WO2011019277A2

WO2011019277A2 - Modular air and water treatment device

Info

Publication number: WO2011019277A2
Application number: PCT/NL2010/050507
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pieter Paul De Kluiver
Original assignee: Pieter Paul De Kluiver
Priority date: 2009-08-11
Filing date: 2010-08-11
Publication date: 2011-02-17
Also published as: NL2005218C2; NL2005218A; WO2011019277A3

Abstract

Treatment device for purifying air and/or water, the treatment device comprising: - one or more modules comprising a framework for supporting the treatment device, - module coupling means for coupling the individual modules to form a structure of modules (2,4,6,8), - attachment coupling (10) means for coupling at least a part of the modules to a wall (3), roof (5) and/or a ground surface for attachment purposes, wherein: - the structure of modules forms substantially a facing wall or wall for respectively providing the purification along a wall, or forms a wall for providing the purification around a part of a site enclosed by this wall.

Description

MODULAR AIR AND WATER TREATMENT DEVICE

The present invention relates to a treatment device for purifying water and/or air. The present invention also relates to a module for use in a treatment device.

The present invention also relates to a method for purifying water and/or air.

It is known that there is a need for clean air in a building. It is also known that in environments with much fine-dust pollution there is a need to purify the air in order to improve the living environment. Many mechanical solutions are known for this purpose in the prior art, which however have drawbacks such as noise production and taking up space in a building, this space then being unus- able for other purposes. Apart from an improvement in the living environment, to the extent the air is actually cleaned, the existing systems therefore have only drawbacks.

In order to obviate such drawbacks and to provide a purification which, in addition to purification, imparts further positive stimuli to the living environment, the present invention provides a treatment device for purifying air and/or water, the treatment device comprising:

- one or more modules comprising a framework for supporting the treatment device,

- module coupling means for coupling the individual modules to form a structure of modules,

- attachment coupling means for coupling at least a part of the modules to a wall, roof and/or a ground sur- face for attachment purposes, wherein:

- the structure of modules forms substantially a facing wall for providing the purification along a wall, or forms a wall for providing the purification around a part of a site enclosed by this wall.

Such a treatment device provides the advantage that it is arranged along the walls of the building and therefore takes up almost no space since the outside of a building usually has some free or empty space.

In a first preferred embodiment the treatment device can be placed along an inner wall or an outer wall, herein forming a cavity, preferably at a distance from the wall preferably lying within the range of 1/10000 times the height of the structure, up to a maximum of 0.5 times the height of the structure.

One of the basic advantages of the invention is that the air can be purified by means of the leaves of plant growth, after which the leaves of the plant growth can be washed by means of the water.

Further aspects are set forth in the following description and in the claims.

Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow on the basis of one or more preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures. For the sake of clarity of description similar components of different preferred embodiments can be designated with the same reference numerals while not being of identical form.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of four preferred embodiments according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of four further preferred embodiments .

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig. 4-13 each show a schematic view of a further preferred embodiment. Fig. 14-16 each show a schematic view of two further preferred embodiments.

Fig. 17 shows a schematic view of a further preferred embodiment of the present inventions.

A first preferred embodiment according to the present invention (Fig. IA, B) comprises a support 2 attached to a wall 3 by means of attaching means 10. Support 2 can further also take a self-supporting form or can be coupled to a support construction other than a wall. The support preferably comprises a wire structure, or the support is constructed from rods. In addition to the shown arrangement along wall 3, support 2 can also be arranged freestanding. In such an embodiment arranged along a wall a cavity results between the support and the wall.

The support is intended for the purpose of supporting a number of containers, pots or trays holding a growth substrate for a plant. The leaves of the plant serve to provide a purifying effect on the air and/or the water flowing along the leaves of the plants. The plant growth limits the flow through the support, whereby a semi-open cavity is created having the effect according to the present invention.

Because the support has a limited throughflow or has a braking effect relative to wind, the support has an insulating effect. The insulating effect protects against the loss of heat if cold air were to flow along the edge, as well as against the supply of heat if the wall were to be heated by solar radiation. The cavity formed between the support and the wall also has a heat-buffering effect for the purpose of circulation air from the indoor space.

