WO2023132431A1 - Air purification apparatus using uv led - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an air purification apparatus using UV LED according to various embodiments of the present invention for implementing previously described tasks. The air purification apparatus comprises: a housing forming the interior space; fans for generating flux of air in the interior space; a filtration unit for filtering the air flowing in the interior space; and a purification unit for purifying the air that has been drawn into the interior space, wherein the purification unit comprises a light source that supplies light by means of a plurality of UV LED elements.

Description

Air purification device using UV LED

The present invention relates to an air purifying device, and more particularly, to an air purifying device utilizing UV LEDs to provide improved air purifying performance.

Although air quality has a great influence on the health of all animals that breathe air, including humans, air pollution caused by industrialization and urbanization is rapidly deteriorating to the point of threatening health and life. Accordingly, the use of air purifiers for improving air quality in spaces where people or animals stay for a long time, such as buildings or automobiles, is increasing.

In general, an air purifier can maintain the cleanliness of an environmental space by removing contaminants such as suspended particulates, bacteria, and toxic gases in the air. The air purifying device may be composed of a device that purifies using various methods such as oxidation, reduction, decomposition, adsorption, air filter, and electric dust collection.

For example, the air purifying device may be provided in the form of a chamber in which a purifying space is formed, and an inlet through which contaminated air is introduced and an outlet through which purified air is discharged are respectively formed on opposite sides. Such a conventional air purifying device may include an ultraviolet light source emitting ultraviolet light in a purification space and a photocatalyst generating an air purifying action in response to the ultraviolet light. That is, the air (contaminated air) introduced through the inlet can be discharged in a purified state as contaminants are removed by the photocatalyst while passing through the purification space.

On the other hand, as the contact area between UV light and air and the photocatalyst increases, the photocatalytic reaction improves, and thus air purification performance can be maximized. In the case of providing a photocatalyst to have a large contact area with ultraviolet light and air in order to maximize air purification performance, the shape of the structure may become very complex, and accordingly, manufacturing difficulty increases, which may increase process cost. .

(Prior art literature)

(patent literature)

(Patent Document 1) Patent Publication No. 10-2008-0008501

An object to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to provide an air purifying device that provides improved air purifying performance by utilizing UV LEDs.

In addition, the present invention can provide an air purifying device including a structure capable of maximizing a photocatalytic reaction.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

An air purifying device using a UV LED according to various embodiments of the present invention for solving the above problems is disclosed. The air purifying device includes a fan generating a flow of air in the inner space, a filter unit filtering air flowing in the inner space, and a purification unit purifying the air introduced into the inner space. The unit may be characterized in that it includes a light source for supplying light through a plurality of UV LED elements.

In an alternative embodiment, the purification unit may include an outer structure provided through a corrugated structure along a circumference of the light source in a longitudinal direction, and the outer structure may be coated with a photocatalyst.

In an alternative embodiment, the light source is characterized in that the plurality of UV LED elements are provided to form a plurality of columns along the length direction, the outer structure includes a through hole through which the light source passes, An outer circumferential surface of the through hole may be formed to have the wrinkle structure.

In an alternative embodiment, the purification unit may further include a plurality of beads provided on a space formed by the outer structure.

In an alternative embodiment, the outer structure may include a plurality of holes, and the purification unit may further include an inner housing provided on an inner space of the housing and accommodating the light source and the outer structure.

In an alternative embodiment, the purification unit may further include a coating layer formed on an inner surface of the inner housing.

In an alternative embodiment, the light source is characterized in that the plurality of UV LED elements are provided to form one row along the longitudinal direction, and the outer structure is a screw forming a through hole having a predetermined inner diameter. It may be characterized in that it is configured through a (screw) shape.

In an alternative embodiment, the outer structure may be characterized in that a contact area with light emitted from the plurality of UV LED elements is increased through rotation.

In an alternative embodiment, the outer structure is connected to one end of the plurality of perforations, one or more rotational shafts provided through two or more perforations formed in different layers, and one end of the one or more rotational shafts to transmit force to the one or more rotational shafts. It may include a rotating plate and a motor for rotating the rotating plate.

In an alternative embodiment, the outer structure is characterized in that it is configured through a screw-shaped metal assembly, wherein the metal assembly is connected to the frame provided in the longitudinal direction and the frame in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and is predetermined It may include a plurality of brush wire provided to have a length.

Other specific details of the invention are included in the detailed description and drawings.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, it has an effect of chemically purifying air by utilizing UV LED and photocatalytic reaction.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an improved air purification effect may be provided through an air purification device having a structure in which a photocatalytic reaction is maximized.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

Various aspects are described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used to collectively refer to like elements. In the following embodiments, for explanation purposes, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. However, it will be apparent that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details.

1 is an overall exploded perspective view of an air purifying device using UV LEDs related to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary view of an air purifying device using a UV LED related to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from the top.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary view showing in detail a purification unit related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows an exemplary view for explaining a light source and an external structure related to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an exemplary view showing a plurality of beads provided in a space formed by an outer structure related to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an exemplary view showing a coating layer provided on an inner surface of an inner housing related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 shows an exemplary view showing another embodiment of the present invention and an outer structure by way of example.

