in the present case an O-ring.

A two-part filter unit 26 is arranged coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the housing 12. This filter unit 26 essentially comprises an inside, cup-shaped coarse dust filter 28 and an outside, cylinder jacket-shaped particulate filter 30, e.g. a dust and / or pollen filter. The filter parts 28, 30 are held by an upper and a lower end plate 32, 34. The lower end plate 34 is supported on a plate 36 or at least three radial struts, which are suspended on the cover 14 of the housing 12 via clamping devices 38 and angles 40. The upper face plate 32 is pressed onto the seal 24 in the area of the coarse dust filter 28.

A second filter unit 42 is arranged in the middle part of the housing 12 and is constructed in three parts. In addition to the coarse dust filter 28 and particulate filter 30, it contains a peripheral activated carbon filter 44, which is also coaxial with the longitudinal axis L and which is also held by the upper and lower end plates 32, 34.

The entire second filter unit, in FIG. 1 only in the area of the inlet opening of the coarse dust filter 28, is packed airtight with a film 48. In the present case, this film 48 is shrunk on and therefore follows the outer contours of the three-part filter unit 42.

In the lowest area of the housing 12 of the air cleaning device 10, a fan unit 50 is shown, which is attached to the housing 12 via a support plate 52. The filter chamber of the housing is closed at the bottom with a disk-shaped guide plate 54, which has an inflow nozzle 56 running in the axial direction with a subsequent fan impeller 58. This is driven by an electric motor 60.

A sound absorber 62 indicated on the left-hand side with an peripheral air duct 64 is explained in more detail in FIG. 3.

With the fan wheel 58 running, externally laden and / or contaminated air is drawn into the air inlet connection 18, which is shown by arrows U. The upper end plate 32 resting on the seal 24 forces the incoming air first through the coarse dust filter 28 and then, with the help of the lower end plate 34, also through the suspended matter filter 30 of the first filter unit 26. Depending on the design of the plate 36 The air freed from mechanical floating parts flows around or through it to the second filter unit 42 with an airtight packaging. It is flowed around via an annular bypass 66, which is not a construction element. Finally, the air flows through the inflow nozzle 56 to the fan impeller 58, which conveys the air outward via the peripheral air channel 64.

If the air is not to be cleaned by the first filter unit 26, the tensioning devices 38 are released, whereby a further bypass is created in the area of the seals 24.

A variant of an air cleaning device 10 according to FIG. 2 corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the following changes:

There is no two-part first filter unit 26. In its place is an airtightly packed second Filter unit 42 with an activated carbon filter 44 against chemical warfare agents is used.

A further second filter unit 42 'arranged downstream in the direction of flow U has an activated carbon filter 44' against a possible nuclear accident. The coarse dust filter 28 and the suspended matter filter 30 are of the same design in both second filter units 42 and 42 '.

- The fan impeller 58 can be operated electrically or alternatively with a hand crank 68, with the interposition of a gear 70. The air cleaning device 10 thus remains functional even in the event of a power failure, and the necessary room pressure can be generated manually. This can prevent pollutants from entering the living room regardless of a power supply.

As in Fig. 1, the air to be cleaned is sucked in through the air inlet connector. Because of the two second filter units 42, 42 ', each airtightly packed with a film 48, the sucked-in air between the seal 24 and the upper end plate 32 is deflected into the peripheral area and forms a functional bypass there along the filter units. It should be noted that the air enters unpurified after this variant. In the case of a corresponding extension of the housing, a cover 14 as shown in FIG. 1 can be used with a two-part first filter unit 26 with a coarse dust filter 28 and suspended matter filter 30 through which air flows.

Depending on the damage situation, according to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, one and / or other second filter units 42, 42 'can be freed from the protective film 48 and used actively. Of course, with the upper filter, the upper face plate 32 must be pressed against the seal 22. An essential advantage of the present invention is clearly evident from FIGS. 1 and 2. The second filter unit 42, 42 'used in an emergency only has to be freed from the protective film 48, then it is ready for use and can be used with certainty. Storage outside the air cleaning device is not required. The filter units are immediately accessible and fully functional at all times.

3 shows a radial section at the level of the fan impeller 58. The ejected air flow U is guided via the peripheral air duct 64 to a lateral outlet connection 72 for the cleaned air. This channel 64 is delimited on the outside by the housing wall 12, on the inside by the essentially tongue-shaped silencer 62. An air quantity regulating flap 74 is installed at the entrance of the air duct 64. An air quantity measuring device 76 is arranged in the direction of the air flow U after the air quantity regulating flap 74. In this area the air flow U flows in a practically laminar manner and can be adjusted manually or by process control by actuating the flap 74. The arrangement according to FIG. 3 also has the advantage that the noise generated in the air quantity regulating flap 74 and the air quantity measuring device 76 is reduced in the subsequent silencer 62.

The muffler tongue 62 is delimited against the air duct 64 by a perforated plate or net 78 which holds the muffler 62 in place. The silencer tongue 62 can also be made of absorption material made of fiber-free foam.

The connection to existing air conditioning assemblies takes place via the lateral outlet connection 72; if appropriate, this outlet connection forms the opening via which a room is ventilated.

It has already been mentioned and it is emphasized again that the air cleaning device 10 according to the invention (Fig. 1, 2) has a permanently installed air inlet connection 18 (Fig. 1, 2) for the outside air and a side outlet connection 72 for the cleaned air. For the rest, no adapter pieces or seals are provided, which represents an inestimable advantage for the air purification device according to the invention.

Claims

claims

Air cleaning device (10) with means for sucking in, cleaning and distributing outside air in at least one closed room, in particular in security and / or protection rooms,

characterized in that

an air cleaning device (10) designed as an autonomous installation unit, with an airtight housing (12), an air inlet connection (18) for the air to be cleaned and an outlet connection (72), a fan (58), at least one unused and airtightly packed filter unit (42,42 ') and an integrated bypass (46) for the filter unit (s) (42,42').

2. Air cleaning device (10) according to claim 1, characterized ge indicates that the second filter units (42, 42 ') are designed as a multi-stage ABC compact filter, which preferably comprises a coarse dust filter (28), a suspended matter filter (30) and at least comprises an activated carbon filter (44, 44 ').

3. Air cleaning device (10) according to claim 2, characterized ge indicates that the individual filters (28,30,44,44 ') in the Korapakt filter are cylindrically nested, and preferably the coarse dust filter (28) inside, the suspended matter filter (30) in the center and the activated carbon filter (s) (44, 44 ') are arranged on the outside.

4. Air cleaning device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the unused second filter units (42, 42 ') stored in the device are sealed in a film (48), preferably a multi-stage film (48).

Air purification device (10) according to one of Claims 1 to

4, characterized in that a first filter unit (26), preferably a suspended matter filter (30), selected according to the personal needs of the respective user, is installed ready for operation, while at least a second filter unit 42 is installed in the film in the air cleaning device (10) (48) remains stored airtight.

Air purification device (10) according to one of Claims 1 to

5, characterized in that the housing (12) is formed in two parts, the cover (14) being removable with a first filter unit (26) or a second filter unit (42) after the quick-release fasteners (16) have been released.

Air purification device (10) according to one of Claims 1 to

6, characterized in that the integrated fan impeller (58) is also followed by an integrated silencer (62).

8. Air cleaning device (10) according to claim 7, characterized ge indicates that the muffler (62) is tongue-shaped and forms a peripheral air channel (64) which leads to a lateral outlet connection (72).

9. Air cleaning device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that in the peripheral air duct (64) an air quantity regulating flap (74) and / or an air quantity measuring device (76) is installed at a distance therefrom in the air flow direction.

10. A method for operating an air cleaning device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the cleaned air constantly in the safety is blown into safety and / or protective rooms, where it escapes with the creation of a permanent, slight overpressure through leaks in the safety rooms and / or through a pressure relief valve in the protective rooms.