Alternatively, figures 1C and D show two variants in which supports 6 are arranged relative to a horizontal and a sloping roof 5. Fig. 2 shows a number of variants wherein a support 2, 4, 6, 8 is attached in each case perpendicularly to a wall 3 or a roof 5.

Fig. 3 shows an arrangement of freestanding sup- ports 2 on a site 12 for the purpose of providing the effect of the supports on this site.

Fig. 4 shows a wall with a support 2 arranged thereon. An irrigation system 16 with a water supply pipe 15 and a standpipe 14 is arranged here in the support. The standpipe is provided with a number of drain conduits 17 for irrigation elements 18. Growth substrates arranged in the support can hereby be provided with water. Arranged in the growth substrates are plants suitable for providing purification of water and air by means of their leaves.

On the side of the wall the support is further provided with a preferably air-permeable, growth-resistant material. The purpose hereof is that the plants are prevented from growing round the cavity or growing in the cavity. A suitable material can comprise any form of gauze or geotextile. A further function of the material is to provide a cleaning action for air flowing past and through. This is described in greater detail below.

The growth substrate can be arranged in a suitable container, pot or tray.

The variant of Fig. 5 is similar to the variant of

Fig. 4. Here however the water supply 15 is arranged on the underside and standpipe 14 is arranged in the cavity.

The embodiment according to Fig. 6 is provided with a forced airflow which enters along arrows A and ex- its along arrows B. In order to create the forced air flow use is made of fan means {not shown) . The growth-resistant material 13 also acts to distribute the air pressure of the airflow, whereby the airflow is distributed over the surface of the support.

Because the support is placed against outside walls and inside walls, it is effective to provide it with conduits and cables which are normally accommodated in the walls, floors or ceilings. This enables a simplification of the construction of the building, since all cables and conduits can be arranged subsequently with the support. This also makes it possible to equip a building in flexi- ble and multifunctional manner. The support can also be employed as partition wall.

The embodiment according to Fig. 7 is similar to the embodiment of Fig. 6, with a reverse airflow. The growth-resistant material 13 here also acts to distribute the air pressure.

Figure 8 shows a further embodiment with a wall 3 and a support 2 and, on the upper side and the underside of the support, channel-like spaces 31, 32 oriented in the longitudinal direction of the supports for providing one or more airflows. The channel-like spaces 31, 32 can also have in the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction a plurality of couplings between adjacent supports. Use can hereby be made of a for instance central fan for displacing the air.

Spaces 31, 32 can also be applied for arranging therein the cabling for electricity or conduits for water. The support with the spaces hereby becomes suitable for fulfilling the function of an infrastructure support. The building and/or walls 3 can hereby take a simpler form and be adapted by placing and/or applying supports 2. Arrows C indicate coupling options or directions for coupling the channel-like spaces. Fig. 9 shows a preferred embodiment of containers or cassettes 41 for holding a growth substrate for plants. Controlled conditions for optimal growth of the plants can hereby be realized. A container 41 can be arranged in any position of the support. Positions of the support can however also be kept empty if the size of the plants indicates this. The cassettes are provided with snap elements for simple placing in the support. For this purpose an embodiment of cassettes 41 is preferably standardized and adapted to the dimensioning of the positions in the support.

For the purpose of optimal purification of the air, the plants are arranged in the embodiment of Fig. 10 such that the leaves 25 thereof are equally distributed over the surface of the support. The air flowing there- along, and flowing in the direction of arrows E, is hereby guided optimally along the leaves and thereby optimally purified. The leaves have an impurity-capturing effect owing to the surface structure thereof. The flow speed of the air is preferably controlled such that the leaves remain free of wind stress. For this purpose the air speed is preferably less than 5 m/s, more preferably less than 3 m/s, more preferably less than 2 m/s.

Figure 11 shows a further preferred embodiment wherein the air is guided through the support, instead of along the support as in Fig. 10, in the direction of arrows F.

Fig. 12 shows a preferred embodiment for cleaning the plants by means of water. Clean water is fed to the plants by means of standpipe 14, wherein the water supply comes from an underground water reservoir 47. The purifying function of the support with elements is optimized when the pre-purified air is carried in humid conditions at a low flow speed so that dust that is still present settles onto the water surface. The buffered water is then periodically cleaned in order to wash out the captured dust .