8 shows an exemplary view showing an external structure related to another embodiment of the present invention by way of example.

Various embodiments and/or aspects are now disclosed with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to facilitate a general understanding of one or more aspects. However, it will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details. The following description and accompanying drawings describe in detail certain illustrative aspects of one or more aspects. However, these aspects are exemplary and some of the various methods in principle of the various aspects may be used, and the described descriptions are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Specifically, “embodiment,” “example,” “aspect,” “exemplary,” etc., as used herein, is not to be construed as indicating that any aspect or design described is superior to or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Maybe not.

Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar components regardless of reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions thereof will be omitted. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiment disclosed in this specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the accompanying drawings.

Although first, second, etc. are used to describe various elements or components, these elements or components are not limited by these terms, of course. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or component from another. Accordingly, it goes without saying that the first element or component mentioned below may also be the second element or component within the technical spirit of the present invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this specification may be used in a meaning commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. In addition, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly specifically defined.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean one of the natural inclusive substitutions. That is, X uses A; X uses B; Or, if X uses both A and B, "X uses either A or B" may apply to either of these cases. Also, the term "and/or" as used herein should be understood to refer to and include all possible combinations of one or more of the listed related items.

Also, the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" mean that the feature and/or element is present, but excludes the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements and/or groups thereof. It should be understood that it does not. Also, unless otherwise specified or where the context clearly indicates that a singular form is indicated, the singular in this specification and claims should generally be construed to mean "one or more".

It is understood that when a component is referred to as being “connected” or “connected” to another component, it may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but other components may exist in the middle. It should be. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another component, it should be understood that no other component exists in the middle.

When an element or layer is referred to as being "on" or "on" another element or layer, it means that the other element or layer is directly on, as well as intervening, the other layer or other component. Including all intervening cases. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as “directly on” or “directly on”, it indicates that no other component or layer is intervening.

The spatially relative terms "below", "beneath", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. It can be used to easily describe a component or its correlation with other components. Spatially relative terms should be understood as encompassing different orientations of elements in use or operation in addition to the orientations shown in the figures.

Objects and effects of the present invention, and technical configurations for achieving them will become clear with reference to the embodiments described later in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or custom of a user or operator.

However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in a variety of different forms. These embodiments are provided only to make the present invention complete and to completely inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the disclosure to which the present invention belongs, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. . Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

1 is an overall exploded perspective view of an air purifying device using UV LEDs related to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , an air purifying device 1000 using UV LEDs (hereinafter referred to as 'air purifying device') includes a housing 100, an intake fan 200, a filter unit 300, and a purifying unit 400. ), an exhaust fan 500, a shield 600, and a cover 700. The foregoing components are exemplary, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the foregoing components. That is, additional components may be included or some of the above components may be omitted according to implementation aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the air purification device 1000 has an internal space related to purification formed by the housing 100, and an inlet through which contaminated air is introduced on opposite sides and an inlet for purified air. It may be provided in the form of a chamber in which each outlet through which air is discharged is formed. That is, air (eg, polluted air) introduced in one direction of the air purifying device 1000 may pass through the filter unit 300 and be purified through the purifying unit 400 formed in the inner space. In addition, the air purified by the purification unit 400 may be discharged in one direction.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air purifying device 1000 may include a housing 100 forming an inner space. The housing 100 may form the appearance of an air purifying device, and various circuits and/or elements for providing air purification and information related to air purification are configured in the internal space, or a purification space for air purification is provided. It can be. As shown in Figure 1, both sides of the housing may be provided open. In this case, one side may be a first side related to intake through which air is introduced, and the other side may be a second side related to exhaust through which air is discharged. Fans for introducing air into the inner space may be positioned on both open sides of the housing 100 . In the embodiment, an intake fan 200 for introducing air into the inner space may be positioned on the first side of the housing 100, and an exhaust fan for discharging air introduced into the inner space to the outside on the second side ( 500) may be located. The intake fan 200 and the exhaust fan 500 may be provided simultaneously or only one of them.

In one embodiment, the display unit 110 may be provided on one surface of the housing 100 . For example, one side of the housing 100 on which the display unit 110 is provided may be one side related to the front side of the air purifying device 1000 as shown in FIG. 1 .

The display unit 110 may display (output) various information related to the operation of the air purifying device 1000 . For example, the display unit 110 may output air quality information related to the current space, time required for air quality to improve, information about how much the air quality has improved, and the like. For another example, the display unit 110 may display execution screen information of an application program driven by the air purifier 1000 or UI (User Interface) and GUI (Graphic User Interface) information according to such execution screen information. can The detailed description of information displayed by the above-described display unit is only an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

The display unit 110 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and a flexible display. display), a 3D display, and an e-ink display.

