KR20180124569A - Fluid treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid treatment apparatus includes: a housing including an inlet, a main body, and an outlet; a light source unit provided in the main body and emitting light; a photocatalytic filter provided in the main body and surrounding at least a part of the light source; and a partition wall separating the interior of the main body into a first area and a second area together with the photocatalytic filter. The fluid passes through the photocatalytic filter from the first area to the second area, and the width of the main body is greater than the width of the inlet.

Description

FLUID TREATMENT DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid treatment apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for treating water or air.

As pollution from industrialization is getting worse recently, wellbeing trend is spreading with increasing concern about the environment. As a result, there is a growing demand for clean air and clean water, and various related products such as air purifiers and water purifiers capable of providing clean air and clean water are being developed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for efficiently treating a fluid such as air or water.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating a fluid, comprising: a housing including an inlet, a body, and an outlet; a light source unit provided in the body and emitting light; at least a portion of the light source unit, And a partition wall separating the inside of the main body into a first area and a second area together with the photocatalytic filter. The fluid moves through the photocatalytic filter from the first region to the second region, the width of the body being greater than the width of the inlet.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the width of the body may be greater than the width of the outlet.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first region may be provided outside the second region, and in another embodiment of the present invention, the first region may be provided inside the second region have.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the partition may include a first partition facing the inlet, and a second partition facing the outlet and having at least one opening through which the fluid passes. At least a part of the first bank may be inclined with respect to the inlet, and the width may become wider as the outlet is away from the inlet. Also, at least a portion of the body may be wider as it is away from the inlet. At least a part of the partition of the second bank may be inclined with respect to the outlet, and the outlet may be wider as the outlet is farther from the outlet. Further, at least a part of the main body may be wider as it is farther from the outlet.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the opening may be set differently depending on the speed of the fluid. In addition, a part of the second bank may be provided in a network.

In one embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the body may be tilted relative to the outlet, and at least a portion of the body may be narrower as it is closer to the outlet.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit may include at least one light source that emits light in at least one wavelength band of ultraviolet light and visible light. In one embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit may include at least two light sources for emitting ultraviolet rays of different wavelength bands.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit may include at least one light source unit including a substrate and at least one light emitting device mounted on the substrate. In one embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit is provided in a plurality of, and may emit the light along different directions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the photocatalytic filter may have a closed shape when viewed in section. The photocatalytic filter may be provided in any one of circular, elliptical, polygonal, semicircular, and semi-elliptical shapes when viewed in section.

The photocatalytic filter may have a plurality of sintered beads coated with a photocatalyst material on its surface, and may have a pore disposed between the sintered beads. In an embodiment of the present invention, the size of the pores may be increased or decreased from the first area toward the second area. In an embodiment of the present invention, the size of the pores may be increased or decreased along the extending direction of the photocatalytic filter.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the photocatalytic filter has a coating layer coated on a first surface in contact with the first region and a second surface in contact with the second region, and the coating layer is coated on the first surface and the second surface, The coated layers may have different thicknesses.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the light source unit and the photocatalytic filter may be different from the distance between the photocatalytic filter and the housing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid treatment apparatus may further comprise an additional filter connected to at least one of the inlet and the outlet.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid may be air or water.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid treatment apparatus may further include a fan or a pump connected to at least one of the inlet and the outlet, for introducing the air or water into or out of the body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid treatment devices are provided in plural and can be connected in parallel, or can be connected in series.

The fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has significantly improved fluid treatment efficiency, for example, a sterilization effect, a deodorizing effect, a purification effect, and the like, compared to a conventional fluid treatment apparatus. Further, the fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is very simple in internal structure and can be easily manufactured in a small size.

1 is a perspective view showing a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2A is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 2B is a transverse sectional view of Fig.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light source of FIG. 3A.
4A to 4C are cross-sectional views illustrating a light source unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.
5A to 5D are cross-sectional views illustrating a photocatalytic filter according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 6A to 6E are cross-sectional views showing the P1 portion of Fig. 2A, showing embodiments of the photocatalytic filter.
7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10A and 10B are perspective views respectively showing a plurality of fluid treatment modules connected to each other.
11 is a schematic diagram showing an air purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a schematic diagram showing a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a matter Internet based fluid treatment system.
FIG. 14 is a graph showing the results of treatment of air using the fluid treatment apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the concentration of acetaldehyde with time. FIG.
15A and 15B show the concentrations of trimethylamine and methylmercapton over time for the Comparative Examples and Examples in Table 1, respectively
16A and 16B are graphs showing bacterial inactivation levels of Escherichia coli and S. aureus ( Staphylococcus aureus ) in air using the fluid treatment apparatus of Example 1, respectively.
17A and 17B are graphs showing the degree of bacterial inactivation of E. coli and S. aureus in air using the fluid treatment apparatus of Example 2, respectively.
18A and 18B are graphs showing bacterial inactivation levels of E. coli and S. aureus in air using the fluid treatment apparatus of Example 3, respectively.
FIGS. 19A and 19B are graphs showing the results of air treatment using the fluid treatment apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the concentrations of trimethylamine and methylmercapton over time, respectively.

The present invention is capable of various modifications and various forms, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing. In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of the structures are shown enlarged from the actual for the sake of clarity of the present invention. The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the present application, the terms "comprises" or "having" and the like are used to specify that there is a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component or a combination thereof described in the specification, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2A is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 2B is a transverse sectional view of Fig.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a fluid treatment apparatus. In one embodiment, the fluid is a target material to be treated using a fluid treatment apparatus. In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid may be air or water.

In one embodiment, treating the fluid means treating the fluid through a fluid treatment device, for example, by sterilizing, purifying, deodorizing, and the like. However, in one embodiment of the present invention, the treatment of the fluid is not limited thereto and may include other possible measures using the fluid treatment apparatus described hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 10 for forming an outer tube, a light source 20 for emitting light, A photocatalytic filter 30 to be reacted, and a partition 40 partitioning the interior of the housing 10.

The housing 10 forms the appearance of the processing apparatus and provides an internal space for treating the fluid. The light source unit 20 is disposed in the housing 10 and emits light. The photocatalytic filter 30 is disposed between the light source 20 and the housing 10 and includes a photocatalyst that reacts with light emitted from the light source 20. The partition wall 40 is provided inside the housing 10 to separate the inside of the housing 10 together with the photocatalytic filter 30. [

Referring to the drawings, each component will be described in detail as follows.

The housing 10 is an outermost component of the fluid treatment apparatus and can form the appearance of the treatment apparatus. However, additional cases or parts may be provided outside the housing 10 according to the embodiment.

The housing 10 includes an inlet 11 through which the fluid flows, a body 13 through which the fluid is processed, and an outlet 15 through which the treated fluid is discharged.

The inlet port 11 may be provided in the shape of a cylinder with one end opened so that a fluid can flow into the main body 13 and a flow path is formed therein. The fluid flowing into the main body 13 through the inlet 11 is an object requiring sterilization, purification, and deodorization.

The inlet 11 may have a circular or elliptical cross section, but is not limited thereto. In one embodiment of the invention, the cross section of the inlet 11 may be provided in a variety of shapes, for example polygons such as rectangles. Here, the cross section of the inlet 11 may be a cross-section along the direction in which the inlet 11 extends, or a direction crossing the direction in which the flow passage is formed.

Although not shown, the inlet 11 may be provided with a separate piping for providing fluid, and the piping may provide fluid to the inlet 11 through a nozzle in contact with the inlet 11. The nozzle can be coupled with the inlet 11 in a variety of ways, for example the nozzle and the inlet 11 can be screwed together.

The main body 13 accommodates, for example, the light source unit 20 and the photocatalytic filter 30, therein, for processing the fluid introduced through the inlet 11. The light source unit 20 and the photocatalytic filter 30 will be described later. The main body 13 may have a shape in which the inside is hollow and a shape in which both ends in the extending direction are clogged. In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body 13 may have a cylindrical shape. In this case, the cross section that intersects the longitudinal direction of the cylinder is circular. However, the shape of the cross section of the main body 13 is not limited to this, and may be provided in various shapes, for example, polygons such as ellipses, squares, and the like.

The inlet 11 is connected to one side of the main body 13 and can communicate with the space in the main body 13. [ The outlet 15 is provided at a position spaced apart from the inlet 11 and can be connected to the main body 13 to communicate therewith. The outlet 15 may be provided in the shape of a cylinder with one end opened, in which a flow path is formed so that fluid can be discharged from the main body 13. [ The fluid discharged from the main body 13 through the outlet 15 is an object subjected to fluid treatment, for example, sterilization, purification, and deodorization, which has been already treated in the main body 13.

The cross section of the outlet 15 may have a circular or elliptical shape similar to the inlet 11, but it is not limited thereto and may be provided in various shapes, for example, polygons. Here, the cross section of the inlet 11 may be a cross-section along the direction in which the inlet 11 extends, or a direction crossing the direction in which the flow passage is formed.

Although not shown, the outflow port 15 may be provided with a separate pipe for discharging the fluid, and the pipe may be connected through a nozzle in contact with the outflow port 15. The nozzles can be coupled with the outlet 15 in a variety of ways, for example screwed.

Accordingly, the fluid passes through the inlet 11, the main body 13, and the outlet 15 sequentially, and is discharged to the outside. The inlet 11, the main body 13, and the outlet 15 may be arranged in order to facilitate the movement of the fluid. For example, the inlet 11, the body 13 and the outlet 15 may be arranged sequentially along the first direction D1, as shown in FIG. 1, An inlet 11 is arranged on the upper surface and an outlet 15 is arranged on the lower surface of the body 13. [ The fluid travels generally along the first direction D1 though some direction within the body 13 is different.

1, the direction in which the inlet 11, the main body 13, and the outlet 15 are arranged is referred to as a first direction D1, and the direction in which the inlet 13, The two directions of the plane are denoted as a second direction D2 and a third direction D3. In the following description, the first direction D1 will be described as a downward direction, and the direction opposite to the first direction D1 will be described as an upward direction. However, the first to third directions D1, D2, and D3, the upward direction, the downward direction, and the like are merely for convenience of explanation, and the actual directions can be set differently.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the directions of the inlet 11, the main body 13, and the outlet 15 are not limited to the above-described contents, but may be provided in various forms. For example, the main body 13 extends in the first direction D1, and the inlet 11 and the outlet 15 are formed on the side of the main body 13, that is, in the second direction D2 or the third direction D3 ). ≪ / RTI > In this case, the flow direction of the fluid from the inlet 11 to the main body 13 or from the main body 13 to the outlet 15 may be a direction other than the first direction D1, have.

The light source unit 20 is provided inside the housing 10 and emits light. In one embodiment of the present invention, the light source is provided in the interior of the main body 13 of the housing 10, that is, the space in the main body 13.

The light emitted from the light source unit 20 may have various wavelength bands. The light from the light source 20 may be a visible light wavelength band, an infrared wavelength band, or other wavelength band light.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the wavelength band of the light emitted from the light source 20 may vary depending on the photocatalyst material provided to the photocatalytic filter 30 to be described later. The wavelength band of the light from the light source unit 20 can be set according to the reaction wavelength band of the photocatalyst.

The light source unit 20 can emit only a part of the wavelength band depending on the photocatalyst material. For example, the light source unit 20 can emit light in the ultraviolet wavelength band. In this case, the light source unit 20 can emit light in a wavelength band of about 100 nanometers to about 420 nanometers, It is possible to emit light in a wavelength band of about 240 nanometers to about 400 nanometers. In one embodiment of the present invention, the light source 20 may emit light having a wavelength band between about 250 nanometers and about 285 nanometers and / or a wavelength band between about 350 nanometers and about 280 nanometers . In an embodiment of the present invention, the light source 20 may emit light of 275 nanometers and / or 365 nanometers.

In order to emit the light described above, the light source unit 20 may include at least one light source that emits light. The light source is not limited as long as it emits light in a wavelength band that reacts with the photocatalyst material. For example, when the light source unit 20 emits light in the ultraviolet wavelength band, various light sources that emit ultraviolet light may be used. As a light source for emitting ultraviolet rays, a LED (light emitting diode) device can be used typically. It goes without saying that, in the case where the light source section 20 emits light of other wavelength band, another known light source may be used.

When a light emitting element is used as the light source of the light source portion 20, the light source may be mounted on the substrate 23. The substrate 23 and at least one light source may constitute a light source unit.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a light source unit 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light source unit 20 of FIG. 3A.

3A and 3B, the light source unit 20 may include a light source unit 21 including a substrate 23 and a light source 25 and a protective tube 27 for protecting the light source unit 21 .

The substrate 23 may be provided in a form elongated in a predetermined direction, for example, in a first direction D1 (see FIG. 1). On the substrate 23, a plurality of light sources 25 may be arranged in a predetermined direction, for example, in a first direction.

When the light source unit 21 includes a plurality of light sources 25, each light source 25 can emit light of the same wavelength band or emit light of different wavelength band. For example, in one embodiment, each light source 25 may emit light in the ultraviolet wavelength band. In another embodiment, some of the light sources 25 emit a portion of the ultraviolet wavelength band and the remaining light sources 25 emit a portion of another wavelength band of the ultraviolet wavelength band. For example, some of the light sources 25 may emit light having a wavelength of 275 nanometers, and the remaining light sources 25 may emit light having a wavelength of 365 nanometers.

When the light sources 25 have different wavelength bands, the light sources 25 may be arranged in various orders. For example, when the light source 25 that emits light in the first wavelength band is referred to as a first light source and the light source that emits light in a second wavelength band that is different from the first wavelength band is referred to as a second light source 25, The first light source and the second light source may be alternately arranged.

The protection tube 27 protects the substrate 23 and the light sources 25. The protective pipe 27 is made of a transparent insulating material and protects the light sources 25 and the substrate 23 and transmits the light emitted from the light sources 25. The protective pipe 27 may be provided with various materials as long as the above-described functions are satisfied, and the material thereof is not limited. For example, the protection tube 27 may be made of quartz or a polymer organic material. Here, the polymer glass material can be selected in consideration of the wavelength emitted from the light sources 25 because the absorption / transmission wavelength is different depending on the type of the monomer, the molding method, and the conditions. Organic polymers such as poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polypropylene (PP), and low density polyethylene (PE) , But organic polymers such as polyester can absorb ultraviolet rays.

The protective pipe 27 may have a long cylindrical shape along the extending direction of the substrate 23 and may be provided with a structure in which one side is open and one side is closed. The opening portion may be provided with a cap 29 for drawing the wiring outward. The cap 29 can be used as a mounting member for allowing the light source unit to stably be housed in the protective pipe 27. The cap 29 is connected to the substrate 23 outside the cap 29 to supply power to the light sources 25 Provided power wiring can be connected.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the protective pipe 27 is not limited to this, but may have a different shape. For example, the protective pipe 27 may have a shape in which both sides are opened, and in this case, a cap 29 may be provided on both sides of the protective pipe 27. When the caps 29 are formed on both sides, a power supply line for supplying power to the light sources 25 through at least one of the caps 29 on both sides may be provided.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit 20 may provide light in one direction. As shown in the figure, when the light sources 25 are provided on one surface of the substrate 23, mainly light can be emitted in a direction perpendicular to the surface on which the light sources 25 are provided. However, the direction of the light emitted from the light source 20 can be variously modified.

4A to 4C are cross-sectional views illustrating a light source unit 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention. 4A to 4C, the light source unit 20 may include at least one substrate 23 and a plurality of light sources 25 mounted on the substrate 23.

First, referring to FIG. 4A, a plurality of light sources may be provided on one substrate 23, and light sources may be provided on both sides of the substrate 23, respectively. That is, when the substrate 23 has a front surface and a back surface, the light sources may be provided on the front surface of the substrate 23 and also on the rear surface. According to the present embodiment, the light source section 20 emits light in both the front direction and the back direction of the substrate 23.

In the present embodiment, the substrate 23 is provided as one, and the light sources 25 are disposed on both sides of the substrate 23 to form one light source unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, A unit may also be provided. That is, two light source units having light sources arranged on one surface of the substrate 23 and the substrate 23 can be prepared, and the back surfaces of the two substrates 23 are attached so as to face each other, .

Referring to FIGS. 4B and 4C, the substrate 23 of the light source unit may have various shapes in cross section so that light can be emitted in various directions, for example, as radially as possible. 4B shows a case in which the cross section of the substrate 23 has a triangle. In the case of FIG. 4C, the cross section of the substrate 23 has a quadrangle. The substrate 23 shown in FIGS. And may be provided in the form of a triangular pillar and a square pillar as a whole. In this embodiment, the light sources may be arranged on the sides of the triangular prism and the quadrangular prism, and the light may be emitted in various directions other than one direction by emitting light from the respective side surfaces.

In this embodiment, the substrate 23 may be provided as a single substrate 23 having a triangular pillar or a square pillar, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a triangular-columnar or quadratic-columnar light source unit 20 can be formed by assembling a plurality of light source units having a flat plate shape into a triangular prism or a square prism.

In the above-described embodiment, the cross section of the light source unit is a straight line, a triangle, or a square. However, the light source unit may have a circular shape or a polygonal shape depending on the embodiment.

Referring again to Figures 1, 2A, and 2B, a photocatalytic filter 30 is provided within the body 13 of the housing 10.

The photocatalytic filter 30 separates the main body 13 of the housing 10 into the first region 51 and the second region 53 together with the partition wall 40 to be described later. That is, one side is the first region 51 and the other side is the second region 53 with the photocatalytic filter 30 interposed therebetween. The first region 51 is a region into which the fluid flows from the inlet 11 and the second region 53 is separated from the first region 51 and the fluid is discharged to the outlet 15. [ As a result, the fluid moves through the photocatalytic filter 30 from the first region 51 toward the second region 53. In the present embodiment, the first region 51 is disposed outside the photocatalytic filter 30, and the second region 53 is disposed inside the photocatalytic filter 30.

A plurality of pores (not shown) are formed in the inside of the photocatalytic filter 30, so that the photocatalytic filter 30 functions as a filter through which the fluid passes. Further, the photocatalytic filter 30 includes a photocatalyst that processes the fluid by reacting with the light emitted from the light source 20.

A photocatalyst is a material that causes a catalytic reaction by light to be irradiated. The photocatalyst can react with light of various wavelength bands depending on the material constituting the photocatalyst. In an embodiment of the present invention, a material that causes a photocatalytic reaction to light in an ultraviolet wavelength band among light of various wavelength bands may be used, and the description will be made. However, the type of the photocatalyst is not limited thereto, and other photocatalysts having the same or similar mechanism may be used depending on the light emitted from the light source.

The photocatalyst is activated by ultraviolet rays to cause a chemical reaction, thereby decomposing various contaminants and bacteria in the fluid contacting with the photocatalyst through a redox reaction.

When the photocatalyst is exposed to light having a band gap energy or more, a chemical reaction occurs in which electrons and holes are generated. Accordingly, a compound in the fluid, for example, water or an organic substance, can be decomposed by a hydroxyl radical and a superoxide ion formed by a photocatalytic reaction. Hydroxyl radicals are very strong oxidizing agents that decompose contaminants in the fluid and kill germs. Examples of such a photocatalyst material include titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ), zinc oxide (ZnO), and tin oxide (SnO ₂ ). In an embodiment of the present invention, since the recombination rate of the holes and electrons generated on the surface of the photocatalyst is very fast, there is a limitation in using the photocatalyst in the photochemical reaction. Therefore, Pt, Ni, Mn, Ag, W, Or an oxide thereof may be added to retard the recombination rate of holes and electrons. If the recombination rate of holes and electrons is delayed, the possibility of contact with the target substance to be oxidized and / or decomposed is increased, and as a result, the degree of reactivity can be increased. By using the above-described photocatalytic reaction, the fluid can be sterilized, purified, and deodorized. In particular, in case of sterilization, the enzyme in the germ cell and the enzyme acting on the respiratory system are destroyed to sterilize or antimicrobially act to prevent the propagation of germs and fungi, and to decompose the toxin released by them.

In an embodiment of the present invention, since the photocatalyst functions as a catalyst but does not change by itself, it can be used semi-permanently, and the effect can be semi-permanently maintained as long as the corresponding light is provided.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the photocatalytic filter 30 may be composed of a plurality of sintered beads (not shown). The surface of each bead may be coated with a photocatalytic material, and the photocatalytic filter 30 may be manufactured by sintering the coated beads to have a predetermined shape.

The photocatalytic filter 30 is provided in a shape to surround the light source unit 20 so that the light emitted from the light source unit 20 can reach a wide area. Accordingly, the photocatalytic filter 30 may surround at least a part of the light source part 20, and the photocatalytic filter 30 may not be provided at a part where the light does not reach from the light source part 20.

The photocatalytic filter 30 may have a cylinder shape in which both sides thereof are opened and the inside thereof is penetrated. The photocatalytic filter 30 can be elongated along the extending direction of the light source. The inner diameter of the photocatalytic filter 30 is larger than the outer diameter of the protective pipe 27 of the light source unit 20 so that the light source unit 20 can be easily inserted into the inside thereof and can be separated by a predetermined distance. The light source 20 is inserted into the interior of the photocatalytic filter 30.

The distance d1 between the housing 10 and the photocatalytic filter 30 and the distance d2 between the light source 20 and the photocatalytic filter 30 can be variously changed. The amount of light from the light source 20, the thickness of the photocatalytic filter 30, the type and flow rate of the fluid, and the like.

The photocatalytic filter 30 may have a length substantially equal to or longer than that of the light source 20 so as to accommodate the light from the light source 20 as much as possible. However, if the light can be sufficiently transmitted from the light source 20, its size and shape are not limited to a large extent.

5A to 5D are cross-sectional views illustrating a photocatalytic filter 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention. 5A to 5D, the photocatalytic filter 30 may have various shapes corresponding to the emission direction of light. The photocatalytic filter 30 may have a circular column shape as shown in FIG. 5A, a triangular column shape as shown in FIG. 5B, or a rectangular column as shown in FIG. 5C. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5D, it may have a circular column as a whole, and a portion may be provided in a plane. In other words, the photocatalytic filter 30 may have a closed shape when viewed in cross section, and may be provided, for example, as a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, a semicircle, a semi-ellipse, or the like when viewed in cross section.

The shape of the photocatalytic filter 30 can be selected in consideration of the irradiation direction of the light and the flow of the fluid. Particularly, the inside of the photocatalytic filter 30 can be selected to be irradiated with a density as high as possible. For example, when the light source unit 20 emits light in three directions, the light efficiency can be maximized by providing the triangular columnar photocatalytic filter 30. However, the shape of the light source unit 20 and the shape of the photocatalytic filter 30 are not limited thereto, and may be combined in various numbers.

Figs. 6A to 6E are cross-sectional views illustrating the P1 portion of Fig. 2A, showing embodiments of the photocatalytic filter 30. Fig. In Figs. 6A to 6E, only some of the pores 31 are shown for explanatory convenience, and their shapes are also shown in a sphere. However, the actual pores 31 may be provided at a density higher than that shown so that the fluid can pass through, and there may be a difference in size or shape from one pore 31 to another. The following description should be made on the basis of the average tendency in size and density, not on the individual pores 31.

6A to 6E, in one embodiment of the present invention, by forming a photocatalytic filter 30 by sintering a plurality of beads, pores 31 are formed in the interior of the photocatalytic filter 30 between sintered beads, . Fluid flows from one side of the photocatalytic filter 30 to the other side through the pores 31. The contact area between the fluid and the photocatalytic filter 30 can be adjusted according to the density of the pores 31. [ For this purpose, the size of the beads forming the photocatalytic filter 30 and the conditions in the sintering process can be adjusted, so that the pores 31 can have various sizes and distributions. That is, the arrangement of the sizes of the pores 31 can be set in various ways in consideration of the kind of the fluid, the moving speed of the fluid, the reactivity with the photocatalyst, and the like. For example, if the reactivity of the fluid to the photocatalyst is to be increased in a particular direction, the size and density of the pores 31 may be sequentially reduced to increase the time the fluid remains in the fluid.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the pores 31 of the same size can be disposed in the photocatalytic filter 30 at substantially the same density. That is, the size and density of the pores 31 in the longitudinal direction (first direction) and the lateral direction (second direction) of the photocatalytic filter 30 may be substantially the same.

Referring to FIG. 6B, the pores 31 may be provided at different sizes along the lateral direction of the photocatalytic filter 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the size of the pores 31 may be smaller as the pore 31 is closer to the first region 51 and closer to the second region 53 . In other words, the size of the pores 31 may be reduced from the first region 51 toward the second region 53. Alternatively, although not shown, the pores 31 may be smaller in size from the second area 53 toward the first area 51 in other embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6C, the pores 31 may be provided in different sizes along the vertical direction of the photocatalytic filter 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 6C, the size of the pores 31 increases as the distance from the upper side increases, and the size of the pores 31 decreases as the distance decreases toward the lower side. In other words, the size of the pores 31 can be reduced from one side to the other along the extending direction of the photocatalytic filter 30. [ In another embodiment of the present invention, the size of the pores 31 may be increased from the upper side to the lower side along the extension direction of the photocatalytic filter 30. [

In an embodiment of the present invention, the photocatalytic material may be further coated on at least one of the outer and inner surfaces of the photocatalytic filter 30 to maximize the contact area and time between the fluid and the photocatalytic material. The applied photocatalytic filter 30 can be provided with a thickness enough to allow the fluid to pass therethrough.

6D and 6E show that the photocatalytic filter 30 includes a coating layer 33 made of a photocatalytic material on both sides of the photocatalytic filter 30. [ 6D and 6E, the surface of the photocatalytic filter 30 which is in contact with the first region 51 is referred to as a first surface 30a and the surface of the photocatalytic filter 30 in contact with the second region 53 is referred to as a second surface 30b. , The coating layer 33 may be provided on the first surface 30a and the second surface 30b, respectively.

6D and 6E, the coating layer 33 is formed on both the first and second surfaces 30a and 30a of the photocatalytic filter 30 as a photocatalyst material. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. . In other embodiments, not shown, they may be applied only to a part of the first surface 30a and the second surface 30b, not to the entire surface.

Referring to FIG. 6D, the coating layer 33 may be formed to have substantially the same thickness as the first surface 30a and the second surface 30b. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 6E, the coating layer 33 may be formed to have different thicknesses on the first surface 30a and the second surface 30b. In this embodiment, the coating layer 33 of the first surface 30a has a greater thickness than the coating layer 33 of the second surface 30b. However, in another embodiment, the coating layer 33 of the first surface 30a 33 may have a smaller thickness than the coating layer 33 of the second surface 30b.

The size and density of the pores 31 can be manufactured in various ways according to processing conditions such as the size of the beads before sintering and the degree of pressing at sintering. For example, when the beads are arranged in order from small to large and then sintered, the sizes of the pores 31 between the beads may be arranged in a similar manner to the beads. The coating layer can be produced by sintering the beads and applying the photocatalyst material to the surface.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the partition wall 40 is connected to the photocatalytic filter 30, and the partition wall 40 is connected to the photocatalytic filter 30, Into the region 51 and the second region 53, respectively. Here, the first region 51 is connected to the inlet 11 and the second region 53 is connected to the outlet 15, as described above.

The partition wall 40 includes a first partition wall 41 provided on the upper side of the photocatalytic filter 30 and a second partition wall 42 provided below the photocatalytic filter 30.

The first partition wall 41 is disposed at a position facing the inlet 11. The first partition wall 41 corresponds to a cap which is located on the upper side of the photocatalytic filter 30 and covers the upper end of the photocatalytic filter 30. [ Unlike the photocatalytic filter 30, the first partition 41 is made of a material that does not transmit a fluid. The first partition wall 41 completely covers the upper end of the photocatalytic filter 30 to divide the upper region of the main body 13 into the first region 51 and the second region 53. However, the material of the first bank 41 is not limited to this, and may be made of a material that transmits fluid. For example, the first partition wall 41 may be made of the same material as the photocatalytic filter 30, and may extend from the photocatalytic filter 30 in this case.

The second bank 42 is disposed at a position facing the outlet 15. The second partition wall 42 is disposed at the lower end of the photocatalytic filter 30 and connected to the main body 13 of the housing 10 to support the photocatalytic filter 30. The second partition wall 42 is disposed between the photocatalytic filter 30 and the main body 13 to divide the space between the photocatalytic filter 30 and the main body 13 into a first region 51 and a second region 53, . Unlike the photocatalytic filter 30, the second partition 42 may be made of a material that does not transmit the fluid. However, the material of the second bank 42 is not limited thereto, and may be made of a material that transmits fluid. For example, the second partition 42 may be made of the same material as the photocatalytic filter 30, and may extend from the photocatalytic filter 30 in this case.

The second partition wall 42 is also formed in a portion corresponding to the inside of the photocatalytic filter 30 when viewed in a plan view and at least one opening 45 through which the fluid passes is formed in a portion corresponding to the inside of the photocatalytic filter 30 Can be provided. The fluid can be discharged through the opening 45 to the outlet 15. Here, the openings 45 provided in the second bank 42 may be provided in various shapes and numbers. Although a plurality of small openings 45 are formed in the second partition 42 in the drawing, one large opening 45 may be provided or the second partition 42 may be provided in a mesh form The shape of the fluid is not limited so long as the fluid can move. In one embodiment of the present invention, the velocity of the fluid moving through the second region 53 can be controlled by adjusting the shape, size, and number of the openings 45. It is possible to reduce the size of the opening 45 or reduce the number of the openings 45 in order to reduce the moving speed of the fluid. Conversely, in order to increase the moving speed of the fluid, it is possible to increase the size of the opening 45 or increase the number of the openings 45, for example.

Although not shown in detail, the second partition wall 42 is provided with various fastening portions, support protrusions, and the like to stably support the photocatalytic filter 30 and the light source portion 20.

In the case of using the above-described fluid treatment device, the flow path of the fluid is shown by an arrow in FIG. 2A.

The fluid flows into the first region 51 of the body 13 through the inlet 11. Since the first partition wall 41 is formed in the portion opposed to the inlet 11 so that the fluid can not pass through the first partition wall 41, the fluid moves along the vacant portion and is moved to the second region 53 through the photocatalytic filter 30 do. A second partition wall 42 is formed between the housing 10 and the photocatalytic filter 30 so that the fluid is prevented from flowing from the first region 51 to the outlet 15 ) Can not move immediately. The fluid that has moved to the second region 53 through the photocatalytic filter 30 is eventually discharged to the outside through the outlet 15. In the course of the fluid passing through the first area 51 and the second area 53, the treatment of the fluid with the light and the photocatalytic filter 30 is performed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the diameters of the inlet 11, the body 13, or the outlet 15 may be different. In particular, the width of the body 13 has a larger value than the width of the inlet 11 and the outlet 15. In other words, when the width of the inlet 11 is referred to as a first width W1, the width of the main body 13 is referred to as a second width W1, and the width of the outlet 15 is referred to as a third width W3 , And the second width W2 has a larger value than the first width W1 and the third width W3, respectively. When the flow path is formed in the order of the inlet 11, the main body 13 and the outlet 15, the flow velocity of the fluid is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area in the direction perpendicular to the flow path, The larger the velocity, the lower the velocity of fluid movement. The second width W2 of the main body 13 is larger than the first width W1 and the third width W2 of the inlet 11 and the outlet 15, The moving speed is significantly reduced in the main body 13. The first width W1 of the inlet 11 and the third width W3 of the outlet 15 may be the same or different from each other. The first width W1 and the third width W3 may be determined in consideration of the connection relationship with other components, the required speed of the fluid, and the like.

As described above, the fluid treatment apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is manufactured such that the body 13 has a wider width than the inlet 11 and the outlet 15, thereby increasing the treatment efficiency of the fluid. This is because, if the flow velocity of the fluid in the main body 13 is reduced, the time for which the fluid stays in the main body 13 is increased, and consequently the contact area with the photocatalytic filter 30 and the contact time are increased. In addition, the fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is designed to penetrate the photocatalytic filter 30 unconditionally until the fluid flows out and then flows out. As a result, the treating efficiency of the fluid, for example, the sterilizing effect, the deodorizing effect, the cleaning effect, and the like are remarkably increased. In the case of a fluid treatment apparatus according to the related art, it is common to treat a fluid by arranging a photocatalytic filter on a path through which the fluid moves. In this case, since the contact area with the photocatalytic filter and the contact time are very small, The effect is not great.

The treatment effect of the fluid of the fluid treatment apparatus of the present invention will be further described in the embodiment.

The fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is very simple in internal structure and can be easily manufactured in a small size. In addition, since it is small in size, it is likely to be applied not only to a mounting apparatus but also to a portable apparatus.

In the fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, various components may be variously modified to improve fluid treatment efficiency. In the following embodiments, in order to avoid duplication of the description, differences from the above embodiment will be mainly described, and redundant contents will be omitted.

7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 7, the fluid treatment apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in a part of the main body 13 and the partition wall 40 of the housing 10.

The first partition wall 41 may be inclined with respect to the inlet port 11 so that the fluid introduced from the inlet port 11 can smoothly move toward the photocatalytic filter 30. The first partition wall 41 may have a funnel shape gradually increasing in width along a first direction away from the inlet 11. The main body 13 of the housing 10 corresponds to the shape of the first partition wall 41. The main body 13 of the housing 10 can also have a funnel shape that gradually increases in width in the direction away from the inlet 11, for example, in the first direction D1, have. A portion of the main body 13 of the housing 10 corresponding to the photocatalytic filter 30 is provided in a cylindrical shape.

The first partition wall 41 and the housing 10 are formed along the inclined direction not in the direction perpendicular to the inlet 11 so that the fluid introduced through the inlet 11 flows along a shorter path than in the above- And smoothly moves in the direction of the photocatalytic filter 30. This is because, when the first partition 41 is disposed at a position facing the inlet 11 but is inclined, the resistance against the fluid flow is reduced compared to the arrangement arranged perpendicular to the inlet 11. Further, when the cross section of the first partition 41 and the housing 10 has a substantially rectangular shape, a vortex may occur at the corner portion. These vortices can interfere with the flow of the fluid. Further, due to the vortex generated at the corner portion, some fluid may be continuously retained at the edge portion, so that the treatment by the photocatalytic filter 30 may not be performed. However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, this problem can be solved by disposing the first partition wall 41 and a part of the main body 13 obliquely with the inlet 11.

In the present embodiment, only the first partition 41 and the body 13 corresponding to the first partition 41 are shown inclined with respect to the inlet 11, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the second partition 42 can also be tilted with respect to the outlet 15 in the same manner, and the housing 10 at the portion corresponding to the second partition 42 can also be inclined with respect to the outlet 15 have.

8 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a part of the housing 10 and the first partition wall 41 are formed in a manner similar to that of FIG.

8, the first partition wall 41 has a streamlined shape with respect to the inlet port 11 so that the fluid introduced from the inlet port 11 can smoothly move toward the photocatalytic filter 30 . Since the streamlined type has the smallest resistance to the fluid, the fluid introduced through the inlet 11 moves toward the photocatalytic filter 30 more smoothly without vortex. In the present embodiment, the main body 13 of the housing 10 can be at least partly inclined with respect to the outflow port so that the resistance when the fluid is drawn out is minimized, and can be provided in a streamlined form, in particular.

7 and 8, the first partition wall 41, the second partition wall 42, and the main body 13 may be provided in various forms and may be combined with other forms as shown in the drawings. Of course it is.

Although the first region 51 is located outside the photocatalytic filter 30 and the second region 53 is located inside the photocatalytic filter 30 in the embodiment of the present invention, The present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 9 shows a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the first region 51 and the second region 53 are formed differently from the above-described embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the first region 51 and the second region 53 are separated by the photocatalytic filter 30 and the partition 40. The partition wall 40 includes a first partition wall 41 disposed at a position facing the inlet 11 and a second partition wall 42 disposed at a position facing the outlet 15.

The first partition wall 41 is located above the photocatalytic filter 30 and provides a path through which the fluid that has passed through the inlet 11 can flow directly into the interior of the photocatalytic filter 30. [ The first partition wall 41 connects the upper end of the photocatalytic filter 30 and the main body 13 so that the space between the outside of the photocatalytic filter 30 and the housing 10 is divided into the first region 51 and the second region 51. [ Area 53 as shown in Fig.

The second partition wall 42 is disposed below the photocatalytic filter 30 and at a position facing the outlet 15. The second partition wall 42 includes at least one opening 45 through which the fluid passes through the portion corresponding to the outside of the photocatalytic filter 30 when viewed in a plan view and a portion corresponding to the inside of the photocatalytic filter 30 It is blocked. The fluid can be discharged through the opening 45 to the outlet 15.

In the present embodiment, the fluid flows into the first region 51 through the inlet 11. The first region (51) is located inside the photocatalytic filter (30). The fluid that has reached the first region (51) passes through the photocatalytic filter (30) and moves to the second region (53). And the second region 53 is located outside the photocatalytic filter 30. [ The fluid which has moved to the second region (53) is discharged to the outside through the outlet (15).

The fluid treatment apparatus according to the present embodiment can be combined with at least a portion within a range not inconsistent with the above-described embodiments, and substantially the same effect as the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

In one embodiment of the present invention, although not shown, the fluid treatment apparatus may further include a separate component for guiding the flow of fluid. For example, if the fluid is a gas such as air, it may further comprise a fan connected to the inlet 11 or the outlet 15 to induce a flow of gas. Or a pump connected to the inlet 11 or the outlet 15 to induce a flow of liquid if the fluid is a liquid such as water. Such a fluid flow induction device may be various devices other than a fan and a pump, and the kind thereof is not limited.

As described above, the fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided as a single apparatus and can be applied to various apparatuses. When the fluid treatment apparatus according to the above embodiments is referred to as one fluid treatment module, two or more fluid treatment modules may be applied to various apparatuses.

10A and 10B are perspective views showing a plurality of fluid treatment modules 100, for example two fluid treatment modules 100, connected.

Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the fluid treatment module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be connected in parallel as shown in FIG. 10A, or may be connected in series as shown in FIG. 10B.

In FIG. 10A, the fluid treatment module 100 may include a first fluid treatment module 101 and a second fluid treatment module 102. The first fluid treatment module 101 and the second fluid treatment module 102 are connected to the first and second fluid inlets 111 and 112 and the first and second bodies 131 and 132, And may include outflow ports 151 and 152. In this embodiment the inlet 11 connected to the entire fluid treatment module 100 is branched and connected to the first and second inlets 111 and 112 and the first and second outlets 151 and 152 are merged, (15).

According to the present embodiment, the fluid introduced into the inlet 11 is processed through either the first fluid processing module 101 or the second fluid processing module 102, and the processing capacity can be relatively increased.

10B, the fluid treatment module 100 may include a first fluid treatment module 101 and a second fluid treatment module 102 and may include an inlet 11, a first fluid treatment module 101, 2 fluid treatment module 102, and the outlet 15 may be sequentially connected. That is, in this case, the first outlet 151 of the first fluid treatment module 101 is connected to the second inlet 112 of the second fluid treatment module 102.

According to the present embodiment, the fluid introduced into the inlet 11 is sequentially passed through the first fluid processing module 101 and the second fluid processing module 102 and processed twice. As a result, the fluid treatment effect is enhanced.

In the above-described embodiment, two fluid processing modules are connected in series or in parallel, but not limited thereto, and a greater number of fluid processing modules may be provided in a combination of series and parallel.

The fluid treatment module 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention described above can be applied to the treatment of various fluids such as air or water. For example, it can be used as a purifier, a sterilizer, an odor deodorizer, etc. used in a home, a factory, a restaurant, a water supply and sewerage facility, a laboratory, and a medical facility. It can also be used as a purifier, sterilizer, odor deodorizer, mounted in various appliances such as refrigerators, humidifiers, air purifiers, coffee machines and the like. Hereinafter, one example in which the above-described fluid treatment module 100 is used for an air purifier and which is used for a water purifier will be described as an example.

11 is a schematic diagram showing an air purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

11, the air purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a fan 63 for introducing air, a filter module 60 for filtering the inflow air, and a filter module 60 for sterilizing / purifying the air filtered by the filter module 60 And a fluid treatment module 100.

The fan 63 is for introducing air into the filter module 60 and the fluid treatment module 100. Here, another device such as a pump for introducing air may be used. In addition, the position of the fan 63 may be changed to the extent that air can be moved.

The filter module 60 is for filtering foreign matter in the air and may include at least one filter 61 therein. Various types of filters may be used as the filter 61, such as a carbon filter including activated carbon, a porous filter fabric, and the like.

The fluid treatment module 100 is connected to the filter module 60 via a connection 7765. The air filtered by the filter module 60 flows into the fluid treatment module 100 through the inlet 11 of the fluid treatment module 100 and is processed in the body 13 and then discharged through the outlet 15 .

The fluid treatment module 100 processes the air from the filter module 60. Here, the processing of the fluid treatment module 100 may be various measures such as sterilization, purification, and deodorization, as described above.

12 is a schematic diagram showing a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

12, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes filters 61 for primarily filtering water, a water tank 67 for storing water having passed through the filter 61, a fluid treatment Module 100 as shown in FIG.

The filters 61 are for removing foreign matter of the supplied water. The water purifier may further include a pump (not shown) connected to the filters 61, and water may be supplied to the filters 61 by a pump. The filters 61 may be provided in various numbers such as a filter for removing large impurities, a filter for removing heavy metals and bacteria, and the like. In the case where only the water sufficiently purified from the outside is to be sterilized by the fluid treatment device, (61) may be omitted.

The water having the foreign substances removed by the filters 61 is moved to the water storage tank 67 through the connection portion 7765. [ The water storage tank 67 may be provided at least one and a plurality of water storage tanks 67 may be provided. Here, when water to be purified can be supplied directly to the fluid treatment module 100, the water storage tank 67 may be omitted.

The fluid treatment module 100 processes the water from the water reservoir 67. Here, the term " treatment in the fluid treatment module 100 " may refer to various measures such as sterilization, purification, deodorization and the like, as described above. As shown in the drawing, the fluid treatment module 100 may further include an extraction valve or the like so that the user can take it immediately.

As described above, by using the fluid treatment module 100 of the present invention, it is possible to realize an apparatus having a very simple structure and high effect of treating air or water.

When a device including at least one fluid treatment module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is referred to as a fluid treatment device, the fluid treatment device may be implemented as a matter-based Internet based fluid treatment system.

13 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a matter Internet based fluid treatment system.

The object-based fluid treatment system according to the present invention is configured such that at least one fluid treatment module 100 is selectively turned on / off depending on whether the user uses the fluid treatment module 100, and the operation state of the light source part 20 is monitored in real time.

Referring to FIG. 13, a fluid treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a central processing unit 70, a user terminal 79, and a fluid treatment apparatus 1000.

The central processing unit 70 stores and manages state information such as the presence / absence of operation, failure and operation time with respect to the fluid treatment apparatus 1000 and transmits control signals to the control unit 75 of the fluid treatment apparatus 1000 have.

The user terminal 79 transmits to the central processing unit 70 a control command (for example, a fluid processing apparatus on / off) or an information request command for the fluid processing apparatus 1000 selected at a remote place by the user, The information can be received from the processing unit 70.

The fluid processing apparatus 1000 includes a fluid processing module 100 for processing a fluid, a sensing unit 71 for sensing the amount of light of the light source unit 20 in the fluid processing module 100, a user terminal 79, A communication unit 73 that receives various signals from the fluid processing device 70 and transmits various signals from the fluid processing device to the user terminal 79 and the central processing unit 70 and the fluid processing module 100, And a control unit 75 for controlling the communication unit 73.

The fluid treatment module 100 is turned on / off in response to a signal from the control unit 75, and the flow rate to be processed and the like can be controlled.

The sensing unit 71 senses the degree of contaminants in the fluid, senses the amount of light from the light source unit 20 in the fluid processing module 100, and detects the presence or absence of a user.

The communication unit 73 can transmit or receive a signal to the user terminal 79 and the central processing unit 70 via the wired / wireless communication network 77.

The control unit 75 can control on / off of the fluid treatment module 100 according to an instruction from the central processing unit 70. [ For example, when the user turns on the fluid treatment apparatus using the external terminal 79, a signal is received via the wired / wireless communication network 77 and the communication unit 73, and the control unit 75 performs fluid processing The module 100 is turned on. Or a light source replacement signal through the wired / wireless communication network 77 to the user's terminal 79 through the communication unit 73 when the light amount of the light source unit 20 detected by the sensing unit 71 is excessively small. Alternatively, when the concentration of contaminants in the fluid detected by the sensing unit 71 (for example, air) is excessively high, the fluid treatment module 100 can be turned on to control the flow rate to a maximum. Alternatively, a signal may be received from the sensing unit 71 as to whether or not the user is present, and the fluid treatment module 100 may be turned off when there is no user.

The object-based fluid processing system as described above enables selective control such as driving the fluid processing apparatus to a degree suited to the situation when necessary through user detection or the like. Accordingly, the power consumption is minimized, and it is possible to easily confirm whether the current operation state or the light source is abnormal. Accordingly, efficient management and coping are possible.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the results of the experiments using the fluid treatment apparatus and the comparative example are as follows.

(1) Experimental Example 1

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the results of treatment of air using the fluid treatment apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the concentration of acetaldehyde with time. FIG.

In FIG. 14, the portion indicated by X means the concentration of acetaldehyde in the state where the fluid treatment apparatus is not used, and the portion indicated by the square indicates the concentration of the initial acetaldehyde concentration of 10 ppm 1.0 means relative concentration over time.

This experiment was performed in a cubic stainless steel chamber of 1 m ³ , and the flow rate of the air introduced into the fluid treatment apparatus was 0.33 cmm. At this time, three light sources were used as ultraviolet light-emitting devices having a wavelength band of 365 nm. The distance between the light source and the photocatalytic filter was 20 mm, and the average amount of ultraviolet light applied to the photocatalytic filter was 20.0 mW / cm ² .

Referring to FIG. 14, when a fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, about 50% or more of acetaldehyde is removed within 90 minutes, and about 70% or more of acetaldehyde is removed within about 180 minutes.

(2) Experimental Example 2

Table 1 below shows experimental conditions of the fluid treatment apparatus according to the present invention and the fluid treatment apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention. In the following Examples 1 to 3, the parts described below were prepared differently, and the conditions for the remainder not mentioned were all kept the same. In the case of the comparative example, the conventional fluid treatment apparatus was used, and the fluid was not moved through the photocatalytic filter but moved along the side surface of the photocatalytic filter.

Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Comparative Example Light source wavelength and number Two 365nm Two 365nm
1 at 275 nm Three 365 nm
Two 275 nm One 380nm Average light quantity 30.1 mW / cm ² 30.1 mW / cm ² 24.5 mW / cm ² 12.1 mW / cm ² Light source - Photocatalyst filter distance 20 mm 20 mm 20 mm 18-23 mm flux 0.138 m ³ / min 0.138 m ³ / min 0.196 m ³ / min 0.004 m ³ / min Filter type ceramic ceramic ceramic Metal foam Filter size 70x20x12mm 70x20x12mm 100x30x12mm 32x18x3mm

1) Deodorization experiment

FIGS. 15A and 15B show the concentrations of trimethylamine and methylmercaptan over time for the Comparative Examples and Examples in Table 1, respectively. Trimethylamine and methylmercaptan are typical odor-inducing substances, meaning that the removal effect of trimethylamine and methylmercaptan is high, which means that the deodorizing and / or deodorizing effect is very high.

In Figs. 15A and 15B,? Is Example 1,? Is Example 2,? Is Example 3, and? Is a graph of a comparative example.

In FIGS. 15A and 15B, trimethylamine and methylmercaptan each had an initial concentration of 2.5 ppm, and experiments were conducted in a chamber of 422 L volume. The temperature in the chamber was maintained between 4 and 7 degrees Celsius.

In Fig. 15A, in the case of the comparative example, the removal effect of trimethylamine is very small even after a lapse of time. In particular, only the trimethylamine corresponding to 9.0% was removed at the point of time of 2 hours.

However, in Examples 1 to 3, the concentration of trimethylamine was remarkably decreased over time. In particular, in Example 3, about 79.1% of the trimethylamine was removed in 2 hours, and in Example 1 and Example 2, the trimethylamine was removed in 52.6% and 46.0%, respectively.

Through this, although the removal efficiency of trimethylamine was partially varied according to the wavelength band of the light source, the number of the light sources, the flow rate, and the like, the examples showed a remarkable effect of removing trimethylamine as a whole.

In Fig. 15B, in the comparative example, the removal effect of methylmercaptan is very small even after a lapse of time. In particular, only the trimethylamine equivalent to 3.1% was removed at the time of 2 hours.

However, in Examples 1 to 3, the concentration of methylmercaptan decreased remarkably over time. In particular, in Example 3, about 64.1% of methylmercaptan was removed in 2 hours, and in Example 1 and Example 2, methylmercaptan was removed in 42.7% and 40.9%, respectively.

Although the removal efficiency of methylmercaptan was partially affected by the wavelength band of the light source, the number of the light sources, the flow rate, and the like, the examples showed a remarkable removal effect of methylmercaptan on the whole.

In particular, the experimental results of FIGS. 15A and 15B show that the fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used as a deodorizer of a refrigerator, which is performed at a temperature substantially equal to the temperature inside the refrigerator.

2) Sterilization Experiment 1

16A and 16B are graphs showing bacterial inactivation levels of Escherichia coli and S. aureus ( Staphylococcus aureus ) in air using the fluid treatment apparatus of Example 1, respectively. 16A and 16B are shown in logarithmic scale.

16A and 16B, the initial concentration of E. coli was 7.8 × ^{10 7} to 5.2 × ^{10 8} CFU / mL, the initial concentration of S. aureus was 2.3 × ^{10 9} to 2.5 × ^{10 9} CFU / mL, Was carried out in a resin chamber. Here, CFU means a colony forming unit.

Referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B, it can be confirmed that E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus are inactivated very rapidly over time. Especially, in E. coli, 99.999% or more was deactivated within 60 minutes, and in Staphylococcus aureus over 99% was deactivated within 60 minutes.

3) Sterilization Experiment 2

17A and 17B are graphs showing the degree of bacterial inactivation of E. coli and S. aureus in air using the fluid treatment apparatus of Example 2, respectively. The graphs of FIGS. 17A and 17B are shown on a logarithmic scale.

17A and 17B, the initial concentration of E. coli was 3.2 × ^{10 8} to 5.9 × ^{10 8} CFU / mL, the initial concentration of Staphylococcus aureus was 1.1 × ^{10 9} to 2.4 × ^{10 9} CFU / mL, Was carried out in a resin chamber.

Referring to FIGS. 17A and 17B, it can be confirmed that E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus are inactivated very rapidly over time. Especially, in E. coli, 99.999% or more was deactivated within 40 minutes, and in Staphylococcus aureus more than 99% was deactivated within 60 minutes

4) Sterilization experiment 3

18A and 18B are graphs showing bacterial inactivation levels of E. coli and S. aureus in air using the fluid treatment apparatus of Example 3, respectively. The graphs of Figures 18a and 18b are shown in logarithmic scale.

18A and 18B, the initial concentration of E. coli was 8.5 × ^{10 7} to 4.4 × ^{10 8} CFU / mL, the initial concentration of Staphylococcus aureus was 7.2 × ^{10 7} to 4.4 × ^{10 9} CFU / mL, .

Referring to FIGS. 18A and 18B, it can be confirmed that E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus are inactivated very rapidly over time. Especially, in E. coli, 99.99999% or more was deactivated within 20 minutes, and about 99.9% of S. aureus was deactivated within 60 minutes

(3) Experimental Example 3

FIGS. 19A and 19B are graphs showing the results of air treatment using the fluid treatment apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the concentrations of trimethylamine and methylmercapton over time, respectively. The portions marked with X are the concentrations of trimethylamine and methylmercaptan in the absence of a fluid treatment device.

In the fluid treatment apparatus used in this experiment, three light emitting devices with a wavelength band of 365 nm were used as the light source. The thickness of the photocatalytic filter was 10 mm. In Figures 19A and 19B, the initial concentration of trimethylamine and methylmercaptan was 2.5 ppm, respectively, and experiments were conducted in a 422 L volume chamber. The temperature in the chamber was maintained between 4 and 7 degrees Celsius.

In Fig. 19A, when the fluid treatment apparatus of the present invention was used, the concentration of trimethylamine was remarkably decreased over time. In particular, 74.6% of the trimethylamine was removed after one hour, and 80.7% of the trimethylamine was removed after 2 hours.

Referring to FIG. 19B, about 58.2% of methylmercaptan was removed after one hour, and about 65.2% of methylmercaptan was removed after 2 hours.

Here, the experimental results of FIGS. 19A and 19B show that the fluid treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used as a deodorizer of a refrigerator, which is performed at a temperature substantially equal to the temperature inside the refrigerator.

As can be seen from the above-described experimental example, the fluid treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention exhibits remarkable deodorizing effect, sterilization effect and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification, but should be defined by the claims.

13: main body 10: housing
11: Inlet port 30: Photocatalytic filter
20: Light source part 15: Outlet
40: partition wall 51: first region
53: second region

Claims (32)

An apparatus for treating a fluid,
A housing including an inlet, a body, and an outlet;
A light source unit provided in the body and emitting light;
A photocatalytic filter provided in the body and surrounding at least a part of the light source; And
And a partition wall separating the inside of the main body into a first area and a second area together with the photocatalytic filter,
Wherein the fluid passes through the photocatalytic filter and moves from the first region to the second region, the width of the body being greater than the width of the inlet. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the width of the body is greater than the width of the outlet. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first region is provided outside the second region. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the partition has a first partition facing the inlet and a second partition facing the outlet and having at least one opening through which the fluid passes. 5. The method of claim 4,
And at least a portion of the first bank is inclined relative to the inlet. 6. The method of claim 5,
And the first partition wall has a wider width as the distance from the inlet is increased. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein at least a part of the main body is wider as the main body is further away from the inflow port. 5. The method of claim 4,
And at least a part of the second bank is inclined with respect to the outlet. 9. The method of claim 8,
And the second partition wall has a wider width as it goes away from the outlet. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein at least a portion of the body is inclined relative to the outlet. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein at least a portion of the body becomes narrower as it gets closer to the outlet. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the diameter of the opening is set differently according to the speed of the fluid. 13. The method of claim 12,
And a part of the second bank is provided in a network. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first region is provided inside the second region. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the light source unit includes at least one light source that emits light in a wavelength band of at least one of an ultraviolet ray and a visible ray. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the light source unit includes at least two light sources for emitting ultraviolet rays of different wavelength bands. 16. The method of claim 15,
The light source unit includes a substrate; And at least one light source unit including at least one light emitting element mounted on the substrate. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the plurality of light source units are provided, and emit the light along different directions. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the photocatalytic filter has a closed shape when viewed in section. 20. The method of claim 19,
Wherein the photocatalytic filter is provided in any one of circular, elliptical, polygonal, semicircular, and semi-elliptical shapes when viewed in section. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the photocatalytic filter has a plurality of sintered beads coated with a photocatalyst material on its surface and having a pore disposed between the sintered beads. 22. The method of claim 21,
Wherein the size of the pore is increased or decreased in the direction from the first area toward the second area. 22. The method of claim 21,
And the size of the pores increases or decreases along the extending direction of the photocatalytic filter. 22. The method of claim 21,
Wherein the photocatalytic filter has a coating layer coated on a first surface in contact with the first region and a second surface in contact with the second region, and the coating layer coated on the first and second surfaces has a fluid treatment device . The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the distance between the light source unit and the photocatalytic filter has a value different from a distance between the photocatalytic filter and the housing. The method according to claim 1,
And an additional filter connected to at least one of the inlet and the outlet. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the fluid is air. 28. The method of claim 27,
Further comprising a fan connected to at least one of the inlet and the outlet to allow the air to flow into or out of the body. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the fluid is water. 30. The method of claim 29,
Further comprising a pump connected to at least one of the inlet and the outlet and for introducing or discharging the water to or from the body. The method according to claim 1,
The fluid treatment apparatus includes a plurality of fluid treatment apparatuses The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the fluid treatment device is provided in a plurality and is connected in series.

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