DE102021119742A1 - Air treatment device and system with electrostatic precipitator function and cyclone geometry - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for treating air, comprising an air duct housing, an electrostatic precipitator arranged in the air duct housing for separating liquid and/or solid particles from the air to be treated, which has a counter electrode and an array of emission electrode needles, and a device for Wetting the counter-electrode with liquid, the air-guiding housing having a deflection structure downstream of the array for deflecting the air flow to be treated by at least 180°.

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for treating, in particular humidifying, cleaning and/or washing air, such as an air humidifier, an air cleaner, an air washer or the like. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an air treatment system with at least two air treatment devices connected in parallel.

Generic air treatment devices are used to prepare, in particular to clean, humidify and/or wash air that is present in closed rooms and/or buildings. The air treatment devices can have numerous areas of application, for example in medical technology or in the health industry, especially in doctor's offices, isolation rooms, sick rooms, intensive care units or clean rooms, in private households, especially in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens or children's rooms, in public or industrial buildings such as museums, theaters , government buildings or offices, and/or in mobility, for example for cleaning vehicle interiors, especially in taxis, rental cars or vehicle sharing concepts. For example, the air treatment devices are standing devices and/or small electrical devices that can be placed in buildings or rooms on the floor or on shelves such as tables.

As a rule, air purifiers are equipped with multi-layer filter systems. A highly effective particle filter is supplemented by additional filters so that the intake air is cleaned and freed from pollutants. Air washers, on the other hand, usually work without additional filters and lead the air through a water bath, where it is cleaned and humidified at the same time.

DE 196 21 996 A1 discloses an air humidifier with a liquid reservoir from which liquid is pumped by means of a riser tube to an apex of a curved glass air flow surface. The water flows off the air inflow surface and humidifies the inflowing air. The water then flows back into the liquid reservoir via a drain edge.

Increasingly high demands are being placed on air treatment. On the one hand, this has to do with tightening legal requirements and the steadily growing health awareness of the population. In particular, the fine dust present in the air, which has solid particles in the µg/m ³ range, has proven to be particularly critical. Particulate matter can also contain bacteria, pollen, viruses, spores, fibers or the like. There are generally two types of air handlers, passive air handlers and active air handlers. With passive air handlers, no additional energy is injected into the system to condition the air. Active air treatment devices are characterized by the fact that additional energy is expended to carry out the air treatment. Known air treatment devices are limited in their effectiveness with regard to air treatment. The passive systems in particular are not capable of effectively separating fine dust particles from the air.

Furthermore, approaches for air treatment devices in which the electro-precipitation technology is used already exist in the prior art. However, such systems have the fundamental disadvantage that dry particles and thus non-aerosols are difficult to collect on a counter-electrode and transport away. After contact with the counter-electrode, fine dust is either carried away by the air flow or “clumps” to form a non-electrically conductive mass on the counter-electrode. On the one hand, the degree of separation is strongly dependent on the aerodynamics of the air flow, and on the other hand, the function of the counter-electrode suffers due to the reduction in its required electrical conductivity.

Such an air treatment device is, for example, from CN204469891U known, which has a cyclone-like air duct housing with an integrated in the cyclone-like air duct housing and arranged concentrically thereto electrostatic precipitator. On the basis of the principle of centrifugal force separation, the particles in the air are pushed radially outwards via the cyclone-like air flow. The emission electrode is located centrally and is surrounded by the cyclone-like housing wall forming the counter-electrode. In order to improve the problems described above with regard to the dry particles and the reduction in the efficiency of the separation system, the cyclone-like housing wall forming the counter-electrode is wetted with water so that the housing wall can be cleaned.

On the air treatment device according to CN204469891U Above all, its complex structure has proven to be disadvantageous, in particular because of the integration of electrostatic precipitator and cyclone separator. With the integrated arrangement of the electrostatic precipitator in the middle of the water-wetted cyclone separator, it has also been found to be disadvantageous that the air treatment device tends to cause electrical short circuits, which significantly affect the operation of the air treatment device and can damage the device.

It is the object of the present invention to improve the disadvantages of the known prior art, in particular to provide an air treatment device that is simpler in construction and/or safer in operation.

This object is solved by the features of the independent claims.

According to this, a device for treating, in particular cleaning, humidifying and/or washing air is provided. The air can, for example, be provided with solid and/or liquid particles, in particular impurities, which can be at least partially separated from the air by means of the device according to the invention. The air is in particular air that is present in closed rooms and/or buildings, such as room air, and with which people can come into direct contact. For example, the air treatment device is a small electrical device and/or a stand-alone device that can be set up or set down in buildings or in rooms or that can be integrated into a room and/or building ventilation system, such as a vehicle interior ventilation system. In addition to the possibility that the air treatment device can be designed as an independent device, in particular a stand-alone device, it is also possible to integrate the air treatment device according to the invention in ventilation systems, extractor hoods or other ventilation systems arranged in a room in a building or in a room in a vehicle. The device may be able to rid the air of liquid particles, such as fat or oil particles, as well as fine dust solid particles, even for solid particle concentrations in the µg/m ³ range. In particular, the device is able to comply with the fine dust limit values, with a fine dust limit value PM10 of 40 pg/m ³ being achievable, for example. Fine dust particles are understood to be particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 microns or smaller.

The device according to the invention comprises an air duct housing. The air-guiding housing is generally used to guide the air to be treated through the device and to transport it between the various stations or treatment steps. The air duct housing can be aerodynamically shaped, in particular in such a way that the air flow can flow through the air duct housing without any obstacles and/or with the build-up of the lowest possible dynamic pressure. Furthermore, the air duct housing can be designed in such a way that the air to be treated can enter the air duct housing from the side, in particular is sucked in, and can exit vertically upwards, in particular is conveyed out. The air duct housing can have an air inlet, via which the air to be treated can enter the air duct housing, and an air outlet, via which the treated air can leave the air duct housing again.

Furthermore, the device comprises an electrostatic precipitator arranged in the air duct housing for separating liquid and/or solid particles from the air to be treated. The electrostatic precipitator has a counter electrode and an array of emission electrode needles. The electrostatic precipitator, which can also be designed as a plasma precipitator, works essentially according to the following principle: release of electrical charges, in particular electrons; charging particles that may be present in the air in an electric field; transport of the electrically charged particles to an opposite pole; discharging the charged particles at the opposite pole; and removing the particles from the opposite pole. The electrostatic precipitator can, for example, generate an electrical high-voltage field, in particular in the range from 8 to 16 kV, preferably in the range from 11 to 14 kV. For example, the principle of charge generation on which the electrostatic precipitator is based can be impact ionization. When a so-called corona activation field strength is exceeded, electrons can be released and interact with the surrounding gas molecules in the air, resulting in the formation of a negative corona. Free electrons present in the air are strongly accelerated in the electrostatic field of the corona, so that a gas discharge can occur. When hitting gas molecules in the air, more electrons can be split off or attached to the gas molecules. The negative charges move within the air treatment device, particularly within the electrostatic precipitator. When a particle-laden air flow enters, the negatively charged charges accumulate on the particles. The negatively charged particles are deflected by the acting electrostatic force of the applied DC voltage field, which can be oriented transversely to the flow direction of the air within the device, and can thus be separated from the air flow. The present invention also covers versions in which instead of the negative corona or. of the negatively charged charges a positive corona or a positively charged charge is generated. To avoid repetition, the description of the invention is limited to the implementation of the negative charge situation.

The counter electrode and the emission electrode needles can be insulated from each other and/or can each be made in one piece. The array of emission electrode needles as a whole forms an emission electrode, also known as a spray electrode, and essentially serves to emit, in particular, negatively charged particles. The counter electrode, also known as the collecting electrode, forms the opposite pole. An electrical high voltage can be applied to the emission electrode and the counter-electrode, so that an electrical high-voltage field can be generated between the emission electrode and the counter-electrode. For example, the high voltage is in the range of 8 to 16 kV. For example, the space between the emission electrode and the counter-electrode can be referred to as the separation space, in which the solid and/or liquid particles are separated from the air flow. During operation of the electrostatic precipitator, an electrical high voltage is applied between the at least one emission electrode and the counter-electrode, so that a high-voltage field is generated between the emission electrode and the counter-electrode. In particular, the electrostatic precipitator is operated below the breakdown or flashover voltage. The breakdown voltage, also known as the breakdown voltage, is the voltage that must be exceeded in order for a voltage breakdown to occur through a material or substance, for example an insulator or gas. When the so-called corona onset field strength is exceeded, electrons exit the emission electrode and interact with the surrounding air molecules, resulting in the formation of a so-called negative corona. Free electrons present in the air are strongly accelerated in the electrostatic field of the corona, so that a gas discharge can occur. When hitting air molecules, further electrons can be split off or attached to the air molecules. The negative charges then move towards the neutrally charged counter-electrode. The counter-electrode can, for example, be grounded and/or at ground potential. When a particle-charged gas flow enters, the negatively charged charges accumulate on the particles. Due to the electrostatic force of the DC voltage field acting transversely to the flow direction of the air flow through the air treatment device, the negatively charged particles migrate in the direction of the counter-electrode, where they can release their charge again.

In addition, the device includes a device, such as a nozzle or an atomizer or the like, for wetting the counter-electrode. For example, a liquid film is formed on the counter electrode. The liquid film can move at least temporarily, in particular flow continuously and/or have a film thickness in the range from 0.1 mm to 1 mm. The counter-electrode can be electrically conductive in its entirety, ie along its entire extent, and/or be at ground potential. For example, the counter-electrode has an electrically conductive surface and/or an electrically conductive surface coating, at least in sections. For example, the device can have operating states, such as an off state or a predetermined deactivated operating state, in which the counter electrode is not wetted. The liquid may be supplied from a reservoir associated with the device, a separate liquid store or reservoir, or otherwise. The liquid is generally a flowable rinsing and/or collector medium, for example water, in particular also rainwater, a hygroscopic collecting material, such as sodium hydroxide dissolved in a liquid, a gel which is heated to a certain temperature, for example, so that a liquid state of aggregation is reached, such as a wax or the like, an ionic liquid, such as melted or dissolved salts, or highly viscous oils that are mixed with electrically conductive particles, such as copper, for example. For example, the liquid may have a predetermined minimum electrical conductivity, for example at least 0.005 S/m. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device includes a local fluid reservoir. By local is meant that the fluid reservoir is part of and/or directly associated with the device as opposed to a separate fluid reservoir or supply. For example, the liquid reservoir is arranged below the electrostatic precipitator and/or below the wetting device. On the one hand, this results in a compact structure for the air treatment device, and on the other hand, the liquid can flow back into the liquid reservoir in a structurally simple manner using the force of weight. In a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the liquid reservoir is integrated into a liquid circuit in such a way that the liquid, which may contain particles, can flow back into the liquid reservoir after wetting the counter-electrode. The separated particles can be entrained by the liquid and transported to the liquid reservoir and collected there. Known electrostatic precipitators generally have the disadvantage that they become clogged with the separated particles, ie become soiled, so that the separating effect of the electrostatic precipitator is reduced. The wetting liquid prevents a Collecting and depositing the separated particles on components of the electrostatic precipitator and directs the particles away in a targeted manner, namely into the liquid reservoir.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device has an air conveying device, in particular an air intake device such as a fan. A fan is generally understood to be a turbomachine that builds up a pressure ratio of between 1 and 1.3 between the suction and pressure sides in order to convey air. The air conveying device can be set up to suck in air from the environment and/or to convey air in the direction of the electrostatic precipitator. In particular, the air conveying device is able or intended to suck the air to be treated, in particular building and/or room air, into the device and feed it to the electrostatic precipitator or expose it to it in order to subject the air to be treated to an electrostatic precipitator process in order to separate solid and / or separate liquid particles from the air to be treated in order to clean the air to be treated. The air conveying device can be designed in such a way that the sucked-in air reaches speeds in the range from 2 m/s to 10 m/s. After passing through the electrostatic precipitator, the electrically charged air can flow, in particular be transported, through the device at flow speeds in the range from 0.1 m/s to 0.5 m/s.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the air-guiding housing of the device has a deflection structure downstream of the array for deflecting the air flow to be cleaned by at least 180°. The deflection structure can be designed in such a way that the air flow deflects by at least 225°, by at least 270°, by at least 315°, by at least 360°, or by a multiple thereof. The inventors of the present invention have found that a major problem of existing air separation systems with electrostatic precipitators is that the so-called separation section, i.e. the path of the air flow, in which the air is effectively treated in such a way that solid and/or liquid particles are filtered out of the air flow or are separated, is too short, and thus the degree of separation can be improved. In order to be able to meet the need for a compact unit, especially with regard to installation space, above all for use in small electrical devices in building interiors, the idea of the present invention, formulated abstractly, is to lengthen the separation distance in the most space-saving way possible. In the present case, this is achieved in that the air flow of the air to be treated, after being electrically charged, is guided via the electrostatic precipitator through a deflection structure in which it is deflected by at least 180° before it leaves the device. In other words, the device can be designed such that the counter-electrode of the electrostatic precipitator begins in the area of the emission electrode needles, in particular opposite them, is wetted there with liquid and extends to the end or even beyond the deflection structure. At the end of the deflection structure, which can be wetted with liquid, the deflection structure releases the liquid in which the particles separated from the air to be treated are caught and taken along, in particular transported away, again. The cleaned air is removed from the device separately from the liquid wetting and discharged into the environment. In the device according to the invention, a clear local separation of the various stages of the device can be provided: electrical charging of the liquid and/or solid particles in the air to be treated in the area of the electrostatic precipitator; and extension of the separation distance downstream of the electrostatic precipitator by means of the deflection structure. Due to the extended separation distance, the air to be treated has more time or a longer path available for the electrically charged particles to be able to effectively separate from the air and not return to it or be entrained by it. The extension of the separation distance is particularly noticeable when the flow rate of the air to be treated increases. By wetting the counter-electrode, a film of water can be generated on the counter-electrode, which is used to "flush" the counter-electrode so that fine dust, bacteria and viruses, among other things, can be bound and transported away. According to the invention, an extension of the counter-electrode can be made possible in a small installation space by the deflection structure of the air-guiding housing. The particles charged by the electrostatic precipitator are pushed in the deflection structure to the boundary or wall of the deflection structure, where they are bound by the existing liquid wetting and transported away. The device can be adjusted in such a way that in the area of the deflection structure there is no separation in the classic sense, but this is used purely to lengthen the separation section and the liquid collection section for receiving the charged particles.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the air duct housing has an air inlet via which the air to be treated can enter the air duct housing. The air inlet can be designed as an opening within the air duct housing with any desired cross section. For example, the air inlet is oriented in a horizontal plane and/or looks like this formed that air can flow sideways into the device. In order to be able to allow air to flow in as large a volume as possible, in particular to be able to suck it in, and at the same time to keep the installation space as small as possible, a curved shape of the air inlet, in particular convexly curved, can prove to be advantageous. Furthermore, the array is arranged in the area of the air inlet. In particular, the array is arranged exclusively in the area of the air inlet or at most immediately downstream of the inlet. This is intended to achieve the desired local separation of the electrical charging of the particles and the accumulation of the particles on the counter-electrode and transport away by means of the liquid. In an exemplary development, the array extends transversely to a main inflow direction of the air to be treated into the air duct housing. The large number of emission electrode needles accordingly take up a significantly smaller amount of space when viewed in the air flow direction than transversely to it. For example, the array extends over the entire width of the air duct housing in the area of the air duct inlet. In this way, the air to be treated can be electrically charged over the entire air inflow cross section. The array can be adapted to the shape of the air inlet, in particular curved in the longitudinal extent of the array, in particular convexly curved.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the air-guiding housing tapers in cross-section towards the deflection structure, in particular continuously. For example, starting from an air inlet, via which the air to be treated can enter the air guide housing, the air guide housing can in particular taper continuously towards the deflection structure. The air duct housing can have a closed wall structure in the circumferential direction. For example, with a rectangular or rounded cross section that tapers, for example, like a funnel in the direction of the deflection structure. The flow cross-section thus decreases in particular continuously towards the deflection structure in order to concentrate the air flow. According to an exemplary development, at least one housing wall, in particular leading from the air inlet to the air deflection structure, such as a side wall, is curved, in particular convex in shape. This means that the reduction in flow cross-section is greater at the beginning, ie near the air inlet, and progressively decreases in the direction of the deflection structure. This results in a particularly effective concentration and focussing of the air flow in the deflection structure.

In an exemplary further embodiment of the present invention, the counter-electrode is formed in sections by a bottom wall of the air-guiding housing facing the emission electrode needles, in particular starting from an air inlet through which the air to be treated can enter the air-guiding housing, and then by the deflection structure. In other words, the counter-electrode of the electrostatic precipitator is extended up to the deflection structure, along the entire extent and/or beyond the deflection structure, in order to increase the separation distance and the possibility of collecting electrically charged particles in the liquid wetting in a space-saving manner. The bottom wall can merge directly into the deflection structure and/or be made in one piece with a part of the deflection structure if it is designed in multiple parts. Both the bottom wall and the deflection structure can be electrically conductive and are wetted with liquid.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the electrostatic precipitator and the liquid wetting device are matched to one another in such a way that liquid and/or solid particles charged by the electrostatic precipitator get into the liquid wetting the counter-electrode. The particles electrically charged by the electrostatic precipitator are attracted by its counter-electrode and can thus be trapped in the liquid wetting, for example as a liquid film formed on the counter-electrode, in particular with a thickness in the range from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, and from the liquid wetting, in particular the liquid film, are taken along and transported away, in particular while the air flow cleaned thereof is carried on separately and finally released back into the environment. By coordinating or combining the electrostatic precipitator and liquid wetting device with the extended separation section, the separation rate of the air treatment device can be significantly increased in an effective manner. In addition to the advantage that the separated particles can be bound in the liquid and transported away, the liquid wetting of the counter-electrode has the positive effect that the counter-electrode is cleaned, in particular rinsed, by the liquid to remove contamination or deposits.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the deflection structure comprises a tangential cyclone or a spiral flow path limitation. The inner walls of the tangential cyclone or the flow path boundary continue the counter-electrode and are at least partially wetted with liquid and/or electrically conductive. example the inner walls are provided with a film of liquid. In the tangential cyclone or in the spiral-shaped flow control limitation, the separation section, ie the path of the air to be treated through the device, can be significantly lengthened in the most efficient manner in terms of installation space. For example, the tangential cyclone or the spiral flow guide structure can be designed or integrated into the device in such a way that separation within the tangential cyclone or within the spiral flow deposit limitation is not in the classic sense, in particular using centrifugal force, but purely respective structure is used to lengthen the separation distance and in particular the counter-electrode, so that the electrically charged particles can be attracted by the counter-electrode and separated from the air flow. In an alternative embodiment, the tangential cyclone or the spiral flow path limitation can be operated as a centrifugal separator, so that using centrifugal forces, which arise through the generation of a turbulent flow, an additional increase in the separation rate is associated with the fact that within the tangential cyclone or the spiral Flow guide flow path limitation is additionally deposited.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present device, the electrostatic precipitator is set up to separate particles from the air while generating ozone. The electrostatic precipitator can generate a stable DC voltage plasma with an electrical high-voltage field of the electrostatic precipitator in the range from 8 kV to 16 kV. The plasma current at the emission electrodes can be between 4 μA and 10 μA. At least part of the oxygen (O ₂ ) contained in the air to be treated is split into individual oxygen atoms by the negative charges generated in the electrostatic precipitator, which can then combine to form ozone (O ₃ ). The electrostatic precipitator generates ozone as a by-product, especially when generating a plasma. The higher the voltage between the emission electrode and the counter electrode, the more ozone is produced as a by-product in the electrostatic precipitator. In order to break down at least part of the ozone generated by the electrostatic precipitator, a mist generator is provided before, on or after the array, viewed in the air flow direction, for enriching the air to be treated with water droplets. The ozone (O ₃ ) reacts with the water (H ₂ O) in the air to be treated and is converted into oxygen (O ₂ ) to produce by-products such as hydroxide ions (OH) or hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ). . Thus, the device does not require any additional components, such as catalytic converters, downstream of the electrostatic precipitator in order to remove the ozone generated as a by-product from the air before it enters the environment. Provision can be made for the smoke generator to be arranged in the immediate vicinity before, on or after the array of emission electrodes. In this way, the ozone produced can be reduced as close as possible to the source, so that damage to the remaining components, which are arranged in the air path of the air cleaner downstream of the electrostatic precipitator, can be prevented by the ozone. The smoke generator results in a more cost-effective and efficient construction of the room air cleaner compared to the prior art. By enriching the air to be cleaned with water, almost massless particles such as fine dust, viruses, very fine particles, spores, allergens, pollen or bacteria can also be given mass by the accumulation of water on the particles, so that they can be removed more quickly in the electrostatic precipitator migrate in the direction of the counter-electrode and can thus be deposited more effectively than in the prior art. The fog generator can therefore also be used to increase the degree of separation of the electrostatic precipitator. It can also be provided that the fog generator is used in addition to the liquid wetting device to wet the counter-electrode with liquid. The mist generator can generate a spray mist and/or be set up to supersaturate the air to be cleaned with water and/or be designed as an ultrasonic mist generator or high-pressure water nozzle (14), with the mist generator in particular being designed as an evaporator, evaporator or atomizer.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the emission electrode needles have a shank which has a, preferably constant, essentially cylindrical cross-section with a shank diameter of at least 0.2 mm and at most 1 mm. For example, the shank diameter is about 0.4 mm. Furthermore, the emission electrode needle can be formed in such a way that the substantially cylindrical, elongated shank is not pointed, but has a straight end surface at which the electrons leave the emission electrode. Contrary to the general prejudice that the shank diameter of emission electrode needles is constantly being reduced, the inventors of the present invention have found that a minimum diameter of 0.2 mm is necessary in order to generate a uniform electric field and/or to ensure uniform ignition of the emission electrodes . It has been found that too thin emitter electrode shank diameters tend to cause debris to form on the thin emitter electrode tips, which then defines a new tip radius ren, which is larger than the original tip radius of the emission electrodes. As a result, the corona inception voltage increases at these emission electrodes and an unequal ignition ratio is formed between the emission electrodes. Furthermore, it was found that the maximum diameter of 1 mm is also necessary to ensure the uniform ignition of the emission electrodes and/or to form a uniform electric field. With shank diameters of more than 1 mm, it was found that the deposits that form on the tips of the shank increasingly stick to the tips and that there is no longer any self-cleaning effect. In this respect, the shaft diameter range specified above was found to be the optimum with regard to an equalization of the electrical field within the separation space of the electrostatic precipitator and/or with regard to the equalization of the ignition behavior of the individual emission electrodes. In an exemplary embodiment, the shaft is flattened at an end on the counter-electrode side, tapers in particular conically towards a point or has an end on the counter-electrode side that is curved towards the counter-electrode. A radius of curvature can be in the range of at least 0.2 mm and at most 1 mm and/or about 0.4 mm. The statements made above with regard to the optimum dimension of the shank diameter apply analogously to the radius of curvature. According to an exemplary further development, the emission electrode is made of sheet metal or an endless blank, such as an endless wire, preferably made of a metal such as high-grade steel, titanium, tungsten, aluminum chromium, nickel or also of an electrically conductive plastic material or of an electrical insulator. which is mixed with electrically conductive particles. At least one end of the shaft, in particular the end of the shaft on the counter-electrode side, has broken off or sheared off. In this way, the emission electrode can be manufactured particularly inexpensively. Furthermore, the array and/or the individual emission electrode needles can be held by a carrier in such a way that the shank of the emission electrode needles protrudes from the carrier by at least 0.5 mm and preferably 8 mm. The carrier can have an electrical conductivity of less than 10 ^-8 S*cm-1. The carrier can also be made of a fluid-impermeable material, so that it is ensured in particular that fluid particles of the air flow flowing through the electrostatic precipitator cannot leave the separation space via the carrier.

According to an exemplary development, the carrier has an essentially flat surface facing the counter-electrode, which can at least partially delimit the separation space of the electrostatic precipitator. For example, the carrier, in particular its surface facing the separation space, is dimensioned such that it is larger than an outer peripheral dimension of the emission electrode field if several emission electrodes are provided to form an emission electrode field. A plurality of emission electrodes of the emission electrode field can be distributed uniformly along the planar extension of the surface of the carrier, wherein in particular two emission electrodes spaced apart from one another can each have the same spacing from one another. Alternatively or additionally, the carrier can comprise plastic, preferably duroplastic plastic, and/or casting compound, such as epoxy resin or silicone. For example, the carrier can be realized by a circuit board. In order to manufacture the electrostatic precipitator, it can be provided that the carrier equipped with the emission electrode, in particular the printed circuit board equipped with the emission electrode, is placed in a housing of the electrostatic precipitator, which is made, for example, of a blow-by gas-resistant material, such as e.g. B. polyamide, is inserted, and is then cast with a potting compound. As a result, from a production point of view, a particularly cost-effective way of producing an electrostatic precipitator is realized. In particular, the advantage of encapsulating the emission electrodes is that an additional manufacturing step for sealing and/or blow-by sealing and/or blow-by-resistant insertion or integration of the emission electrodes into the electrostatic precipitator housing can be saved.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the emission electrode needle can be preassembled on a circuit board. For example, the emission electrode needle is dimensioned and encapsulated by the support molding material in such a way that the shank protrudes from the support by at least 0.5 mm and preferably 8 mm after solidification of the support molding material. With regard to the described shaft lengths of the emission electrodes, the inventors of the present invention have found that this allows an optimum to be achieved with regard to the avoidance of contamination and/or deposits. In particular, it was found that a shaft length must not be chosen too large, so that the emission electrodes do not protrude too far into the separation space, in order to keep a non-active, separation-free area within the separation space as small as possible. Furthermore, it was found that the shaft length must not be too short either, since deposits accumulating on the emission electrode ends, in particular shaft tips, otherwise tend to migrate along the emission electrode shaft to the carrier and accumulate there.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the array comprises at least two, in particular parallel, rows of at least five, at least ten or at least 15 emission electrode needles. In this case, a distance between two adjacent emission electrode needles in the same row can be in the range from 5 mm to 15 mm and/or a distance between two emission electrode needles in adjacent rows can be in the range from 5 mm to 15 mm. In this way it is ensured that a uniform, in particular homogeneous, electrical field is reliably built up without the individual emission electrode needles influencing each other, in particular interfering with one another.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an air treatment system is provided with at least two air treatment devices, in particular according to the invention. The air treatment system consisting of the two air treatment devices can be, for example, a small electrical device or a stand-alone device which is installed or removed in buildings or rooms or which can be integrated into a room or building ventilation such as a vehicle interior ventilation. It is also possible for the air treatment system to be integrated into ventilation systems, exhaust hoods or other ventilation systems present in a room in a building or in a room in a vehicle. The two air treatment devices can be designed according to one of the aspects described above or one of the exemplary embodiments described above.

According to the air treatment system according to the invention, the air treatment devices each comprise an air guiding housing. The air-guiding housing generally serves to guide the air to be treated through the respective device and to transport it between the various stations or treatment steps. The air duct housing can be aerodynamically shaped, in particular in such a way that the air flow can flow through the air duct housing without any obstacles and/or with the build-up of the lowest possible dynamic pressure. Furthermore, the air duct housing can be designed in such a way that the air to be treated can enter the air duct housing from the side, in particular is sucked in, and can exit vertically upwards, in particular is conveyed out. The air duct housing can have an air inlet, via which the air to be treated can enter the air duct housing, and an air outlet, via which the treated air can leave the air duct housing again.

Furthermore, the devices include an electrostatic precipitator arranged in the air-guiding housing for separating liquid and/or solid particles from the air to be treated, which has a counter-electrode and an array of emission electrode needles. In order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the previous statements with regard to the electrostatic precipitator and the components of the electrostatic precipitator, which are equally applicable to the air treatment system according to the invention.

Furthermore, each air treatment device also includes a device for wetting the counter-electrode with liquid. With regard to the fluid wetting device, too, reference is made to the previous statements, since these can be transferred in an analogous manner to the air treatment system.

According to the further aspect of the present invention, the at least two devices are arranged in such a way that an air flow which flows into the air treatment system and is to be treated by the air treatment system can be divided into the two devices. In this way, the incoming air flow, in particular the air flow sucked in, is divided into two partial air flows, each of which is treated by one of the two devices. In other words, the two devices are arranged in parallel in the air treatment system. The parallel connection of the two devices increases, in particular doubles, the efficiency or the separation rate of an air treatment system compared to individual air treatment devices.

In an exemplary embodiment of the air treatment system according to the invention, this has at least three, in particular at least four, five or at least six air treatment devices, which are arranged in a circle, in particular evenly distributed. This results in a compact overall structure of the air treatment system that can be implemented within the framework of a small electrical appliance and/or a standing appliance. All devices can be designed according to one of the aspects described above or according to one of the exemplary embodiments described above.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the air treatment system has at least three, in particular four, five or at least six devices, in particular designed according to one of the aspects described above or according to one of the exemplary embodiments described above, which are arranged in such a way that the individual air duct housings of the Devices together a closed circumference NEN, in particular form an annular air inlet. Such an arrangement of the individual air treatment devices allows air to flow particularly effectively into the air treatment system, particularly in a 360° extension, and in particular to be sucked in by the air treatment system, so that air to be treated is reached from a wide variety of directions in the room to be treated.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the air treatment system, the air duct housings of the individual devices each have an air duct path limitation, such as a deflection structure, which is designed, for example, in accordance with the deflection structure of an air treatment device according to the invention described above, in particular a tangential cyclone or a spiral flow guide structure. The air duct path limitations are arranged in a circle, in particular evenly distributed. For example, the arrangement of the individual air path limitations is adapted to the arrangement of the devices. As an alternative or in addition, the air duct path limitations of the individual devices can be assigned to a common liquid collecting basin. In other words, the air duct path boundaries wetted with liquid can release the liquid wetting into a common liquid basin or each open into it.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, a method for treating, in particular cleaning, humidifying and/or washing air, in particular room and/or building air or air, for example in a vehicle interior, is broad placed.

According to the method according to the invention, the air to be treated is electrically charged by means of an electrostatic precipitator for separating liquid and/or solid particles from the air to be treated, which has a counter electrode and an array of emission electrode needles.

Furthermore, the counter-electrode is wetted with liquid. In particular, a liquid film, for example with a thickness in the range from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, is formed on the counter-electrode.

According to the method according to the invention, the air to be treated is deflected by at least 180° after passing through the array, ie in particular the electrically charged air.

The present invention also provides a method for treating, in particular cleaning, humidifying and/or washing air, in particular room and/or building air or air, for example in a vehicle interior, in which the air to be treated is divided into partial flows, which are then each electrically charged by means of an electrostatic precipitator for separating liquid and/or solid particles from the partial air flows, each having a counter electrode and an array of emission electrode needles, and the counter electrodes are also each wetted with liquid.

For example, the method can be set up to treat air in accordance with a device according to the invention and/or in accordance with an air treatment system according to the invention.

Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Luftbehandlungsvorrichtung;
• 2 eine Unteransicht der Luftbehandlungsvorrichtung aus 1;
• 3 eine schematische Schnittansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung; und
• 4 eine perspektivische Teilansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß 3.

In the following, further properties, features and advantages of the invention are made clear by means of a description of preferred embodiments of the invention using the accompanying exemplary drawings, in which:

• 1 a perspective view of an air treatment device according to the invention;
• 2 a bottom view of the air treatment device 1 ;
• 3 a schematic sectional view of a device according to the invention; and
• 4 a perspective partial view of the device according to FIG 3 .

In the following description of exemplary embodiments, an apparatus for treating air according to the invention is generally given the reference number 1 and an air treatment system according to the invention is generally given the reference number 100 . The device 1 for treating air, hereinafter also referred to as air treatment device 1, can perform various functions depending on the operating state or through a simple design extension, namely air humidification, air purification, air washing and particle separation, which makes the air purification particularly effective. For the description of exemplary embodiments based on the 1 until 4 it can be assumed, for example, that the air treatment device 1 is a standing device or a small electrical device which is primarily intended to be placed in building rooms, for example on a table or on a shelf.

In 1 1 is an exemplary embodiment of an air treatment system according to the present invention 100 is shown in perspective view, which is a set of six exemplary embodiments of air treatment devices 1 according to the invention. The air treatment devices 1, in particular their operation and the individual components are in terms of 3 until 4 explained in more detail. As in 1 As can be seen, the six existing air treatment devices 1 are arranged in a circle and evenly distributed in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, all air treatment devices 1 are identical.

The air treatment devices 1 include the following main components: an air guide housing 3; an electrostatic precipitator 5 arranged in the air duct housing 3 for separating liquid and/or solid particles from the air to be treated, which has a counter electrode 7 and an array 9 of emission electrode needles 11; a fluid wetting device, not shown; and a deflection structure downstream of the array 9, generally designated 15, for deflecting the electrified air flow to be treated by at least 180° and implemented as a tangential cyclone according to all the exemplary embodiments of the attached figures.

The air-guiding housing 3 has an air inlet 17 with a rectangular cross section, over the width of which, ie transversely to the main inflow direction of the air flow to be treated, the array 9 extends. In this way, the individual air treatment devices 1, due to their circular arrangement, form a circumferentially closed, ring-shaped air inlet 17 via which air can enter the air treatment system 100 over a 360° circumferential extent.

The individual air treatment devices 1 can be coupled to one another via connection points 19, for example clipped, glued, screwed or otherwise fastened to one another. The connection points can be realized, for example, by the air duct housing 3 in the area of the lateral delimitation of the respective air inlets 17 .

The air treatment devices 1 also include an air outlet 21 which, according to the exemplary embodiments, is formed as a round outlet nozzle or opening in the air duct housing 3 on a vertical upper side 23 . The air-guiding housing 3 also has a funnel-like or conical dip tube 25, which is directly connected to the deflection structure 15 and opens into a liquid-collecting basin, not shown, in order to be able to deliver and collect the liquid from the fluid-wetting device. The immersion tube 25 is arranged concentrically with one another, for example with the fluid outlet 21 .

Referring to 2 , which shows a top view of the air handling system 100. FIG 1 and in which the housing sections forming the upper side 23 of the air duct housing 3 are left out in order to show the view into the interior of the air treatment devices 1 . 2 also illustrates the circular arrangement of the individual air treatment devices 1, which has a center point M in the center of the air treatment system 100.

Referring to the 3 until 4 is the structure and the mode of operation of an air treatment device 1 according to the invention, as for example in the air treatment system 100 according to the invention 1 and 2 is available, explained in more detail. The air to be treated enters the device 1 or its air duct housing 3 via the air inlet 17. In particular in 3 it can be seen that the air duct housing 3 is constructed in several parts and the immersion tube 25 has a base housing part 27 fastened thereto and a cover part 29 fastened thereto in turn, which has a lateral fastening flange 31 which overlaps the base part 27 on the outside.

The air-guiding housing 3 essentially serves to guide the air to be treated through the device in a targeted manner so that it can be treated. The array 9 of emission electrode needles 11 is arranged at the air inlet 17 in order to electrically charge the air to be treated or the solid and/or liquid particles located therein that are to be separated as early as possible. The air duct housing 3 or its base part 27 has a tapering flow structure for the air to be treated, which is formed by a straight side wall 33 and a convexly curved side wall 35 opposite it, which open directly into the deflection structure 15 . In the top view, the air guide housing 3 has a kind of fan-like shape up to the deflection structure 15 in order to be able to ensure an air inlet with as large a volume as possible, in particular to be able to suck in air. Viewed in the air flow direction, a water mist generator 14 is connected immediately downstream of the array 9, which is indicated by way of example by three water nozzles 16, which can be arranged on the cover part 29 and serve to generate a water mist in addition to the liquid wetting device for the counter-electrode 7, which is primarily the purpose is to convert the ozone produced as a by-product in the electrostatic precipitator 5 into oxygen before it can get into the environment.

The electrically charged air flow, guided in particular by the side walls 33, 35, reaches the deflection structure 15 in a targeted manner, which is shaped in such a way that the air flow to be treated is deflected by at least 180°. The advantage is that it is possible to lengthen the separation distance in a way that is favorable in terms of installation space and thus to keep the degree of separation high even at high flow rates. As already mentioned, the deflection structure 15 is formed as a tangential cyclone in the present case. The inner walls 37 of the tangential cyclone are also wetted by the liquid wetting device with liquid, which runs along the inner walls via the immersion tube 25 and can finally reach a liquid collecting tank, not shown, via a deflection screen 39 .

The inner walls 37 also continue the counter electrode 7 . Due to the fact that the cyclone inner walls 37 are wetted with liquid and are designed to be electrically conductive, the counter-electrode can be significantly lengthened in a way that is favorable in terms of installation space, as a result of which there is a significantly longer separation path overall. The electrically charged particles therefore have much more time or distance available to be attracted by the electrically conductive counter-electrode forming a pole and to collect in the liquid film guided on it and to be transported away from it. In the tangential cyclone 15, the air flow accordingly flows along in a turbulent manner, with the electrically charged particles being pushed radially outwards in the direction of the electrically conductive counter-electrode inner wall 37 of the cyclone, which is wetted with liquid.

The method according to the invention is therefore such that the liquid film wetting the outside inner walls 37 of the cyclone forming the counter-electrode, including the particles separated therein, is guided along the inner walls 37 of the cyclone via the funnel-like immersion tube 25 into the liquid collecting tank in order to transport away the separated particles , which is indicated by the dashed arrow with the reference number 41, while the air flow cleaned of the particles can leave the air duct housing 3 via the air outlet pipe or connection piece 21 arranged concentrically to the immersion tube 25, which is indicated by the curved arrows with the reference number 43 is.

The features disclosed in the above description, the figures and the claims can be important both individually and in any combination for the implementation of the invention in the various configurations.

Reference List

1

contraption

3

air guide housing

5

electrostatic precipitator

7

counter electrode

9

array

11

emission electrode needle

14

water mist generator

16

water jet

15

deflection structure

17

air inlet

19

connection point

21

air outlet

23

top

25

dip tube

27

base housing part

29

cover part

31

attachment curse

33

Side wall

35

Side wall

37

inner wall

39

deflection screen

41.43

Arrow

M

Focus

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 19621996 A1 [0004]
• CN 204469891 U [0007, 0008]

Claims (15)

Device (1) for treating air, comprising: - an air guiding housing (3); - An in the air duct housing (3) arranged electrostatic precipitator (5) for separating liquid and / or solid particles from the air to be treated, having a counter-electrode (7) and an array (9) of emission electrode needles (11); and - a device for wetting the counter-electrode (7) with liquid; characterized in that the air-guiding housing (3) has a deflection structure (15) connected downstream of the array (9) for deflecting the air flow to be treated by at least 180°. Device (1) after claim 1 , wherein the air guide housing (3) has an air inlet (17) through which the air to be treated can enter the air guide housing (3), and the array (9) is arranged in the area of the air inlet, with the array (9) extends transversely to a main inflow direction of the air to be treated. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross-section of the air-guiding housing (3) tapers, in particular continuously, starting from an air inlet, via which the air to be treated can enter the air-guiding housing (3), towards the deflection structure (15). , wherein in particular at least one housing wall leading in particular from the air inlet (17) to the deflection structure (15), such as a side wall, is convex in shape. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the counter-electrode (7) extends in sections through a bottom wall of the air-guiding housing (3) facing the emission electrode needles (11), in particular starting from an air inlet via which the air to be treated is fed into the air-guiding housing (3) can reach, and is then formed by the deflection structure (15). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrostatic precipitator (5) and the liquid wetting device are matched to one another in such a way that liquid and/or solid particles charged by the electrostatic precipitator (5) get into the liquid wetting the counter-electrode (7), in particular in a liquid film formed on the counter electrode (7). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deflection structure (15) comprises a tangential cyclone or a spiral flow path delimitation, the inner walls of which continue the counter-electrode (7) and are wetted at least in sections with liquid and/or are electrically conductive at least in sections, in particular are provided with a liquid film. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrostatic precipitator (5) is set up to separate particles from the air while generating ozone, and in the air flow direction before, on or after the array (9) a fog generator for enriching the to treated air is provided with water droplets to decompose at least part of the ozone generated. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the array (9) has at least two, in particular parallel, rows of at least 5, in particular at least 10 or at least 15, emission electrode needles (11), in particular a distance between two adjacent emission electrode needles (11) in the range is from 5 mm to 15 mm and/or a distance between two emission electrode needles (11) of adjacent rows is in the range from 5 mm to 15 mm. Air treatment system (100) comprising at least two in particular according to one of Claims 1 until 8th formed devices for treating air, each comprising: - an air guide housing (3); - An in the air duct housing (3) arranged electrostatic precipitator (5) for separating liquid and / or solid particles from the air to be treated, having a counter-electrode (7) and an array (9) of emission electrode needles (11); and - a device for wetting the counter-electrode (7) with liquid; wherein the at least two devices are arranged such that an air flow flowing into the air treatment system (100) can be divided into the two devices. Air treatment system (100) after claim 9 , Which has at least three, in particular at least four, five or at least six devices, which are arranged in particular evenly distributed in a circle. Air treatment system (100) after claim 9 or 10 Having at least three, in particular at least four, five or at least six devices, which are arranged such that the air duct housing (3) of the devices together form a circumferentially closed, in particular ring-shaped, air inlet (17). Air treatment system (100) after claim 10 or 11 , wherein the air duct housing (3) of the devices each have an air duct path limitation, in particular a deflection structure (15) for deflecting the air flow to be treated by at least 180°, such as a tangential cyclone, which are arranged in a circle, in particular evenly distributed, and/or are assigned to a common liquid catchment basin. Method for treating air, in which: - the air to be treated by means of an electrostatic precipitator for separating liquid and/or solid particles from the air to be treated, which has a counter electrode (7) and an array (9) of emission electrode needles (11). , is electrically charged; and - the counter-electrode (7) is wetted with liquid; characterized in that the air to be treated is deflected by at least 180° after passing through the array. Procedure, especially after Claim 13 , for treating air, in which: - the air to be treated is divided into partial air flows; - the partial air flows are each electrically charged by means of an electrostatic precipitator for separating liquid and/or solid particles from the partial air flows, which has a counter electrode (7) and an array (9) of emission electrode needles (11); and - the counter-electrodes are each wetted with liquid. procedure after Claim 13 or 14 , which is set up according to the device (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th and/or according to the air treatment system (100) according to one of claims 9 until 12 to treat air.

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