In an embodiment, the display unit 110 may implement a touch screen by forming a mutual layer structure or integrally with the touch sensor. Such a touch screen may function as a user input unit providing an input interface between the air purifier 1000 and the user, and may provide an output interface between the air purifier 1000 and the user.

In one embodiment, a filter hole 120 into which the filter unit 300 is inserted may be provided on one surface of the housing 100 . Here, one surface of the housing 100 on which the filter hole 120 is formed may be a position relative to the first side surface where the intake fan 200 is located. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the filter hole 120 is formed on the other side of the housing 100 connected to the open first side (eg, the side related to the front side of the air purifying device). It can be. The filter hole 120 may be formed to correspond to the size of the filter unit 300, and insertion and removal of the filter unit 300 into the housing 100 may be facilitated through the corresponding filter hole 120. For example, the filter unit 300 may serve to block (ie, filter) impurities from air introduced into the housing 100 . The filter unit 300 may require cleaning or replacement as it filters dust and the like included in the air during the continuous use of the air purifying device 1000 .

In general, since a filter of an air purifier (or air purifier) is provided inside a housing constituting an exterior, a part of the housing may be disassembled (or opened) and separated from the housing. The housing 100 of the present invention may provide convenience in coupling and separation of the filter unit 300 through the filter hole 120 . That is, the filter hole 120 can easily separate or combine the filter unit 300 from the housing without separately disassembling a part of the air circulation device. This may provide convenience to the user in relation to cleaning or replacement of the filter unit 300, that is, maintenance of the device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air purifying device 1000 may include a filter unit 300 that filters air flowing in an internal space. In one embodiment, the filter unit 300 may serve to block (ie, filter) impurities introduced with air. For example, air introduced into the device may contain a lot of dust or various impurities, and if it is not properly filtered, it causes serious wear inside the device, which can reduce the operating efficiency of the device. In particular, if the filter unit 300 does not filter physical fine dust and dust (PM 10 or less), the photocatalytic reaction efficiency of the purification unit 400 may be lowered or the lifespan may be lowered. In other words, the filter unit 300 may filter impurities included in the air introduced into the air purifying device 1000 to prevent failure of the device and improve durability.

In an embodiment, the filter unit 300 may include at least one of a pre-filter to prevent inflow of foreign substances, a HEPA filter to filter dust or germs, and a deodorization filter effective to remove bad odors. The pre-filter may be, for example, a filter that filters animal hair, lint, hair, and large dust. Such a pre-filter may be positioned at the outermost side of the filter unit 300 to protect a high-performance filter (eg, a HEPA filter) and increase its lifespan. The HEPA filter is a high-performance filter that can filter out most of the fine particles, and can filter more than 99.97% of 0.3㎛ size particles in the air.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air purifying device 1000 may include a fan generating air flow in an internal space. In an embodiment, a fan may generate a flow of air through rotation of a propeller. For example, the fan may generate an air flow such that air is introduced into the air through the first side of the air purifying device 1000 and discharged to the outside through the second side.

In one embodiment, the fan provided in the air purifying device 1000 includes an intake fan 200 for introducing air into the inner space of the housing 100 and an exhaust fan 500 for discharging air introduced into the inner space to the outside. ) may be included. According to one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the intake fan 200 may be provided on a first side through which air is introduced into the device, and the exhaust fan 500 is a second side through which the introduced air is discharged. It may be provided on the side. That is, as shown in FIG. 2 , external air is introduced into the housing 100 by the intake fan 200, purified in the internal purification space (eg, purification unit) of the housing 100, and purified air. may be discharged to the outside by the exhaust fan 500.

In one embodiment, the air purifying device 1000 may include a shielding part 600 . The shielding part 600 may allow or block the inflow of air into the air purifying device 1000 according to the driving of the device 1000 .

In one embodiment, the air purifying device 1000 may include a cover 700 . The cover 700 may be to prevent relatively large foreign substances other than air from being introduced into the inside. The cover 700 is formed with a plurality of holes for allowing air to flow in, and is provided to have a certain level of mechanical strength to protect internal components from external impact. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , the cover 700 may be provided on each of a first side surface provided with an intake fan 200 and a second side surface provided with an exhaust fan 500 .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air purifying device 1000 may include a purifying unit 400 that purifies air introduced into an internal space. The purification unit 400 may purify the introduced air by utilizing a photocatalytic reaction. The purification unit 400 may be located inside the housing 100 . As shown in FIG. 1 , the purification unit 400 is provided between the intake fan 200 and the exhaust fan 500 to purify air moving from the intake fan 200 to the exhaust fan 500. there is. In an embodiment, the purification unit 400 may purify air filtered through the filter unit 300 . A more detailed description of the purification unit 400 will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8 .

Figure 3 shows an exemplary view showing in detail a purification unit related to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows an exemplary view for explaining a light source and an external structure related to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is an exemplary view showing a plurality of beads provided in a space formed by an outer structure related to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is an exemplary view showing a coating layer provided on an inner surface of an inner housing related to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 shows an exemplary view showing another embodiment of the present invention and an outer structure by way of example. 8 shows an exemplary view showing an external structure related to another embodiment of the present invention by way of example.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the purification unit 400, as shown in Figure 3, may include a light source 410 for supplying light. In an embodiment, the light supplied by the light source 410 may include ultraviolet rays (UV). Ultraviolet light is light with a wavelength range of 10 to 400 nm (energy range of 3 eV to 124 eV), and may refer to electromagnetic waves with a shorter wavelength than visible light and longer than X-rays. The light source 410 may be configured through a light emitting diode device. More specifically, the light source 410 may be implemented through a plurality of UV LED elements. A plurality of UV LED elements has the advantage of being easy to control the wavelength compared to UV lamps and generating little heat if the consumption area is low. In addition, the plurality of UV LED elements are solid-state lighting and have excellent durability, are eco-friendly because they do not use harmful discharge gases such as mercury, and have a very long lifespan. That is, the purification unit 400 may include a light source 410 supplying light through a plurality of UV LED elements.

According to one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the light source 410 may be provided through a cylindrical shape having a predetermined height. Here, the predetermined height may correspond to lengths of both side surfaces of the air purifying device 1000 related to intake and exhaust, respectively. That is, the provided height of the light source 410 may be formed smaller than the lengths (or the length of the housing) of both side surfaces related to intake and exhaust, respectively, and may be provided inside the housing 100 .

In an embodiment, the light source 410 may be configured such that a plurality of UV LED elements form a plurality of rows along a longitudinal direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , a plurality of UV LED elements may be provided through a first column 410-1 and a second column 410-2 along the longitudinal direction of the light source 410. can That is, the plurality of UV LED elements may be provided to form a plurality of columns along the circumference of the cylindrical light source in a longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the light source 410 may supply UV light at various angles, that is, in a wide range. This can maximize the efficiency of light supply and improve the efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction to be described later.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the purification unit 400 may include an outer structure 420 provided through a pleated structure shape along the circumference of the light source. In one embodiment, the outer structure 420 may be characterized in that a photocatalyst is applied.

The photocatalyst may provide antibacterial, antiviral, and deodorizing functions in response to light having a certain energy or more. A photocatalyst has a catalytic activity by absorbing light energy, and can oxidize and decompose environmental pollutants such as organic matter with strong oxidizing power by the catalytic activity.

Specifically, the photocatalyst may promote a chemical reaction (eg, a redox reaction) through ultraviolet light. The photocatalyst generates active oxygen and hydroxyl radicals when irradiated with light having more than Japanese energy, and their strong oxidation and reduction actions can decompose odorous substances and generate antibacterial action. In an embodiment, the photocatalyst may include titanium dioxide (TiO ₂ ). That is, the outer structure 420 of the present invention may be provided by coating titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide has the advantages of being harmless to the human body, excellent photocatalytic activity, excellent light corrosion resistance, and low price.

Titanium dioxide reacts with light (eg, ultraviolet light) having energy greater than a bandgap to cause electrons to transition from a valence band to a conduction band, and holes may be formed in the valence band. These electrons and holes can cause redox reactions in contact with oxygen and moisture or recombine to generate heat.

Titanium dioxide generates electrons and holes by light emitted from the light source 410, and each of the electrons and holes reacts with O ₂ and H ₂ O in the air, resulting in superoxide anions (O ₂ ^- ) and hydroxyl groups on the surface. It can generate two types of active oxygen with radicals (•OH).

Since hydroxyl radicals have high oxidation and reduction potentials, they can be excellent in purifying NOx, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and various odors, and can be used for livestock wastewater, sewage, factory wastewater, BOD, color and non-degradable pollutants, environmental hormones, etc. can be completely removed. In addition, hydroxyl radicals can oxidize various target substances, such as sterilizing over 99% of various pathogens and bacteria such as pathogenic Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and O-157. This titanium dioxide reacts with solar energy or fluorescent light, and can be economical because it exhibits a permanent function through a cycle of “fixing on an object, photolysis, and regeneration”. In addition, since the by-products after the reaction are water and CO ₂ that are harmless to the human body and the environment, they can be applied to various fields.

According to one embodiment, the outer structure 420 may include a through hole 420a through which the light source 410 passes, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this case, the through hole 420a may have a predetermined diameter. Here, the predetermined diameter may be a diameter corresponding to the circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the light source 410 . That is, the minimum diameter of the through hole 420a may be determined corresponding to the circumference of the outer surface of the light source 410 . Accordingly, the light source 410 may pass through the through hole 420a of the outer structure 420 . In one embodiment, the outer structure 420 may be made of a material such as stainless steel, aluminum, a combination of stainless steel and aluminum, or plastic, but is not limited thereto. .

In an embodiment, an outer circumferential surface of the through hole 420a may be formed to have a wrinkled structure. Specifically, the light source 410 may be inserted into the outer structure 420 through the through hole 420a, and the outer structure 420 may be provided with a photocatalyst, that is, titanium dioxide coated thereon.

In an embodiment, the outer structure 420 may be provided through the corrugated structure to maximize an area in contact with light or air. Specifically, rather than configuring the outer structure through a general cylindrical shape including a through hole therein, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer circumferential surface of the through hole 420a has a wrinkled structure to configure the outer structure 420. In this case, an area in contact with light or air may be increased. In other words, by forming the outer structure 420 through the wrinkled structure, it is possible to maximize the efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction by improving the contact area with air and light.

In one embodiment, a plurality of pleated structures of the outer structure 420 may be continuously formed in a direction in which air passes, that is, in a longitudinal direction (along a longitudinal direction) of the outer structure 420 . Through this pleated structure, it is possible to maximize the contact area between the UV LED and the outer structure while minimizing the diameter of the outer structure 420 . On the other hand, a plurality of pleated structures of the outer structure 420 may be continuously formed along a direction orthogonal to the direction in which air passes, that is, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the outer structure 420 . This corrugated shape can also implement turbulence flow of air passing through the outer structure 420 .

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the purification unit 400 may include a plurality of beads 440 provided on the space formed by the outer structure 420 . Specifically, a light source 410 may be provided inside the outer structure 420 of the purification unit 400 . In this case, as shown in FIG. 5 , a plurality of beads 440 together with a light source 410 may be provided in the inner space of the outer structure 420 . These beads may be characterized in that they fill the entire area of the inner space formed by the outer structure 420 . The plurality of beads 440 may be provided in a small size and filled in the space formed by the outer structure 420 . For example, the plurality of beads 440 may be provided through a spherical shape having a size of 1 to 3 cm. The specific description of the size and shape of the beads described above is only an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment, the plurality of beads 440 may be filled not only inside the outer structure 420 but also in the space between the outer structure 420 and the inner housing 430 . As a specific example, the plurality of beads 440 are provided in the first space between the light source 410 and the outer structure 420 and the second space between the outer structure 420 and the inner housing 430, respectively. can be characterized.

In one embodiment, when a plurality of beads 440 are provided on the space formed by the outer structure 420, both side surfaces of the outer structure 420 may be characterized in that anti-bead surfaces 441 are formed. there is. The anti-bead surface 441 may be to prevent the bead 440 from escaping in a space formed by the outer structure 420 . In an embodiment, the anti-bead surface 441 may be characterized in that a hole is formed to allow the movement of air. However, since the hole formed in the anti-bead surface 441 has a diameter smaller than that of the plurality of beads 440, it is possible to prevent the beads 440 from departing from the space of the outer structure 420 through the corresponding hole. there is.

According to an additional embodiment, a guide unit for guiding air flow to the outer structure 420 may be provided inside the inner housing 430 . When air is introduced into the inner housing 430, the guide unit may guide the introduced air to be moved to the inside of the outer structure 420 instead of the space between the inner housing 430 and the outer structure 420. In other words, the guide unit may block air introduced from the outside from moving into the space between the housing 430 and the outer structure 420 . That is, the guide unit may induce air flow toward the inside of the outer structure 420 where the plurality of beads 440 are positioned.

According to an embodiment, each of the plurality of beads 440 may scatter light emitted from the light source 410 . Specifically, the surface of each of the plurality of beads 440 may be formed through a prism, and the light emitted from the light source 410 may be diverted and diffusely reflected in multiple directions. Accordingly, as the amount of light scattered inside the inner housing 430 increases, the efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction may be further improved. In an additional embodiment, the size and shape of each of the plurality of beads 440 formed through the prism may be different from each other. Accordingly, the angle and size of the light dispersed through each bead 440 may be different. This can improve photocatalytic reaction efficiency by transmitting light in various ranges.

The plurality of beads 440 may be made of a transparent material capable of passing light. Light applied to the outer structure 420 may be evenly supplied by penetrating or scattering a portion of the light applied from the UV LED.

According to another embodiment, a photocatalyst may be applied to the surface of each of the plurality of beads 440 . In an embodiment, the photocatalyst provided on the surface of each of the plurality of beads 440 may be titanium dioxide, and may cause a photocatalytic reaction by contacting air and light. When each of the plurality of beads 440 coated with titanium dioxide is filled inside the outer structure 420 (that is, between the outer structure and the light source), the area of the photocatalyst in contact with air in addition to the outer structure 420 increases. Accordingly, a photocatalytic reaction may occur more remarkably, and air purification performance may be maximized.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the purification unit 400 is provided on the inner space of the housing 100 and may include an inner housing 430 accommodating the light source 410 and the outer structure 420 . That is, the light source 410 and the outer structure 420 may be provided inside the inner housing 430 . In an embodiment, the rear surface of the inner housing 430 may be formed to be open, and the light source 410 and the outer structure 420 may be positioned inside the inner housing 430 through the corresponding open space. After the light source 410 and the outer structure 420 are positioned in the inner space formed by the inner housing 430 , the inner housing rear surface 430a may be coupled to the open rear surface of the inner housing 430 .

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the outer structure 420 may include a plurality of holes 421 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 , the outer structure 420 may include a plurality of holes 421 on an outer surface having a pleated structure. The plurality of holes 421 may serve as passages through which light supplied from the light source 410 provided therein may move.

Meanwhile, the sizes of the plurality of holes 421 do not all have to be the same, and the sizes of the plurality of holes 421 can be manufactured differently for each section so that air passing through the housing can maximize contact with the outer structure 420. there is. The air passing through the housing may more evenly contact the outer structure 420 where the photocatalytic reaction occurs as the turbulence flow increases. For example, by dividing a plurality of sections along the longitudinal direction of the outer structure 420, the sizes of holes in odd-numbered sections and holes in even-numbered sections may be different. Alternatively, the size of the hole at one end of the outer structure 420 is the largest and the size of the hole gradually decreases toward the other end.

According to one embodiment, each of the plurality of holes 421 may include a protrusion protruding from the outer structure 420 . The protrusion formed in each hole may maximize air contact to improve a photocatalytic reaction.

For a specific example, each of the plurality of holes 421 may be provided through a rectangular shape. In this case, as the three surfaces are separated from the rectangular shape forming the hole and only one surface is connected to the outer structure 420, the protrusion may be formed to protrude from the outer structure 420 in relation to each hole. . In the above description, the description of the shape of the hole is only an example, and the shape of the plurality of holes may include more various shapes (eg, triangle, circle, etc.) in addition to a rectangle.

For example, in the process of forming a plurality of holes 421 in the outer structure 420 for the movement of air, when the area corresponding to the plurality of holes 421 is completely removed, as much as the removed area for the photocatalytic reaction. The air contact area can be reduced. In order to prevent an area that can be in contact with air from being reduced, a protrusion may be formed corresponding to each hole so that at least a portion of the area corresponding to the plurality of holes is not completely lost, and at least some of them remain. Accordingly, air purification performance may be maximized by securing passages for air movement (ie, a plurality of holes) and simultaneously improving photocatalytic reaction efficiency through the protrusions.

In an additional embodiment, the light source 410 and the outer structure 420 may be provided in a direction perpendicular to a direction (ie, flow) of air. When the light source 410 and the outer structure 420 are provided in a direction perpendicular to the air flow direction, air is supplied to the inside of the outer structure 420 through a plurality of holes 421 formed on the outer surface of the wrinkles of the outer structure 420. can be introduced into The introduced air moves to the outside of the outer structure 420 again through the plurality of holes 421 located in different directions, and may be discharged to the outside of the device through the outlet. In this case, air flows into and out of the outer structure 420 through the plurality of holes 421 (that is, moves through the outer structure through the plurality of holes) by a photocatalytic reaction. can be purified.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the purification unit 400 may include a coating layer 431 formed on the inner surface of the inner housing 430 . Specifically, a light source 410 and an outer structure 420 provided along a circumference of the light source 410 may be included inside the inner housing 430 of the purification unit 400 . In this case, as shown in FIG. 6 , a coating layer 431 may be formed along the inner surface of the inner housing 430 . Meanwhile, the coating layer 431 may be formed on the inner surface of the housing 100 .

According to one embodiment, the coating layer 431 may be formed through a prism to scatter the light emitted from the light source 410 . Light emitted from the light source 410 may be transmitted to the space formed by the inner housing 430 through the plurality of holes 421 formed in the outer structure 420 and formed on the inner surface of the inner housing 430. Light can be scattered and diffusely reflected in multiple directions by the coating layer 431 . Accordingly, as the amount of light scattered inside the inner housing 430 increases, the efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction may be further improved. That is, the light emitted through the light source 410 primarily causes a photocatalytic reaction in the outer structure 420 (eg, the inner direction of the outer structure) coated with the photocatalyst, and the plurality of holes of the outer structure 420 Some of the light passing through 421 may be scattered and diffusely reflected in multiple directions by the coating layer 431 to cause a secondary photocatalytic reaction of the outer structure 420 (eg, in the outer direction of the outer structure). Air purification performance can be maximized as a photocatalytic reaction occurs secondarily with respect to each of the inner and outer surfaces of the outer structure 420 .

According to another embodiment, the coating layer 431 may be formed through a photocatalyst. Specifically, the coating layer 431 may be formed by applying titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst along the inner wall of the inner housing 430 . The coating layer 431 may cause a photocatalytic reaction through air moving in the corresponding internal space and light (ie, ultraviolet rays) supplied from the light source 410 . In other words, as the area of the photocatalyst in contact with air, other than the outer structure 420 to which the photocatalyst is applied, increases, the photocatalytic reaction occurs more remarkably, and air purification performance can be maximized.

Meanwhile, a plurality of purification units 400 may be formed. That is, a plurality of modularized purification units 400 may be connected in parallel or in series according to the needs of the purification space. A plurality of purifiers 400 connected in parallel have the effect of purifying a large amount of air at once, and in the case of a laboratory requiring a high level of air purification, the plurality of purifiers 400 may be connected in series and provided. there is.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the outer structure 420-1 may be characterized in that it is configured through a screw shape forming a through hole 420-1a having a predetermined inner diameter. A description of the outer structure 420-1 related to another embodiment will be described later with reference to FIG. 7 . Figure 7 shows an exemplary view showing another embodiment of the present invention and an outer structure by way of example.

According to the embodiment, the light source 410 may be characterized in that a plurality of UV LED elements 410a are provided to form one column along the length direction. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7 , the light source 410 may include a plurality of UV LED elements constituting one column (eg, a first column) along the longitudinal direction. For example, since the air purifying device 1000 may be relatively small, it may be difficult to configure a plurality of UV LED elements to form a plurality of columns corresponding to a cylindrical shape. When the light source 410 is provided through a plurality of UV LED elements constituting one column rather than a plurality of columns, it may be advantageous in terms of power consumption and heat generation, but the area to which light is supplied is limited and the outer structure 420 -1) and the contact area of the light can be reduced. That is, as light is supplied only to one portion of the outer structure 420-1, photocatalytic reaction efficiency may decrease. Accordingly, the outer structure 420-1 according to another embodiment may be characterized in that a contact area with light emitted from a plurality of UV LED elements constituting one column is increased through rotation.

As shown in FIG. 7, the outer structure 420-1 includes a plurality of perforations 420-1b, one or more rotation shafts 420-1c, a rotation plate 420-1d, and a motor 420-1e. can be configured. The foregoing components are exemplary, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the foregoing components. That is, additional components may be included or some of the above components may be omitted according to implementation aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, the outer structure 420-1 may be provided to form a plurality of layers as shown in FIG. 7 as it is configured through a screw shape wound in a spiral direction. The center of each of the plurality of layers of the outer structure 420-1 includes a through hole 420-1a, and the light source 410 may pass through the through hole 420-1a. In this case, each of the plurality of layers of each outer structure 420-1 may be characterized in that a plurality of perforated holes 420-1b are formed. The plurality of perforated holes 420-1b may serve as passages for allowing air to move. According to the embodiment, the light source 410 may be provided in the shape of a cylinder having a certain height, and the height of the light source 410 may be determined corresponding to the lengths of both sides of the air purifying device 1000. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the light source 410 may be provided between the air inlet and outlet of the air purifier 1000 in the height direction. In addition, the outer structure 420-1 may be provided to surround the outer circumferential surface of the light source 410. Here, the outer structure 420-1 may be configured to form a plurality of layers . That is, each of the plurality of layers may be provided in a direction causing interference with the moving direction of air. Accordingly, each layer may include a plurality of perforated holes 420-1b for allowing air to flow. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 , a plurality of perforations 420-1b may be formed to correspond to each layer of the outer structure 420-1. Air may be moved through the plurality of perforated holes 420-1b.

According to one embodiment, the outer structure 420-1 may include one or more rotation shafts 420-1c provided through two or more perforations formed in different layers. As shown in FIG. 7 , one or more rotation shafts 420-1c may be provided through a plurality of perforated holes 420-1b provided in each of a plurality of layers. One end of the rotating shaft 420-1c may be connected to the rotating plate 420-1d rotated by the driving force of the motor 420-1e. Accordingly, when rotational force is applied to the rotating plate 420-1d to rotate, the rotational shaft 420-1c rotates the outer structure 420-1 in one direction based on the applied rotational force.

In addition, the outer structure 420-1 may include a rotation plate 420-1d that is connected to one end of one or more rotational shafts and transmits force to one or more rotational shafts 420-1c. Also, the rotary plate 420 - 1d may be rotated based on force transmitted from the motor. The rotating plate 420-1d may have a disk shape and may be connected to one end of one or more rotating shafts 420-1c. That is, as the rotating plate 420-1d is rotated based on the driving force applied from the motor, it may transmit force to one or more rotating shafts 420-1c, and thus, the outer structure 420-1 rotates in one direction. can cause

In addition, the outer structure 420-1 may include a motor that provides power to the rotating plate 420-1d. The motor 420-1e refers to a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy by using the force received by a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field, and applies rotation to the rotating plate 420-1d through the generated mechanical energy. that can be characterized.

That is, as the light source 410 is configured through a plurality of UV LED elements constituting one column through the structure of the outer structure 420-1 described above, even if it cannot supply light at a certain angle or more, rotation Through this, the outer structure 420-1 to which the photocatalyst (eg, titanium dioxide) is applied may be in uniform contact with light. That is, even when the light source 410 is configured through a plurality of UV LED elements constituting one column, the reduction in efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction can be prevented through rotation of the outer structure 420-1. Therefore, power consumption and heat generation can be minimized, and at the same time, degradation of the photocatalytic reaction can be prevented.

* According to another embodiment of the present invention, the outer structure 420-2 may be characterized in that it is configured through a screw-shaped metal assembly 450. A description of the outer structure 420-2 related to another embodiment will be described later with reference to FIG. 8 . 8 shows an exemplary view showing an external structure related to another embodiment of the present invention by way of example.

According to the embodiment, the metal assembly 450 may include a frame 451 provided in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the metal assembly 450 may include a plurality of brush wire 452 connected to the frame 451 in a vertical direction of the longitudinal direction and provided to have a predetermined length. Here, the brush wire 452 may refer to a thin wire having a certain level of mechanical strength or more. The brush wire 452 may be uniformly connected in one direction of the frame 451 . As shown in FIG. 8 , the metal assembly 450 may be configured through a plurality of brush wires 452 connected to the longitudinal frame 451 .

As shown in FIG. 8 , the metal assembly 450 may be deformed into a shape in which the frame 451 is wound up in a spiral direction. In this case, the frame 451 may be characterized in that the direction in which the plurality of brush wires 452 are connected is deformed toward the center. In an embodiment, when the frame 451 is deformed through a screw shape, each brush wire may form a circle having a predetermined diameter. Here, the predetermined diameter may be related to the outer diameter of the light source 410 . Specifically, as the frame 451 is wound up in the spiral direction, each brush wire 452 may be aligned in the direction of the center of the spiral. In this case, the brush wire forms a circle having a predetermined diameter, and the light source 410 may be provided to pass through the corresponding circle. That is, as shown in FIG. 8 , as the metal assembly 450 is deformed into a screw shape, an outer structure 420-2 related to another embodiment may be formed. In an embodiment, a photocatalyst may be applied to the corresponding outer structure 420-2. The photocatalyst may promote a chemical reaction (eg, a redox reaction) through ultraviolet light. The photocatalyst generates active oxygen and hydroxyl radicals when irradiated with light having more than Japanese energy, and their strong oxidation and reduction actions can decompose odorous substances and generate antibacterial action.

When the outer structure 420-2 described above is provided in the inner housing 430, it does not obstruct the flow of air, and a photocatalytic reaction can be activated through contact with air in each of the plurality of thin brush wires. Since this is a photocatalytic reaction through titanium dioxide applied to a large amount of brush wire, the photocatalytic reaction can be more activated as the area in contact with air is maximized. In addition, since the outer structure 420-2 can be manufactured through a simple process of bending the frame 451 of the metal assembly 450 in a spiral direction, convenience of manufacturing can be improved. That is, it is possible to provide an effect of improving air purification performance through a reduction in process cost through a simple manufacturing process and an improvement in photocatalytic reaction efficiency.

The description of the presented embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to use or practice the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments presented herein, but is to be construed in the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features presented herein.

The related contents have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention as described above.

The present invention can be utilized in the field of providing indoor air purification services.

Claims (10)

1. a housing forming an inner space;

   a fan generating air flow in the inner space;

   a filter unit filtering air flowing in the inner space; and

   a purification unit to purify the air introduced into the inner space;

   Including,

   The purification unit,

   Characterized in that it comprises a light source for supplying light through a plurality of UV LED elements,

   Air purifier using UV LED.
2. According to claim 1,

   The purification unit,

   an outer structure provided through a corrugated structure shape along the longitudinal circumference of the light source;

   Including,

   The outer structure,

   Characterized in that the photocatalyst is applied,

   Air purifier using UV LED.
3. According to claim 2,

   The light source,

   It is characterized in that the plurality of UV LED elements are provided to form a plurality of columns along the longitudinal direction,

   The outer structure,

   It includes a through hole through which the light source passes,

   The outer circumferential surface of the through hole is formed to have the wrinkle structure,

   Air purifier using UV LED.
4. According to claim 3,

   The purification unit,

   a plurality of beads provided on a space formed by the outer structure;

   Including more,

   Air purifier using UV LED.
5. According to claim 3,

   The outer structure,

   multiple halls; Including,

   The purification unit,

   an inner housing disposed on an inner space of the housing and accommodating the light source and the outer structure; Including more,

   Air purifier using UV LED.
6. According to claim 5,

   The purification unit,

   a coating layer formed on an inner surface of the inner housing;

   Including more,

   Air purifier using UV LED.
7. According to claim 2,

   The light source,

   It is characterized in that the plurality of UV LED elements are provided to form one column along the longitudinal direction,

   The outer structure,

   Characterized in that it is configured through a screw shape forming a through hole having a predetermined inner diameter,

   Air purifier using UV LED.
8. According to claim 7,

   The outer structure,

   Characterized in that the contact area with the light emitted from the plurality of UV LED elements is increased through rotation,

   Air purifier using UV LED.
9. According to claim 7,

   The outer structure,

   a plurality of perforations;

   one or more rotation shafts provided through two or more perforations formed in different layers;

   a rotating plate connected to one end of the one or more rotational shafts to transmit force to the one or more rotational shafts; and

   a motor for rotating the rotary plate;

   including,

   Air purifier using UV LED.
10. According to claim 2,

    The outer structure is

    Characterized in that it is configured through a screw-shaped metal assembly,

    The metal assembly,

    Frame provided in the longitudinal direction; and

    a plurality of brush wires connected to the frame in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and provided to have a predetermined length;

    including,

    Air purifier using UV LED.

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