The invention preferably provides the option of coupling to a cold extraction point, wherein the support with elements can be placed on the walls of the cold extraction point and the cold air is blown into the underground water storage over the water surface before being introduced into a building as ventilation air, wherein the water from the water buffer can be periodically recircu- lated through the purifying medium.

Fig. 13 hows how the water can be stored in the underground storage 47 for maintaining the heat energy level thereof for later use. Relatively warm water from the summer can hereby be used from the storage in the winter.

Fig. 14 shows a combination of the described purification with a heat exchange of water coming from a cold/heat exchange point. Warm water can be stored during the warm season and the warm water can be used for heating during the cold season. Conversely, cold water can be stored during the cool season and can be used to cool the space during the warm season.

Fig. 15 once again shows such a storage for water.

The buffered water is periodically circulated in order to wash out the dust captured by the plants.

The invention provides the option according to Fig. 16 of coupling to a cold/heat exchange point, wherein the elements can be placed close to or on the walls of the cold/heat extraction point and the cold air is blown into the underground water storage beneath the water surface before being introduced into a building as ventilation air, wherein the water from the water buffer can be periodically recirculated through the purifying medium.

Figure 17 shows a number of walls 3 and supports 2 with the associated plants and the described infrastruc- ture. In this embodiment use is made of an air circulation along arrows C, which is caused by a ventilation system present in the building. This indicates that the system can be placed in an existing environment, wherein the advantages are provided in this existing environment.

Integrated into the support, lighting is provided for indoor and/or outdoor spaces which is per se known to the skilled person and has modified light frequency and colour for plants and users of the indoor/outdoor spaces.

The present invention has been described in the foregoing on the basis of several preferred embodiments. Different aspects of different embodiments are deemed described in combination with each other, wherein all combinations which can be made by a skilled person in the field on the basis of this document are deemed included. These preferred embodiments are not limitative for the scope of protection of this document. The rights sought are defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Treatment device for purifying air and/or water, the treatment device comprising:

- attachment coupling means for coupling at least a part of the modules to a wall, roof and/or a ground surface for attachment purposes, wherein:

- the structure of modules forms substantially a facing wall or wall for respectively providing the purification along a wall, or forms a wall for providing the pu- rification around a part of a site enclosed by this wall.

2. Treatment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structure can be placed along an inner wall or an outer wall, herein forming a cavity, preferably at a distance from the wall preferably lying within the range of 1/10000 times the height of the structure, up to a maximum of 0.5 times the height of the structure.

3. Treatment device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the structure can be placed on a roof, such as a flat roof or a sloping roof.

4. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising substrate holders for holding a growth substrate for plants, further provided with preferably air-permeable, growth-resistant material arranged on the side of the wall relative to the support.

5. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising throughfeed channels for throughfeed of an airflow.

6. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising supply means for supplying contaminated water to substantially the upper side of the structure.

7. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising discharge means for discharging purified water from substantially the underside of the structure.

8. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising a water reservoir arranged under a building or below the level of the earth's surface.

9. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein modules can be provided with coupling means for throughfeed of downward flowing water.

10. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein air can flow through between 10 and 100% of the structure, preferably between 20 and 90%, more preferably between 30 and 80%, 40 and 70%, 40 and 60% etc.

11. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising a preferably watertight throughfeed space for electrical cabling, for instance for heating, communication and/or lighting.

12. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising air displacing means for displacing air to and/or away from plants which can be placed in the structure.

13. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising a coupling for a cold extraction member for providing cooling to a building by means of the wall.

14. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising guide means for guiding air, preferably cooled air, along the surface of water buffers .

15. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising guide means for guiding the cooled air in the building as ventilation air.

16. Treatment device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising ventilation channels with an arrangement in the structure such that the air for purifying is guided optimally along the leaves of the plants .

17. Method for purifying air and/or water preferably by means of a device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising steps for:

- providing plants and/or a substrate in a struc- ture which can be arranged along a wall of a building or along the periphery of a part of a site enclosed by this wall, - allowing air to flow through the plants and/or contaminated water through the substrate.

18. Module for use in a structure as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims.