US20250027666A1

US20250027666A1 - Air conditioning system for purifying air in buildings

Info

Publication number: US20250027666A1
Application number: US18/716,296
Authority: US
Inventors: Fahmi Yigit
Original assignee: Virobuster International GmbH
Current assignee: Virobuster International GmbH
Priority date: 2022-04-14
Filing date: 2023-04-06
Publication date: 2025-01-23
Also published as: EP4261467C0; WO2023198593A1; EP4261467B1; EP4261467A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an air conditioning system for air purification of buildings, in particular residential, office, administrative and/or industrial buildings, with at least one cyclone separator for separating solid and/or liquid particles of a gaseous medium, in particular air, and at least one irradiation device associated with the cyclone separator for UV irradiation, in particular UV-C irradiation, of the gaseous medium, in particular air, flowing through the irradiation device, preferably for inactivating microorganisms present in the medium, such as bacteria, germs, mold and/or viruses.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is the U.S. national stage application of international application PCT/EP2023/059149, filed Apr. 6, 2023, which international application was published on Oct. 19, 2023, as International Publication WO 2023/198593 A1. The international application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 22168328.7, filed Apr. 14, 2022. The international application and European application are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

FIELD

The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for air purification of buildings, in particular residential, office, administrative and/or industrial buildings. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of an air conditioning system for air purification of buildings, in particular residential, office, administrative and/or industrial buildings.

BACKGROUND

Air conditioning systems can also be referred to as AC systems or ventilation systems. Air conditioning systems are systems that influence the condition of the room air with regard to temperature, humidity and/or air quality. In addition, air conditioning systems are used to ensure air exchange in rooms of buildings or in buildings, whereby thermal treatment of the air may also be required.
If necessary, an air conditioning system has a so-called outside air intake, so that (fresh) outside air is supplied to the system as an alternative or in addition to the air available inside the building. The air conditioning system is also used to remove polluted or used room air and clean it as required.
The tasks of air conditioning systems can vary with regard to different possible uses. In addition to air conditioning, it is also known in the state of the art that air conditioning systems are used for air conditioning or thermal treatment of the air. Furthermore, the air conditioning system can meet high air quality requirements, especially if the system is used to provide so-called clean air rooms or clean rooms. The conditioning system can also be used to separate certain hazardous substances and thus increase safety in the respective building.
If necessary, the conditioning system is also used to reduce the contamination of so-called “biological substances”, such as viruses and/or germs (in particular mold and bacteria), but also particles such as pollen, (fine) dust and/or smoke in the building, in particular by filtering the air and/or treating it with outside air.
If a filter is used in the air conditioning system, regular maintenance of the conditioning system is required. If outside air is not supplied and no filter is used, the virus, germ and/or dust load in the building will continuously increase, which can endanger the people in the room and cause illness. Conventional building filters, for example to reduce the dust load, are widely used, but in particular they cannot reliably remove viruses.
This is why air filtration for viruses, on the other hand, is based on so-called HEPA filters, which can also separate biological substances. The main advantage of HEPA filters is that they have a relatively simple mechanical and technical structure that enables them to cope with the filtering task. The disadvantage is that, in order to ensure good filter performance, they generate a high air resistance (pressure drop) and therefore a high energy consumption, and the HEPA filters require complex and professional maintenance. A further disadvantage is created by the fact that although the biological substances are “captured”, they are not deactivated or killed. The consequence of this is that these biological substances multiply on the surface of the filter and form a so-called “filter cake”, which can lead to the formation of mVOCs (microbial volatile organic compounds). This is then perceived as a “musty” smell from an air conditioning system, for example. Mechanical filters are therefore the main cause of PAQ (Perceived Air Quality).
To avoid these technical disadvantages and the costs caused by the PAQ, it is recommended that air disinfection devices be used as an alternative, in which the biological substances are not intercepted but are treated by radiation, in particular UV-C radiation.
UV-C radiation eliminates the multiplication potential of the biological substances so that they are no longer infectious.

SUMMARY

Object of the present invention is to improve air purification in air conditioning systems and/or to simplify the handling of air conditioning systems.
The aforementioned object is solved by an air conditioning system according to the claims.
The air conditioning system according to the invention has at least one cyclone separator for separating solid and/or liquid particles of a gaseous medium, in particular air, and at least one irradiation device associated with the cyclone separator for UV irradiation, in particular UV-C irradiation of the gaseous medium, in particular air, flowing through the irradiation device. The UV irradiation device is designed in particular to inactivate microorganisms present in the medium, such as bacteria, germs, mold and/or viruses.
An air conditioning system (AC-system) is defined in particular as an AC-system in accordance with DIN 1946 (as of April 2023). DIN 1946 is made up of several parts in which air conditioning systems for different applications are defined or specified with regard to their requirements. In particular, the air conditioning system according to the invention is intended for installation in air building cleaning systems.
Accordingly, an air conditioning system within the meaning of the present invention is preferably not to be understood as a mobile floor-standing appliance (also referred to as a secondary air appliance) which can be used in a room, in particular in a mobile or transportable manner, to purify the air present in the room. Consequently, the air conditioning system is neither mobile in the assembled state nor transportable (in the installed state).
Air conditioning systems belong to the technical field of air technology, which is divided into air conditioning technology and process air technology in accordance with DIN 1946 (as of April 2023). AC systems belong to the field of ventilation technology (ventilation), which in turn is divided into free ventilation systems and AC systems. There are AC systems for different applications and with and without a ventilation function. One of the main functions of air conditioning systems is to supply occupied and/or working spaces with breathing air that is kept free of viruses and/or bacteria. In particular, air conditioning systems can also be referred to as ventilation systems, which can be used in ventilation systems in office buildings or larger residential buildings. The air conditioning systems are usually not located in a room, but are integrated into the ventilation system as such. With air conditioning systems, outside air is preferably added and/or supplied to the ventilation system.
In particular, the air conditioning system can be designed to enable air exchange, whereby polluted room air is removed, preferably continuously, and in particular outside air (also known as fresh air) is supplied.
Furthermore, AC systems can perform different objects—for example, to ventilate and/or air-condition rooms, but also to extract hazardous substances as required. In particular, air conditioning means heating, cooling, humidifying and/or dehumidifying the room air.
Preferably, AC systems are operated with outside air only or with a proportion of recirculated air in addition to the outside air—in so-called mixed air operation—and the subsequently treated air can then be made available to the rooms. If necessary, AC systems can also be operated with recirculated air only, although this is usually an exception. The recirculated air can be extracted in particular from the exhaust air, which is preferably extracted from the rooms: the proportion of the exhaust air that is not fed back into the air conditioning system via recirculated air and is discharged to the outside is called exhaust air.
The air conditioning system according to the invention differs from the prior art in that it has both a cyclone separator and an irradiation device for UV irradiation. A medium flows through the air conditioning system. In particular, the medium can be composed partly of air located in the building and partly of outside air or only of air located in the building. This medium or this medium flow is treated in the air conditioning system, i.e. passed through both the cyclone separator and the irradiation device. In this way, the medium flow is treated and, in particular, solid and/or liquid particles are removed by the cyclone separator and microorganisms in the medium flow are inactivated by the irradiation device.
For the purposes of the present invention, the terms “medium flow” and “medium” are used in particular synonymously, it being understood that the medium, in particular air, flows through the air conditioning system, whereby the medium in the system forms the medium flow.
The cyclone separator enables continuous operation of the air conditioning system, in particular without the need for maintenance. The cyclone separator also makes it possible to avoid a filter in the air conditioning system, so that regular filter replacement is no longer necessary. The cyclone separator can be operated in such a way that the separated particles are continuously removed. It is not absolutely necessary for these separated particles to remain in the cyclone separator, although this is intended with a filter. With a (HEPA) filter, the mechanical resistance (pressure drop) and therefore the energy consumption of the fan, which has to be constantly readjusted, increases steadily over the course of its service life. This is not the case with a cyclone separator. Although the efficiency or separation efficiency of the cyclone separator does not increase with increasing service life, it can be adjusted by making changes (especially during operation) to the geometry or geometry ratios. For example, this adjustment can be made by changing the impeller angle or by changing the geometry of the outlet pipe to change the operating mode of the cyclone separator.
With filters, it can also happen that particles “trapped” in the filter or initially filtered out unintentionally escape again. This cannot happen with a cyclone separator due to the separation principle of the cyclone separator.
It is not known in the state of the art to use cyclone separators in an air conditioning system, in particular an air conditioner. As a rule, cyclone separators are used in the process industry, where the separation of dust in the process lines is required or where the escape of this dust into the environment via a chimney is to be prevented.
According to the invention, cyclone separators enable the continuous removal of particles from the medium flow. In particular in combination with the irradiation device, the special advantage is achieved that the irradiation device can also be operated continuously. The irradiation device can inactivate microorganisms in the medium that have not been separated by the cyclone separator, for example. This contributes to increased air purity.
A further advantage of the systems according to the invention is that, unlike mechanical filters, the irradiation device used can be switched on and off as required. The cyclone separator would guarantee the required standard, the so-called medium-care air quality. By switching on the irradiation device, the medium-care air quality can be increased to a high-care air quality, in particular without having to build up an additional mechanical pressure drop. It is not possible to retrofit a HEPA filter device for conventional filter-based AC systems or for a version according to the invention without major effort-however, if an irradiation device according to the invention is integrated, it is not necessary to install an additional fan (booster fan), as the overall pressure drop does not increase.
A cyclone separator is a mass force separator that can separate solid or liquid particles contained in gases, particularly for the treatment of air. Alternative names for the cyclone separator are centrifugal separator or swirler. The separation process on which the cyclone separator is based utilizes centrifugal forces of the particles in the medium flow, which arise when a vortex flow is generated. This vortex flow can also be generated inside the cyclone separator in particular and contributes to the removal of the particles separated by the cyclone separator. A basic distinction can be made between tangential cyclone separators and axial separators. The distinction is based on the tangential or axial feed of the particle-laden medium flow to the separator chamber or cyclone housing, which is rotationally symmetrical in particular. In both types of cyclone separator, the particles that can be separated by the cyclone separator are transported to the wall of the cyclone housing.
In particular, the irradiation device enables so-called UV disinfection. The term “UV disinfection” refers to a process in which microorganisms-which can also be referred to as microbes—can be killed or inactivated by treatment with UV radiation. UV disinfection in the sense of the present invention can be used to treat exhaust air. In this way, the air can be kept “clean” or “pure”.
In the context of the present invention, UV-C radiation is understood to be radiation with a wavelength of between 100 nm and 280 nm, in particular where UV-C radiation with a wavelength of between 200 nm and 280 nm, preferably between 240 nm and 280 nm, is used in the context of UV disinfection.
UV disinfection uses in particular a wavelength of UV radiation between 200 and 300 nm, whereby each individual value within the specified interval is possible in principle. The UV radiation emitted has a bactericidal effect, i.e. it is absorbed by the DNA and/or RNA and forms thymine (DNA) or uracil dimers. Reproduction of the genetic material or multiplication is therefore no longer possible. This means that microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, yeasts and fungi can be rendered harmless with UV radiation within a very short time, in particular within a few fractions of a second.
If the irradiance is sufficiently high, UV disinfection according to the invention is a reliable and ecological method, since in particular no further chemicals need to be added. It is particularly advantageous that microorganisms cannot develop resistance to UV radiation. Ultimately, UV radiation can also interrupt the multiplication of microorganisms, which in particular can prevent the infestation of food or an infection in humans or animals.
The process of UV disinfection can also be referred to as “ultraviolet germicidal irradiation” (UVGI) and/or as microbial disinfection, in particular where UV radiation with a wavelength of 254 nm is used. The use of UV disinfection is particularly advantageous for virus inactivation in air purification, since the invention makes it possible to remove viruses from large volumes of air.
The combination of the cyclone separator and UV disinfection in accordance with the invention also makes it possible to treat a large volume of air. On the one hand, the air velocity in the entire system can be increased compared to the prior art by dispensing with filters and, in particular, by dispensing with a HEPA filter. When filters are used, the air velocity is generally limited to flow velocities of less than 2.5 m/s. According to the invention, a higher flow velocity can now be ensured, which also enables the treatment of larger volumes in the same time compared to the state of the art. Furthermore, the dwell time in the air conditioning system according to the invention can also be reduced compared to the state of the art, which also contributes to an increase in efficiency.
The invention thus enables economically efficient cleaning of the medium flowing through the air conditioning system.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cyclone separator is provided with a cyclone housing through which the medium can flow. The cyclone housing can have a first inlet with which the medium flow or at least part of the medium flow is fed to the cyclone separator. Furthermore, the cyclone housing can have a particle outlet for the particles separated from the medium flow by the cyclone separator. A plurality of particle outlets can also be provided. In addition, the cyclone housing has at least one gas outlet for the medium flow that has been at least substantially freed from the particles.
A discharge device for the, preferably continuous, removal of the separated particles can be assigned to the particle outlet. The discharge device can use a transport medium, such as water and/or air, to transport the separated particles. The transport medium can flow through the discharge device and thus entrain the particles emerging from the particle outlet. The flow of the transport medium can be provided by a fan arranged in the discharge device. The separated particles can then be transferred to an appropriate collecting container or into the channel or similar. If a non-continuous discharge device is to be used, the discharge device can have a collecting container, such as in particular a container and/or bag, which must be emptied at regular intervals.
The particle outlet and the gas outlet are preferably arranged in the cyclone housing in such a way that the air treated by the cyclone separator or the medium flow treated by the cyclone separator can exit the cyclone separator from the gas outlet, whereby the particle outlet enables the particles to be discharged, in particular continuously. It is understood that the cyclone separator does not necessarily have to separate all particles contained in the medium flow. However, at least some of the particles, usually the majority, namely more than 50% of the particles in the fed medium flow, are separated by the cyclone separator. Some embodiments of the present invention may provide for variability in the geometry ratios or the (angular) arrangement of components of the system, such as the blade angles of the cyclone separator or the turbine, which may increase or decrease the efficiency of the systems.
Furthermore, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the irradiation device has a housing comprising a housing inlet and a housing outlet for the medium. In addition, the irradiation device has at least one radiation source arranged inside the housing and emitting UV radiation, in particular UV-C radiation, for irradiating the medium flowing through the housing. The irradiation device for UV radiation can be used in particular for the aforementioned air disinfection, which enables a high degree of purity of the medium flow treated by the ventilation system.
In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the first inlet and/or the housing outlet is designed to be arranged on at least one pipe and/or hose, in particular an air pipe and/or air hose. This can ensure that the air handling unit can be arranged on existing air conditioning systems. Air conditioning systems for buildings and/or production halls and/or storage facilities contain pipes and/or hoses to transport the air.
Furthermore, at least one radiation source can emit UV radiation in a wavelength range from at least 240 to 300 nm, preferably in a wavelength range from 250 to 285 nm, more preferably from 270 to 280 nm and in particular from 254 nm+/−10% and/or from 278 nm+/−10%. UV-C radiation with a wavelength of 254 nm+/−10% or 278 nm+/−10% can achieve a high level of virus inactivation in particular. According to the invention, UV radiation with a wavelength in the aforementioned order of magnitude makes it possible to kill or inactivate the microorganisms in the medium flow.
As explained above, the air-conditioning system can preferably be operated without a filter, in particular without a HEPA filter, and/or the air conditioning system is filterless, preferably without a HEPA filter. The special feature of the air conditioning system according to the invention is that the purification performance of the air, in particular the separation of so-called biological substances, such as bacteria, viruses, mold and/or fungi, which in practice is performed by a filter, can at least essentially be completely ensured by the irradiation device in the air conditioning system according to the invention. Consequently, no filter or HEPA filter is required to clean the air, in contrast to air conditioning systems known from the prior art. This results in the significant advantage that regular replacement and/or maintenance of the filter, in particular the HEPA filter, can be omitted. The overall efficiency of operating an air conditioning system can therefore be increased.
Preferably, the irradiation device is connected upstream and/or downstream of the cyclone separator, in particular in the flow direction of the gaseous medium flow or the medium flow and/or in the process direction. Alternatively or additionally, it may also be provided that the irradiation device is at least partially integrated into and/or arranged in the cyclone separator. Preferably, the gas outlet can open into or form the housing inlet. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the housing inlet is arranged in the gas outlet. The advantage of the downstream arrangement of the irradiation device is that the medium supplied to the irradiation device is already freed from the particles separated by the cyclone separator. These separated particles therefore no longer need to be treated in the irradiation device.
In principle, however, it is also possible for the irradiation device to be arranged upstream of the cyclone separator in the direction of flow, so that the cyclone separator can be supplied with a medium flow that has already been subjected to UV disinfection.
A combination of upstream and downstream irradiation equipment is also possible.
In addition, in a further preferred embodiment, an immersion tube of the cyclone separator comprising the gas outlet is provided for discharging the medium flow from the cyclone housing. In this context, it is understood that, in particular, the medium flow discharged through the immersion tube is at least partially, preferably completely, freed from the particles separated by the cyclone separator or reduced by these particles. In particular, the immersion tube can form and/or have the housing inlet of the housing of the irradiation device. Preferably, the irradiation device can also be arranged at least partially and/or completely in the immersion tube. Finally, it may alternatively or additionally be provided that the immersion tube connects the cyclone separator to the irradiation device.
It is particularly preferable that the depth of the immersion tube projecting into the cyclone housing can be changed and/or adjusted. By changing the depth of the immersion tube projecting into the cyclone housing, the degree of separation of the particles and/or the amount of air to be discharged can also be changed. Ultimately, the depth of the immersion tube can be adjusted depending on the desired use.
Preferably, the cyclone separator is designed as an axial separator and/or co-current separator. The design of the axial separator has already been described above. A co-current separator is a separator in which the upstream and downstream flows run in the same direction, in particular without flow reversal. In particular, a co-current separator can enable a compact design, whereby a low pressure loss can be ensured with regard to the co-current principle of the cyclone separator.
In another preferred embodiment, the cyclone separator has a swirl generator for generating a rotation of the medium. In particular, the swirl generator is designed in such a way that a vortex flow of the medium flow in the cyclone separator can be ensured. The swirl generator is preferably arranged in the cyclone housing. In particular, the swirl generator can have a plurality of deflector legs or blades, which are preferably rotatable. Preferably, the swirl generator is rotatable and/or adjustable. The swirl generator can also be referred to as an axial guide vane apparatus, which narrows the free cross-section of the cyclone housing in the area containing the swirl generator. The swirl generator can thus provide the vortex flow required to operate the cyclone separator, which leads to the separation of the particles. Integration into the cyclone housing also ensures a compact design of the cyclone separator.
Preferably, a blower device is provided to draw in and/or blow out outside air and/or inside air. Particularly preferably, the blower device is designed in such a way that both outside air, i.e. air outside the building, and inside air, i.e. air from inside the building, are made available to the air conditioning system.
In particular, the blower device is provided or designed for outside air intake and inside air intake on the one hand and/or for outside air blow-out and inside air blow-out on the other.
The air conditioning system then makes it possible to clean, treat and disinfect this medium flow. In this context, it is of course also possible to use a plurality of blower devices. It is particularly preferable for the blower device to be assigned to the cyclone separator and/or the irradiation device in such a way that the medium flow passes through the housing and/or the cyclone housing. In particular, the blower device is arranged in the cyclone separator and/or is formed by the swirl generator or the forced flow is generated by the swirl generator. The swirl generator can therefore also form or have the blower device. Preferably, a blower device with external air and internal air intake is used. The medium flow is thus “drawn” through the cyclone separator.
Furthermore, in another preferred embodiment, a tempering device is provided for regulating the thermal room climate in the building, in particular in the residential, office, administrative and/or industrial building. The tempering device can preferably be provided for heating and/or cooling the medium flow and thus for heating and/or cooling rooms in the building. In particular, the tempering device is arranged in the irradiation device. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the tempering device is arranged upstream and/or downstream of the irradiation device-preferably with regard to the process direction or flow direction in the air conditioning system.
Preferably, the tempering device can have at least one infrared lamp. Alternatively or additionally, it may also be provided that the tempering device has at least one heat exchanger, in particular a plate heat exchanger and/or tubular heat exchanger. The plate heat exchanger and/or tubular heat exchanger can, in particular, cool or heat the medium flow using a temperature control medium, for example water. The heat transfer at the plates and/or tubes of the heat exchanger is utilized for temperature control. The at least one infrared lamp can lead to heating of the medium through the radiation provided. This means that, in addition to air purification, the air conditioning system can also preferably fulfill the additional function of air conditioning.
Furthermore, an injection device for injecting a liquid, in particular water and/or disinfectant, is preferably provided to regulate the humidity of the medium flow and/or for disinfection, preferably the injection device is arranged downstream of or behind the cyclone separator and/or downstream of or behind the irradiation device. The injection device can introduce liquid into the medium flow, preferably in droplet form and/or aerosol form. In particular, an at least essentially ring-shaped injection device can be provided so that the liquid can be distributed not only at one point, but over an injection area.
Preferably, the injection device for air humidification is connected upstream of the irradiation device and/or arranged in the housing inlet. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the liquid introduced by the injection device can also be subjected to UV disinfection, so that inactivation of microorganisms can be at least substantially ensured. This results in the advantage that, for example, a distribution of bacteria, legionella or the like can be reliably prevented by the liquid introduced by the injection device, preferably without the need for further additional components.
In addition, as explained above, the liquid may contain a disinfectant or similar, which further improves air purification. The use of an injection device for disinfection is particularly advantageous in the catering and/or process industry. The injection device also allows the air conditioning system to regulate the humidity in the building or in individual rooms of the building. Air that is too dry poses a risk to the health of the people in the building, so humidity regulation can contribute to an improved climate in the building.
In particular, the injection device can be arranged on the wall of the housing of the irradiation device, preferably in the area of the housing inlet. The injection device can also be provided as an additional component of the air conditioning system, which can preferably be integrated between the cyclone separator and the irradiation device as required. The quantity of liquid dispensed via the injection device and/or the duration for dispensing the liquid can be controlled and/or regulated in particular according to the humidity in the building, which can be measured as required. This means that the injection device can be used in an optimized and adapted manner to regulate the humidity.
In a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of cyclone separators and/or irradiation devices is provided. Preferably, the cyclone separators can be arranged in series, in particular in series, and/or in parallel to each other, preferably to enable higher efficiency and/or higher capacities.
With the serial arrangement of the cyclone separators, it is preferable that an irradiation device for UV irradiation is arranged between two cyclone separators arranged one behind the other. The serial arrangement of cyclone separators with irradiation devices arranged between them can ensure a high degree of purity in particular. Accordingly, the pipe connected between two cyclone separators can preferably be designed as a so-called “UV pipe” with an irradiation device. The housing inlet of the intermediate UV tube or the intermediate irradiation device can thus be assigned to the gas outlet of a first cyclone separator, whereby the housing outlet of the intermediate irradiation device can form the first inlet of the further (downstream) cyclone separator.
Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that, in the parallel arrangement of the cyclone separators, an irradiation device is assigned to each gas outlet of a cyclone separator or that, in the parallel arrangement of the cyclone separators, a common irradiation device is assigned to a plurality of gas outlets belonging to a cyclone separator. Preferably, a single irradiation device is provided for all cyclone separators.
The gas outlets of the cyclone separators can also be brought together and thus bundled in a common feed means before being fed to the irradiation device. A grouped arrangement of cyclone separators can also be provided so that an irradiation device is assigned to several cyclone separators. However, the air conditioning system can then still have a number of irradiation devices, each of which is assigned a certain number of cyclone separators.
Preferably, the tempering device, the injection device and/or the irradiation device can be controlled and/or regulated by a control and/or regulating device. In particular, the tempering device, the injection device and/or the irradiation device can be controlled and/or regulated independently of one another. The operation of the cyclone separator can also be controlled and/or regulated, in particular the swirl generator and/or the blower device can be controlled. The cyclone separator can also be controlled and/or regulated independently of the irradiation device or the other devices of the air conditioning system.
This makes it possible to individually adapt the operation of the air conditioning system.
In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the air-conditioning system is designed such that the flow velocity of the medium flow in the irradiation device is between 2 and 20 m/s, preferably between 2.5 and 10 m/s. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the air conditioning system is designed in such a way that a turbulent flow of the medium flow is present in the irradiation device, in particular wherein the Reynolds number of the flow in the irradiation device is greater than 2300, which in particular characterizes a turbulent flow. Accordingly, the treatment in the irradiation device can be improved by the turbulent flow, since the turbulent flow can ensure that all microorganisms or at least essentially a large proportion of the microorganisms are exposed to the UV radiation. This results in a significant advantage over a laminar flow. Preferably, the turbulent flow is provided by the cyclone separator, particularly preferably the swirl generator provided in the cyclone separator. The high flow velocities in the air conditioning system also enable a high air throughput and thus improved circulation of the air in the building, so that efficient operation of the air conditioning system can be ensured.
At this point, the advantages of the air conditioning system according to the invention compared to air conditioning systems known from the state of the art may be mentioned again-Current air conditioning systems known from the state of the art are based on the so-called “box principle”. Each individual function of the system has its own section in the cuboid box, which is particularly elongated. Functions of the known AC system include, for example, the control damper, a pre-filter, the main filter, a heating/cooling register, a fan and/or a post-filter. The filter elements of the prior art take up the largest volume and therefore determine the overall size of the air conditioning system. In particular, filter elements are standardized, usually to a size for air conditioning systems of 600×600 mm for a filter element and 600×300 mm for a half filter element. The maximum air capacity is particularly in the range of 2000 to 3000 m³/h, whereby the maximum permissible surface velocity, taking into account the known filter elements, is particularly between 1.54 and 2.31 m/s. Air conditioning systems are rarely provided larger than 2.4×2.4 m for transportation reasons alone, so that a standard air conditioning system from the state of the art has a capacity of 16 filter elements, each of which has an air capacity in the range of 2000 to 3000 m³/h in particular, so that the entire standard air conditioning system can have a capacity of between 32000 and 48000 m/h³.
In addition, the sections for the different functions are arranged one behind the other in air handling units known from the state of the art, which results in an increased length of the air conditioning system.
According to the invention, by dispensing with mechanical filters, a dimensioning of the entire air conditioning system that is not known or even possible in the prior art is ensured, which in particular can be used in a space-saving and/or compact design. In particular, the combination of the filter and blower function in the cyclone separator and the fact that the irradiation device permits higher surface velocities than the filter systems known from the state of the art make it possible to significantly increase the capacity of a smaller air conditioning system. An air conditioning system according to the invention, which has the same spatial extension as an air conditioning system known from the prior art, preferably enables capacities to be improved by up to 2 to 3 times. The flexibility created in this way now offers the possibility of arranging the air conditioning system in a building instead of just on the roof, as is the case with known air conditioning systems.
Preferably, the tempering device and/or the injection device can be operated simultaneously with the irradiation device, so that both temperature control, in particular heating and/or cooling, and/or humidity regulation of the medium flow can take place at the same time as UV disinfection.
Preferably, the inside of the housing facing the radiation source is at least partially, preferably fully, reflective with a degree of reflection for the UV radiation emitted by the radiation source of at least 0.6, in particular where the degree of reflection is at least 0.7, preferably at least 0.8, more preferably at least 0.9.
The inside of the housing or the enclosed interior of the housing can be regarded in particular as a UV treatment chamber for treating the medium.
Preferably, the inner wall is a reflector, which is preferably designed as a housing component that is inserted into the housing and/or can be replaced.
In the context of the invention, the degree of reflection is understood to be the ratio between reflected and incident intensity as an energy quantity. The degree of reflection can depend in particular on the material of the inner wall on which the radiation impinges and on the radiation itself.
Preferably, the housing has a length of between 30 and 200 cm, preferably between 80 and 160 cm. The housing can have a diameter, preferably an internal diameter, of between 10 and 100 cm, preferably between 15 and 50 cm. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the housing has a length of between 80 and 160 cm and an internal diameter of between 10 and 20 cm. With the aforementioned dimensions, efficient inactivation of the microorganisms can be ensured in particular for a medium flow with a flow velocity of between 1 and 20 m/s, preferably between 2 and 10 m/s.
Furthermore, in another preferred embodiment, the radiation source may have a plurality of light sources, preferably LEDs. Furthermore, the radiation source may alternatively or additionally have an at least substantially elongated and/or rod-shaped form. In particular, the radiation source may have a length of at least 5 cm, preferably between 5 cm and 30 cm, more preferably between 10 cm and 20 cm. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the radiation source has an elongated shape with a plurality of light sources, preferably LEDs, which are arranged along an “array”.
In addition, the radiation source can have a diameter of at least 1 cm, preferably between 1 cm and 20 cm, more preferably between 2 cm and 10 cm and in particular between 5 cm+/−1 cm. In particular, the diameter of the radiation source can also depend on the diameter of the light source used in the radiation source.
Alternatively or additionally, the radiation source can also be designed as a low-pressure UV lamp, in particular a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp, and/or as a medium-pressure UV lamp. At least one radiation source can also be designed as an excimer lamp (excimer=excited dimer), which can be used in particular to improve the disinfection function.
Preferably, it may alternatively or additionally be provided that ionization and/or plasma generators and/or rods are used in the irradiation device, which can be used in particular to further improve air disinfection.
Finally, the radiation source can provide the UV radiation required to inactivate the microorganisms, in particular UV-C radiation. The radiation source can have an intensity on its surface of between 1000 and 8000 W/m², preferably between 2000 and 6000 W/m²and in particular of 4200 W/m²+/−20%.
Furthermore, the radiation source can in particular provide a power of at least 100 W, preferably 190 W+/−10%. The power in the UV-C radiation range can preferably be between 10 and 100 W, more preferably between 50 and 70 W. The radiation emitted by the radiation source can decrease with its intensity in the distance square. This reduction in amplitude can be counteracted by the constructive interference achieved.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a plurality of radiation sources are arranged in the housing. In particular, between 2 and 10, preferably between 2 and 5, radiation sources can be arranged in the housing. In particular, the radiation sources can also each have a plurality of light sources, preferably LEDs. The multiple radiation sources can provide at least substantially uniform radiation and/or radiation sufficient to inactivate the microorganisms over the length of the housing.
Preferably, a pre-filter is arranged upstream of the first inlet and/or the housing inlet. The pre-filter can preferably be designed in such a way that particles with a diameter greater than 1 μm, preferably greater than 0.5 μm, are filtered out of the medium flow. In this way, particles that could create a so-called “shadow formation” in the UV treatment chamber during the resulting interaction with the UV radiation can be filtered out of the medium flow. Ultimately, it is relevant in this context that the UV radiation is in the order of magnitude between 0.2 and 0.3 μm. However, since the aforementioned particles, for example dust particles or pollen or the like, have a larger diameter than the wavelength, the wavelength cannot pass through particles with a diameter greater than 1 μm in particular. For example, a bacterium may have a diameter of approximately 0.3 μm. According to the invention, it has been found that the shadow effect is present in front of particles with a diameter of less than 0.5 μm, in particular between 0.3 μm and 0.5 μm, but that the killing of the microorganisms achieved can still be tolerated. This means that microorganisms with a diameter greater than the wavelength of the UV radiation can also be rendered harmless, as they are also affected by the UV radiation.
The irradiation device preferably has a holding device by means of which the at least one radiation source is held and/or fixed or can be held and/or fixed. The holding device is in particular connected to the housing and/or the reflector, preferably detachably. The holding device can be designed in such a way that the center axis of the at least one radiation source forms an angle to the center axis of the reflector.
According to the invention, the central axis is understood to be in particular the longitudinal axis of the reflector or the housing or the radiation source. The central axis lies or runs in particular in the respective center of the body and/or in the center of gravity of the respective body and preferably forms the axis of symmetry. If the body is not symmetrical, the center axis of the respective body—i.e. the reflector, the housing and/or the radiation source—forms the approximate axis of symmetry of the body. Thus, according to the invention, central axes of such bodies that are not symmetrical are also included.
In particular, the central axis of the radiation source or the reflector or the housing runs through the center of gravity and/or the center of the radiation source or the housing. The central axis preferably runs in the longitudinal direction of the reflector or the housing or the radiation source, whereby the radiation source or the reflector or the housing are elongated.
A longitudinal extension is to be understood in particular in such a way that the length of the body exceeds the width of the body.
According to the invention, it has been found that the aforementioned inclined arrangement between the central axis of the at least one radiation source and the central axis of the reflector or the housing can achieve an increase in the constructive interference and thus, in particular, an improvement in the UV radiation dose to be administered, with which the medium is treated. The fact that such an improvement is achieved by tilting the radiation source was not to be expected by a person skilled in the art.
Finally, it has been found in accordance with the invention that in particular the interference between the radiation directly reflected on the inside of the reflector and the radiation emitted by the radiation source can be controlled, in particular in such a way that an increase in the amplitude of the radiation intensity results in comparison to a “straight” arrangement.
In addition, it may be provided that a plurality of radiation sources are held and/or fixed to the holding device. In particular, each center axis of each radiation source includes an angle, preferably in the aforementioned order of magnitude, to the center axis of the reflector.
In a further preferred embodiment, the central axes, in particular at least two central axes, further preferably at least four central axes, in particular all central axes, of the radiation sources are arranged parallel to one another. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that at least two center axes, preferably at least three center axes, more preferably at least four center axes, of the radiation sources are arranged offset to each other, preferably at an angle. Accordingly, the radiation sources can also be arranged twisted, twisted and/or twisted together. In particular, the included angle between two neighboring radiation sources, especially between the neighboring central axes of the neighboring radiation sources, can be between 1° and 120°, more preferably between 5° and 90°, more preferably between 10° and 40°. The aforementioned angle indicates in particular the degree of twisting between the radiation sources.
Preferably, the infrared lamps or the at least one infrared lamp of the tempering device can also be arranged in the holding device. Preferably, at least one UV radiation source of the lamp package is exchanged for an infrared lamp, so that the UV radiation sources together with the at least one infrared lamp can be introduced into the irradiation device in a modular manner through the holding device.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of an air conditioning system for air purification in buildings, in particular residential, office, administrative and/or industrial buildings, as well as a corresponding method for air purification. The air conditioning system is designed according to one of the aforementioned embodiments.
In this context, it is understood that, with regard to preferred embodiments of the use according to the invention, reference may be made to the aforementioned remarks on the air conditioning system, which may also apply in the same way to the use and the method. Furthermore, with regard to advantages of the use according to the invention and the method, reference may also be made to the previously described advantages of the air conditioning system, which can apply in the same way. In the following, the method is understood to be synonymous with the use.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the use according to the invention, it is provided that the flow velocity of the medium flow in the irradiation device is between 2 to 20 m/s, preferably between 2.5 to 10 m/s. Accordingly, an increase in the flow velocity and thus an increased throughput can be achieved, in particular compared to ventilation systems known in the prior art, which increases the efficiency of the entire system.
In addition, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a turbulent flow of the medium flow is present in the irradiation device. In particular, the Reynolds number of the flow in the irradiation device of the medium flow is or is greater than 2300. Such a Reynolds number ultimately indicates in particular the presence of a turbulent flow.
Moreover, it is understood that the above-mentioned intervals and range limits include any intermediate intervals and individual values and are to be regarded as essentially disclosed according to the invention, even if these intermediate intervals and individual values are not specifically indicated.
Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention are apparent from the following description of embodiments based on the drawing and the drawing itself. All the features described and/or illustrated form the object of the present invention, either individually or in any combination, irrespective of their summary in the claims or their relationship to one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It shows:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an air conditioning system according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is another side view of the air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1 without cyclone housing.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the components of the air conditioning system shown in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of an injection device according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of an irradiation device according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the irradiation device shown in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is another schematic side view of the irradiation device shown in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12 is a schematic top view of a first holding unit according to the invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a holding device according to the invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of at least one radiation source in the reflector.

FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of two radiation sources in the reflector.

FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a first holding means.

FIG. 17 is a schematic representation of the alignment of a radiation source according to the invention.

FIG. 18 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the invention.

FIG. 21 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of an air conditioning system according to the invention.

FIG. 22A is a schematic comparison of an air conditioning system known from the prior art with an air conditioning system according to the invention in a longitudinal view.

FIG. 22B is a schematic comparison of an air conditioning system known from the prior art with an air conditioning system according to the invention in a side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an air conditioning system 10 for air purification of buildings. In particular, the air conditioning system 10 is used for residential, office and/or administrative and/or industrial buildings. The system 10 has at least one cyclone separator 7 for separating solid and/or liquid particles from a gaseous medium, in particular air. The medium is fed into the air conditioning system 10. In addition, the medium or the medium flow is guided through the air conditioning system 10.
The medium or the medium flow is subject to different treatment stages in the air conditioning system 10 and can therefore be freed of particles, for example. Ultimately, the “medium” or “medium flow” refers to the medium flow to be treated in the air conditioning system 10.
FIG. 1 also shows that the air conditioning system 10 has an irradiation device 1, which is associated with the cyclone separator 7. The irradiation device 1 is used for UV irradiation, in particular UV-C irradiation, of the gaseous medium, in particular air, flowing through the irradiation device 1. Preferably, the irradiation device 1 can be used to inactivate microorganisms present in the medium, such as bacteria, germs, mold and/or viruses or the like. The entire quantity of the medium flowing through the system 10 or only a partial flow can be made available to the irradiation device 1.
FIG. 3 shows that the cyclone separator 7 has a cyclone housing 9 through which the medium can flow. The cyclone housing 9 has a first inlet 11 and a particle outlet 12. In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 3 , the particle outlet 12 surrounds the cyclone housing 9 circumferentially. The particle outlet 12 ultimately serves to discharge the particles of the medium separated by the cyclone separator 7. In addition, the cyclone housing 9 has a gas outlet 13, as shown in FIG. 6 . The gas outlet 13 is used to discharge the medium flow that has been at least substantially freed from the particles.
FIG. 21 shows that a discharge device 54 for the, preferably continuous, removal of the separated particles is associated with the particle outlet 12. The discharge device 54 can use a transport medium, such as water and/or air, to transport the separated particles. The transport medium can flow through the discharge device 54 and thus entrain the particles emerging from the particle outlet 12. The flow of the transport medium can be provided by a blower arranged in the discharge device 54, as shown in FIG. 21 . The separated particles can then be transferred to another discharge system, in particular the sewer system. The direction of flow of the transport medium in the discharge device 54 is schematically illustrated by arrows in FIG. 21 .
It is not shown that a non-continuous discharge device 54 can be used. Such a discharge device 54 may have a collecting container, not shown, such as in particular a container and/or bag, which must be emptied at regular intervals.
FIG. 4 shows that the irradiation device 1 has a housing 4. The housing 4 of the irradiation device 1 has a housing inlet 2 and a housing outlet 3, as shown schematically in FIG. 9 . FIGS. 9 to 17 show different embodiments of the irradiation device 1 or parts of the irradiation device 1 that can be used in the air conditioning system 10.
The irradiation device 1 shown in the embodiment according to FIG. 4 has at least one UV radiation-emitting radiation source 5 for irradiating the medium flowing through the housing 4, as can also be seen schematically from the sectional view according to FIG. 6 . FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the air conditioning system 10 shown in FIG. 3 .
In the embodiment of the system 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 , it is provided that the irradiation device 1 is connected downstream of the cyclone separator 7 in the direction of flow of the gaseous medium and thus in the process direction.
It is not shown that the irradiation device 1 can also be connected upstream of the cyclone separator 7 in the direction of flow of the gaseous medium or in the process direction.
The irradiation device 1 and the cyclone separator 7 can be interconnected or integrated components or components that can be handled independently of each other.
FIG. 6 shows that in the embodiment of the system 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 6 , the gas outlet 13 opens into the housing inlet 2 or even forms it. Ultimately, the irradiation device 1 is at least partially arranged in the cyclone separator 7, as can be seen in FIG. 6 . The housing inlet 2 can thus be arranged in the gas outlet 13.
FIG. 6 also shows that the cyclone housing 9 has an immersion tube 14. The immersion tube 14 is used to discharge the medium flow from the cyclone housing 9. It is understood that the immersion tube 14 can have the gas outlet 13 and ultimately discharge the medium flow freed from the particles separated by the cyclone separator 7. In addition, FIG. 6 shows that the immersion tube 14 also has the housing inlet 2 for the irradiation device 1.
It is not shown in more detail that the depth of the immersion tube 14 projecting into the cyclone housing 7 can be changed and/or adjusted. By changing the depth of the immersion tube 14 projecting into the cyclone housing 7, the degree of the particle quantity separated by the cyclone separator 7 and/or the volume flow discharged via the immersion tube 14 can also be changed.
The cyclone separator 7 shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 has a swirl generator 15. The swirl generator 15 also includes deflector blades 16 for generating a swirl or vortex flow. The swirl generator 15 or the deflector blades 16 can be rotatable or rotate. Furthermore, FIG. 6 shows that the swirl generator 15 is arranged in the cyclone housing 9.
The cyclone separator 7 shown in FIG. 3 is designed as an axial separator.
The cyclone separators 7 shown in FIG. 18 are designed as tangential separators.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , it is also provided that the particle outlet 12 has a slag housing 48 surrounding the circumference of the cyclone housing 9. The slag housing 48 serves to collect and discharge the particles separated by the cyclone separator 7.
FIG. 6 also shows the flow path of the medium flow. Ultimately, to exit the cyclone housing 9, it is necessary for the medium flow to be guided past the wall of the slag housing 48 and deflected to enter the dip tube 14. The flow path is indicated schematically in FIG. 6 by corresponding flow arrows.
The swirl generator 15 shown in FIG. 4 also serves as a blower device 17. The blower device 17 is provided for the intake of outside air and inside air, but this is not shown in more detail. It is also not shown in more detail that in further embodiments an independent blower device 17, which can be provided independently of the swirl generator 15, is also provided. The system 10 can also have a plurality of blower devices 17. The blower device 17 can basically be provided for the intake and/or discharge of outside air and/or inside air.
In particular, the blower device 17 can be provided for outside air intake and inside air intake on the one hand and/or for outside air blow-out and inside air blow-out on the other,
This means that different forms of the blower device 17 or a fan can be used as the blower device 17. Ultimately, the blower device 17 is designed in such a way that the medium flow passes through the housing 4 and/or the cyclone housing 9. Thus, the blower device 17 can also be arranged in the cyclone separator 7 for a compact design, as is provided in the embodiment according to FIG. 4 .
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 , a tempering device 18 is provided to regulate the thermal room climate in the building. The tempering device 18 shown in FIG. 6 has an infrared lamp 19, which can be arranged together with the UV radiation sources 5 in a holding device 22, as can also be seen schematically in FIG. 9 . Ultimately, the infrared lamp 19 can be arranged together with the UV radiation sources 5 on the holding device 22 and can therefore also be handled together with the radiation sources 5. The infrared lamp 19 is designed to heat the medium flow.
It is not shown that the tempering device 18 can also be designed to cool the medium flow. Furthermore, the tempering device 18 may alternatively or additionally have at least one heat exchanger, in particular a plate heat exchanger and/or tubular heat exchanger. A temperature control medium, in particular water, can also be supplied to the plate heat exchanger and/or tubular heat exchanger for heat exchange, whereby in particular the tempering device 18 can be continuously flowed through by the temperature control medium.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 , an injection device 20 is provided for injecting a liquid into the medium flow. The injection of the liquid, which in particular contains or consists of water and/or disinfectant, serves in particular to regulate the humidity of the medium flow and thus to adjust the humidity in the building.
FIG. 7 shows that the injection device 20 is connected upstream of the irradiation device 1 in the direction of flow. The injection device 20 can also be arranged in the housing inlet 2 or upstream of the housing inlet 2. The injection device 20 can be permanently connected to the irradiation device 1 or provided as a separate component.
FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of the injection device 20 used in FIG. 7 . In particular, the injection device 20 is annular in shape and has a plurality of injection ports 49. The liquid can escape from the injection device 20 through the injection ports 49. The annular design of the injection device 20 and the plurality of injection ports 49, which are preferably slightly spaced apart from one another, enable uniform spraying of the medium flow. An advantage of the upstream arrangement is that the liquid introduced by the injection device 20 is also subjected to UV disinfection in the irradiation device 1.
FIGS. 18 to 20 show that the system 10 has a plurality of cyclone separators 7 and irradiation devices 1.
FIG. 18 shows the serial circuit or serial arrangement of the cyclone separators 7. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 , the cyclone separators 7 are arranged parallel to each other.
FIG. 18 further shows that in the serial arrangement of the cyclone separators 7, an irradiation device 1 is arranged between two cyclone separators 7 arranged one behind the other. A further irradiation device can then also be provided after the last cyclone separator 7 arranged in the process direction, but this is not shown in more detail in FIG. 18 . Also, in the case of several cyclone separators 7, an irradiation device 1 may not be arranged between each pair of cyclone separators 7 that are adjacent to each other, but this is preferred. In any case, the irradiation device 1 can form the pipe interposed between two cyclone separators 7. The inlet of the irradiation device 1 can thus be assigned to the gas outlet 13 of a first cyclone separator 7, whereby the housing outlet 3 of the irradiation device 1 can be assigned to the first inlet 11 of a further cyclone separator 7.
FIG. 20 shows that in the parallel arrangement of the cyclone separators 7, an irradiation device 1 is assigned to each first gas outlet 13 of a cyclone separator 7.
In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 19 , it is provided that in the parallel arrangement of the cyclone separators 7, an irradiation device 1 is assigned to a plurality of cyclone separators 7 and thus to a plurality of first gas outlets 13. The medium flows emerging from the cyclone separators 7 can be combined before they are fed to the irradiation device 1; however, this can also be done differently in further embodiments.
It is understood that in the parallel arrangement of the cyclone separators 7, between 2 and 10 cyclone separators 7 can be assigned to a common irradiation device 1 or a plurality of irradiation devices 1. A grouped arrangement can also be provided in the parallel arrangement of the cyclone separators 7; thus a certain group of cyclone separators 7 can be assigned to an irradiation device 1, whereby a further group of cyclone separators 7 can be assigned to a further irradiation device 1.
It is not shown in more detail that the tempering device 18, the injection device 20 and/or the irradiation device 1 can be controlled and/or regulated by a control and/or regulating device, in particular wherein the aforementioned components can be controlled and/or regulated independently of one another.
The air conditioning system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is designed in such a way that the flow velocity of the medium flow in the irradiation device 1 is between 2 and 20 m/s, in particular between 2.5 and 10 m/s. In addition, the ventilation and air-conditioning system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is designed in such a way that a turbulent flow of the medium flow is present in the irradiation device 1, with the Reynolds number in the irradiation device 1 being greater than 2300. This turbulent flow can be provided in particular by the swirl generator 15 of the at least one cyclone separator 7.
It is not shown in detail that the tempering device 18 and the injection device 20 can be operated simultaneously with the irradiation device 1.
It is also not shown in more detail that the air conditioning system 10 can be used in accordance with one of the aforementioned embodiments for air purification of buildings, in particular residential, office, administrative and/or industrial buildings. When used in this way, the flow velocity of the medium flow in the irradiation device 1 can be between 2 and 20 m/s, in particular between 3 and 10 m/s. A turbulent flow of the medium can also be provided in the irradiation device 1, so that in particular efficient UV disinfection of the medium flow can take place. The Reynolds number of the flow of the medium can be more than 2300 in the irradiation device 1.
The housing 4 can have a length of between 30 and 200 cm.
In addition, the UV radiation sources 5 shown can emit UV radiation in a wavelength range from 240 to 300 nm.
FIG. 20 shows that the system 10 has a pre-filter 50. The prefilter 50 can be designed as a HEPA filter. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 20 , the prefilter 50 is arranged upstream of the cyclone separators 7 in the process direction. It is not shown that a plurality of prefilters 50 can also be provided, in particular whereby one prefilter 50 can be assigned to each cyclone separator 7. It is also not shown that, in a further embodiment, the system 10 can have a prefilter 50 which is arranged upstream of the cyclone separator 7 or downstream of the irradiation device 1 in the direction of flow of the medium, the system 10 having only one cyclone separator 7.
The prefilter 50 can be designed in such a way that particles with a diameter greater than 1 μm are at least essentially filtered out of the medium flow.
FIGS. 22A and 22B show a schematic comparison between an air conditioning system 10 according to the invention and an air conditioning system known from the state of the art. In the upper section of FIGS. 22A and 22B, the system 10 according to the invention is shown, and in the lower section, the air handling system known from the prior art is shown in a box-shaped design. FIG. 22A shows a longitudinal view of the systems, while FIG. 22B provides a side view of the systems shown in FIG. 22A. Both the upper air conditioning system 10 according to the invention and the lower air conditioning system known from the prior art are designed for an air circulation of 32000 to 48000 m³/h. However, FIG. 22A illustrates that the length A of the air conditioning system according to the invention can be reduced by more than 100% compared to the length B of the air conditioning system known in practice, while maintaining the same capacity. In particular, the length A corresponds to between 20 and 50% of the length B, with the same capacity of both systems. FIG. 22B shows that the heights C, D and the widths D, E can be at least essentially the same or do not deviate from each other by more than 30%.
FIG. 22A shows that the air conditioning system known from the prior art is designed in individual sections. Each section is assigned to a function and takes up a certain length. Due to the large spatial extent, the air conditioning system known from practice is generally installed on roofs and not used in buildings. The system 10 according to the invention can also be used in buildings. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 22A, the AC system known in practice can comprise a plurality of sections. FIG. 22A shows that the AC system known in practice has an inlet grille 51, a prefilter 50, a main filter 52, a service room 53, a temperature control device 18 and a blower device 17. In the air handling system 10 according to the invention, the blower device 17 is integrated in the cyclone separator 7, which results in an enormous space saving. Further space savings can be achieved by dispensing with the filters 52 and 53.
Irradiation device 1 is described in more detail below. In this context, it is understood that the aspects of the irradiation device 1 described below are transferable to the entire ventilation and air-conditioning system 10.
FIG. 9 shows an irradiation device 1 which is designed for UV irradiation, in particular UV-C irradiation, of a medium flowing through the irradiation device 1. The medium can be a fluid or a gas. In particular, the medium can be water or air. The irradiation device 1 is used to inactivate microorganisms present in the medium, such as bacteria, germs, mold and/or viruses. In particular, the irradiation device 1 is used to inactivate corona viruses. Corona viruses are understood to be SARS-CoV-2 viruses, in particular.
The irradiation device 1 has a housing 4, which has a housing inlet 2 and a housing outlet 3 for the medium. In FIG. 9 , the direction of flow of the medium is shown schematically using flow arrows.
At least one radiation source 5 is arranged in the housing 4, namely inside the housing 4. The interior of the housing 4 comprises the treatment chamber 8, in which the radiation source(s) 5 is/are arranged.
The radiation source 5 is used to irradiate the medium flowing through the housing 4.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 , a plurality of radiation sources 5 is provided.
FIG. 1 shows that the first inlet 11 and the housing outlet 3 are designed to be arranged on at least one pipe and/or hose, in particular an air pipe and/or air hose. These ventilation pipes are not shown in detail. In particular, the air conditioning system 10 can be integrated into existing air conditioning systems.
The air conditioning system 10 can be designed to draw in or supply outside air. If required, at least a proportion of the air extracted from the rooms can also be supplied to the air conditioning system 10 as recirculated air. In particular, the air conditioning system 10 can be operated only with fresh outside air or with outside air and recirculated air: only in exceptional cases can pure recirculated air operation of the air conditioning system 10 be provided.
The air conditioning system 10 shown in the embodiment examples can be operated without a filter, in particular without a HEPA filter, or without a filter, in particular without a HEPA filter. Regular replacement of the filter to ensure good cleaning performance and to prevent the formation of a so-called filter cake is therefore not necessary.
The housing 4 has a reflector 21. The inside 6 of the reflector 21 also forms the inside 6 of the housing 4. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 , the reflector 21 is shown “transparent” for illustrative purposes.
In particular, the reflector 21 is designed as an aluminum sheet that can be enclosed or held in a corresponding profile.
The inner side 6 is reflective at least in some areas, preferably over the entire surface, with a degree of reflection for the UV radiation emitted by the radiation source 5 of greater than 0.6, in particular at least 0.8. In particular, the inner surface 6 is designed in such a way that the radiation can be reflected directly in the right direction. For this purpose, the inside 6 is particularly smooth and flat.
The radiation source 5 is held and/or fixed by a holding device 22. The holding device 22 is connected, preferably detachably, to the housing 4 and/or the reflector 21.
FIG. 9 shows that the holding device 22 is designed in such a way that the center axis S of the at least one radiation source 5 forms an angle α to the center axis R of the reflector 21.
FIG. 14 shows schematically that the radiation source 5 is arranged in such a way that an angle α is formed between the central axes S and R. For illustrative reasons, the holding device 22 is not shown in more detail in FIG. 14 .
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14 , the included angle α between the central axis S of the at least one radiation source 5 and the central axis R of the reflector 21 is between arcsin ((0.2*D/L) and arcsin ((4*D)/L). In particular, the angle α is between 2°±0.5°. In order to better illustrate the inclined position of the radiation source 5 for schematic reasons, the angle α has been deliberately chosen to be larger in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 . However, it is understood that these figures are to be understood as schematic representations and do not reflect the actual proportions.
Furthermore, it is understood that the angle α is particularly in the aforementioned order of magnitude.
Preferably, the angle α is between arcsin (D/L) and arcsin ((2*D)/L). This means that the total oblique offset is between D and 2D, in particular.
D indicates the, in particular maximum and/or average, diameter of the radiation source 5 and L the length of the radiation source 5.
The radiation sources 5 shown in the illustrated embodiments are designed, in particular as LED spotlights.
The radiation sources 5 are also rod-shaped or cylindrical and elongated. The longitudinal extent of the radiation source 5 runs at least essentially in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the reflector 21—taking into account the previously discussed inclined position of the radiation source(s) 5. Thus, preferably no orthogonal arrangement of the radiation source 5 is provided in relation to the central axis R of the reflector 21.
As previously explained, FIGS. 9 to 11 show that a plurality of radiation sources 5 are held and/or fixed to the holding device 22. FIGS. 9 and 10 show corresponding side views of the irradiation device 1 shown in FIG. 9 . For example, FIG. 11 shows the housing inlet 2, with FIG. 10 illustrating the oblique arrangement of the radiation sources 5 by the corresponding side view of the longitudinal side.
In this context, it is understood that in further embodiments a plurality of holding devices 22 can also be provided, wherein at least one radiation source 5, preferably a plurality of radiation sources 5, can be attached to each of the respective holding devices 22. These holding devices 22 can be arranged one below the other and/or next to one another, in particular at a distance from one another. However, it is particularly preferred that a single holding device 22 is provided.
The radiation sources 5 attached to the holding device 22 can also be referred to collectively as a “lamp package” or radiation unit.
The housing inlet 2 and the housing outlet 3 can also be arranged at other points on the housing 4. Ultimately, the housing inlet 2 serves to introduce the medium into the treatment chamber 8, while the housing outlet 3 allows the medium to exit the irradiation device 1. In principle, the invention may also provide for a plurality of inlets 2 and/or a plurality of outlets 3.
In the embodiment shown, only one radiation source 5 is arranged on the holding device 22 in the longitudinal direction of the reflector 21. The other radiation sources 5 are also aligned at least substantially in the longitudinal direction. It is not shown that, in a further embodiment, it can also be provided that at least two radiation sources 5 can be arranged one behind the other on a holding device 22 in the longitudinal direction of the reflector 21. A radiation source 5 can also be designed in several parts.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 , each central axis S of each radiation source 5 forms an angle α to the central axis R of the reflector 21. FIG. 15 shows schematically that the central axes S₁and S₂each form an angle α₁and α₂to the central axis R of the reflector 21.
The central axis is understood to be the axis that forms an approximate axis of symmetry of the body. However, non-symmetrical bodies are also taken into account. In this case, the central axis can in particular run through the center of gravity of the body and in the longitudinal direction of the body. Deviations from the central axis of ±10% are also subsumed under the “central axis” according to the invention.
FIG. 11 shows schematically that the central axes S of the radiation sources 5 are arranged at least substantially parallel to each other.
FIG. 15 schematically shows that at least two central axes S₁and S₂are arranged offset to each other, in particular at an angle. The included angle δ between at least two radiation sources 5 can be between 1° and 50°, in particular between 10° and 40°.
In particular, the central axes S of the radiation sources 5 can also be arranged at an angle and/or at an angle to each other.
The holding device 22 shown in FIG. 9 is designed in such a way that the radiation source 5 or the radiation sources 5 are detachably connected to the holding device 22.
The radiation sources 5 can be at the same distance from each other. However, it is also possible for the central axes R to include a different angle α₁, α₂to the central axis R of the reflector, as shown schematically in FIG. 15 , for example. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 , it is also intended that the angles α₁and α₂—for schematic representation purposes—are deliberately shown “larger” in order to ultimately clarify the principle.
FIG. 9 shows that the holding device 22 has a first holding unit 23. The first holding unit 23 is detachably connected to the housing 4 and the reflector 21 via a first connecting means 24 of the holding device 22. For further stability of the first holding unit 23, holding struts 46 are also provided, each of which is connected to the housing 4 and/or the reflector 21. The retaining struts 46 can be regarded as a component of the first connecting means 24.
The support struts 46 are also shown schematically in FIG. 12 . FIG. 12 shows the first holding unit 23 without corresponding fasteners 47 for the radiation sources 5.
FIG. 12 shows that the first holding unit 23 has first holding means 25, wherein the first holding means 25 are designed in particular as web-shaped holding arms. The first retaining means 25 can be spaced apart from one another at least in certain areas, as can be seen in FIG. 12 . The spacing between the first holding means 25 can also vary. The included angle β, γ between two directly adjacent first holding means 25 can also vary. The angles β, γ refer in particular to the central axis of the first holding means 25.
To fasten the radiation sources 5, the first holding means 25 can have fastening means 47. The fastening means 47 are shown schematically in FIG. 9 .
The fastening means 47 can be a clip, a spring leg and/or a tension clamp, for example. Ultimately, different fastening means 47 are possible. The fastening means 47 is in particular a component of the first retaining means 25.
FIG. 11 shows that the first retaining means 25 are connected to a first connecting area 26 of the first retaining unit 23. The first retaining means 25 protrude from this connecting area 26. The first retaining means 25 are connected to the connecting region 26 by one end region 28. The first holding means 25 further comprise a further end region 29, which in turn is provided for arranging the radiation sources 5, in particular the end regions 27 of the radiation source 5 on the front side. Thus, the first holding means 25 can be designed in particular as a support arm or cantilever arm. The free end region 29 can in particular not be supported or freely arranged. The end region 28 of the first retaining means 25 can be arranged directly on the first connection region 26.
In particular, this results in an at least essentially star-shaped or sun-shaped design of the first holding unit 23, as shown schematically in FIG. 12 .
The end section 28 can be mounted on the connecting section 26 or firmly connected to it. It is also possible for the connecting area 26 and the end area 28 to be formed in one piece.
In the embodiment shown, it is further provided that a first adjustment means 30 is arranged at the end region 28. This first adjustment means 30 enables a relative adjustment to the connecting region 26 and, in particular, an adjustment of the radiation source 5 attached to the respective first holding means 25—namely an adjustment of the center axis S of the radiation source 5 in relation to the center axis R of the reflector 21.
It is not shown in detail that the first retaining means 25 are also telescopic, at least in some areas.
FIG. 12 shows that the first retaining means 25 have a different length Z. This is also shown schematically in FIG. 16 .
FIG. 11 shows schematically that the radiation source 5 is detachably and frictionally connected to the first retaining means 25, in particular to the fastening means 47, at one end face end region 27.
FIG. 16 shows that the first retaining means 25 are elongated and that at least two first retaining means 25 have a length Z₁, Z₂that differs from one another. It is also shown schematically in FIG. 16 that a plurality of arrangement areas 31 is provided for each retaining means 25. The arrangement areas 31 can be designed for the arrangement of fastening means 47 or for the (direct) arrangement of the end face end area 27 of the radiation source 5. For example, the end face of the radiation source 5 can protrude beyond the arrangement region 31 and thus also beyond the holding means 25, in particular if the end face end region 27 is accommodated at least in part in the arrangement region 31 and is held therein, preferably by frictional engagement. Ultimately, different fastening options are possible between the radiation source 5 and the first retaining means 25.
The angles β, γ enclosed between two directly adjacent first holding means 25 can in particular deviate from each other by at least 5%, as shown schematically in FIG. 16 .
FIG. 9 shows schematically that energy supply lines 32 are provided for supplying energy to the radiation sources 5. These energy supply lines 32 are routed in particular along the first connecting means 24 and in particular along the first holding means 25. The energy supply lines 32 can be connected to corresponding power supply units and/or ballasts 42, as can be seen schematically in FIG. 13 . In particular, a first supply device 41 is arranged outside the housing 4 on the outer side of the housing 4, which faces away from the inner side 6.
Finally, the first holding unit 23 can be designed to supply energy to the radiation sources 5.
FIG. 9 shows that a second holding unit 33 is provided. The second holding unit 33 is detachably connected to the housing 4 and the reflector 21 via a second connecting means 24 of the holding device 22.
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 , the second connecting means 24 comprises at least two retaining struts which connect the second retaining unit 33 to the housing 4 and/or the reflector 21.
FIG. 9 shows that the second holding unit 33 has second holding means 35, the second holding means 35 being designed in particular as web-shaped holding arms. The second holding means 35 can be spaced apart from one another at least in certain areas. The spacing between the second holding means 35 can also vary. The included angle between two directly adjacent second holding means 35 can also vary.
For fastening the radiation sources 5, the second holding means 35 can have Fasteners 47, the Fasteners 47 of the second holding means 35 can in particular be designed to correspond to the Fasteners 47 of the first holding means 25, so that reference may be made to the preceding explanations.
FIG. 9 shows that the second holding means 35 are connected to a second connecting area 36 of the second retaining unit 33. The second retaining means 35 protrude from this connecting area 36. The second retaining means 35 are connected to the connecting region 36 by the one end region 38. The second holding means 35 further comprise a further free or non-supported end region 39, which in turn is provided for the arrangement of the radiation sources 5, in particular the further end regions 37 of the radiation source 5.
The end region 38 can be mounted on the connecting region 36 or firmly connected to it. It can also be provided that the connecting region 36 and the end area 38 are formed in one piece.
It is not shown in more detail that a second adjusting means is arranged at the end region 38. This second adjustment means can in particular be designed to correspond to the first adjustment means 30, so that reference may be made to the explanations on the first adjustment means 30.
It is not shown that the second holding means 35 are also telescopic, at least in some areas.
The second holding means 35 can also have a different length Z.
It is not shown in detail that the second holding means 35 can also have arrangement areas for the radiation source(s) 5. These arrangement areas can be designed like the arrangement regions 31 of the first holding unit 23.
In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 9 , the second connecting means 34 is made up of several parts and has a plurality of corresponding retaining struts. The retaining struts of the second connecting means 34 can detachably connect the second holding unit 33 to the housing 4 and/or the reflector 21.
FIG. 9 further shows that the first holding unit 23 is connected to the second holding unit 33 via a connecting part 45. The connecting part 45 can in particular be of elongated design and connects the first connecting region 26 to the second connecting region 36 in the illustrated embodiment example. The connecting part 45 is in particular of rigid and stable design. The outer side of the connecting part 45 can be designed to be reflective.
FIG. 9 shows that the connecting part 45 is arranged in the center of the lamp package and is therefore enclosed or surrounded by the radiation sources 5. In particular, the connecting part 45 (in relation to the inside 6) does not protrude beyond the radiation sources 5.
It is particularly preferred that the second holding unit 33 is designed to complement the first holding unit 23, in particular so that the desired inclined position of the radiation sources 5 can be achieved.
It is not shown in more detail that the first connection means 24, the second connection means 34 and/or the support struts 46 are telescopic and/or adjustable. Such adjustment or telescoping particularly increases the flexibility or adaptability of the entire holding device 22.
FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of the holding device 22, which has not yet been aligned. Ultimately, the respective radiation sources 5 are not yet arranged on the corresponding holding means 25, 35.
FIG. 13 shows a connection of the radiation sources 5 via energy supply lines 32, which are connected to a first energy supply device 41, in which several control gears 42 are arranged. Accordingly, a modular structure of the holding device 22 can be ensured. The modular structure can be adapted in such a way that, in particular, different lengths can be made possible for the radiation sources 5.
In addition, FIG. 13 shows that the first holding unit 23 and the first connection means 24 are connected to a first connecting section 40. The first connecting section 40 can be detachably connected to the housing 4 and/or the reflector 21, which is not shown in more detail. For example, it may be provided that the first connecting section 40 has, at least in some areas, a profile for arranging the reflector 21, which may in particular be designed as an aluminum sheet. In principle, however, other embodiments are also conceivable.
In further embodiments, the first connecting section 40 protrudes at least partially over the housing. Furthermore, the first connecting section 40 can have a first supply device 41 on the outside. The first supply device 41 comprises a plurality of ballasts 42, as explained above. The first supply device 41 is electrically connected to the first connecting means 24 via the energy supply lines 32. The power supply lines 32 can be routed through the housing 4, as shown schematically in FIG. 9 , for example.
In addition, FIG. 13 shows that the second holding unit 33 and the second connection means 34 are connected to a second connecting section 43. In further embodiments, the second connecting section 32 can also be detachably connected to the housing 4 and/or the reflector 21. In addition, the second connecting section 43 can also protrude above the housing 4 in further embodiments.
The first and second connecting sections 40, 43 can be designed in such a way that they can be releasably connected to one another in a form-fitting and/or frictionally engaged and/or non-positive manner. For this purpose, the connecting sections 40, 43 can have corresponding locking contours or the like. FIG. 13 shows that the connecting sections 40, 43 can be connected via their end faces. Corresponding locking contours are not shown in more detail in FIG. 13 .
FIG. 13 shows that a further connecting section 44 is provided for the modular structure. The further connecting section 44 can be releasably connectable to the first and/or second connecting section 40, 43 in a form-fitting and/or friction-fitting and/or force-fitting manner. For this purpose, the further connecting section 44 can have corresponding locking contours which are designed to be complementary to the locking contours of the directly adjacent connecting sections.
It is not shown in more detail that the first, second and/or further connecting sections 40, 43 and 44 can project at least partially into the interior of the reflector 21 or adjoin the inner side 6—or can be set back relative to it.
Depending on the embodiment, it may be provided that between 3 and 25 radiation sources 5, first holding means 25 and/or second holding means 35 are provided. The number of radiation sources 5 can depend in particular on the length of the reflector 21, the treated volume flow of the medium and the like. FIG. 9 shows that ten radiation sources 5 are provided.
It is not shown that the number of first holding means 25 and/or second holding means 35 exceeds the number of radiation sources 5. It is therefore not absolutely necessary for a radiation source 5 to be arranged at each holding means 25. Thus, an “overhang” of holding means 25, 35 can be provided.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 , the radiation sources 5 are designed to be identical to each other. In principle, different radiation sources 5 can also be selected if this is desired by the user.
It is not shown in more detail that at least one, preferably all, radiation sources 5 have a diameter D, in particular the maximum and/or the average diameter D, of between 1 cm and 20 cm, in particular between 4 cm and 6 cm. Furthermore, the radiation sources 5 can have a length L of between 0.2 and 10 m, preferably between 1 and 2 m.
The inner diameter of the reflector 21 can also vary and in particular be between 100 and 1000 cm. In particular, the inner diameter is between 200 and 600 cm.
It is not shown in more detail that an evaluation device can be provided for detecting at least one chemical and/or physical variable. In particular, the evaluation device is arranged in the first connecting section 40 and/or in the first holding unit 23. Preferably, the evaluation device has a temperature sensor, a UV sensor and/or a speed sensor.
It is also not shown in more detail that the length Z of the first holding means 25 and/or the second holding means 35 is between 0.5*D_Rto 0.9*D_R, preferably between 0.1*D_Rto 0.5*D_R, where D_Rdenotes the inner diameter of the reflector 21, in particular the maximum and/or the mean inner diameter of the reflector 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

- 1 Irradiation device
- 2 Housing inlet
- 3 Housing outlet
- 4 Housing
- 5 Radiation source
- 6 Inner side
- 7 Cyclone separator
- 8 Treatment chamber
- 9 Cyclone housing
- 10 Air conditioning system
- 11 First inlet from 9
- 12 Particle outlet
- 13 Gas outlet
- 14 Immersion tube
- 15 Swirl generator
- 16 Deflection blades
- 17 Blower device
- 18 Tempering device
- 19 Infrared lamp
- 20 Injection device
- 21 Reflector
- 22 Holding device
- 23 First holding unit
- 24 First connection means
- 25 First holding means
- 26 Connecting region
- 27 Frontal end region of 5
- 28 End region of 25
- 29 Free end region of 25
- 30 First adjusting means
- 31 Arrangement region
- 32 Energy supply line(s)
- 33 Second holding unit
- 34 Second connection means
- 35 Second holding means
- 36 Second connecting region
- 37 Further frontal end region of 5
- 38 End region of 35
- 39 Free end region of 35
- 40 First connecting section
- 41 First supply device
- 42 Control gear
- 43 Second connecting section
- 44 Further connecting section
- 45 Connecting part
- 46 Support strud
- 47 Fasteners
- 48 Slag housing
- 49 Injection port
- 50 Pre-filter
- 51 Inlet grid
- 52 Main filter
- 53 Service room
- 54 Discharge device
- α Angle
- β Angle between 25
- γ Angle between 25
- δ Angle between 5
- S, S₁, S₂Center axis radiation source
- R Center axis reflector
- A Length of an AC-system to the invention
- B Length of an AC-system known from the state of the art
- C Height of an AC-system according to the invention
- D Height of an AC-system known from the state of the art
- Width of an AC-system according to the invention
- F Width of an AC-system known from the state of the art

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for air purification of residential, office, administrative and/or industrial buildings, in accordance with DIN 1946 (as of April 2023), for arrangement in air purification systems for buildings, the air conditioning system having:

at least one cyclone separator for separating solid and/or liquid particles of a gaseous medium; and

at least one irradiation device associated with the cyclone separator for UV irradiation of the gaseous medium flowing through the irradiation device for inactivating microorganisms present in the medium.

2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the cyclone separator has a cyclone housing through which the medium can flow and which has a first inlet, a particle outlet for the particles separated from the medium flow and a gas outlet for the medium flow freed from the separated particles;

wherein a discharge device for the continuous discharge of the separated particles is associated with the particle outlet; and

wherein a transport medium can be used to discharge the particles in the discharge device.

3. The air conditioning system according to, claim 2, wherein the irradiation device has a housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet for the medium and at least one radiation source which is arranged inside the housing and emits UV radiation for irradiating the medium flowing through the housing.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the first inlet and/or the housing outlet is designed for arrangement on at least one air pipe and/or air hose.

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one radiation source emits UV radiation in a wavelength range selected from one of the following: from at least 240 nm to 300 nm; from 250 nm to 285 nm; from 270 nm to 280 nm; from 254 nm+/−10%; and from 278 nm+/−10%.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system is and/or can be operated without a filter.

7. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the irradiation device is connected upstream and/or downstream of the cyclone separator and/or is at least partially integrated into the cyclone separator; and

wherein the gas outlet opens into or forms the housing inlet and/or wherein the housing inlet is arranged in the gas outlet.

8. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein an immersion tube of the cyclone separator having the gas outlet is provided for discharging the medium flow from the cyclone housing; and

wherein the immersion tube forms and/or has the housing inlet of the housing and/or wherein a depth of the immersion tube projecting into the cyclone housing is variable.

9. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the cyclone separator is designed as an axial separator and/or co-current separator; and/or

wherein the cyclone separator has a swirl generator arranged in the cyclone housing, for generating a rotation of the medium, wherein the swirl generator is a rotatable and/or adjustable swirl generator having a plurality of deflection blades.

10. The air conditioning system according to claim 9, wherein a blower device is provided for outside air and/or inside air intake and/or blow-out, on the one hand for outside air intake and inside air intake and/or on the other hand for outside air blow-out and inside air blow-out;

wherein the blower device is associated with the cyclone separator and/or the irradiation device in such a way that the medium flow flows through the housing and/or the cyclone housing; and

wherein the blower device is arranged in the cyclone separator and/or wherein the swirl generator additionally forms the blower device and/or wherein the swirl generator generates the forced flow.

11. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein a tempering device is provided for regulating the thermal room climate in a building for heating and/or cooling the medium flow;

wherein the tempering device is arranged upstream and/or downstream in the irradiation device; and

wherein the tempering device has at least one infrared lamp and/or wherein the tempering device has at least one heat exchanger.

12. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein an injection device for injecting a liquid is provided for humidity regulation and/or for disinfection of the medium flow, wherein the injection device is connected upstream of the irradiation device and/or is arranged in the housing inlet.

13. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of cyclone separators and/or irradiation devices is provided, wherein the cyclone separators are connected in series and/or parallel to one another; and/or

wherein, in the case of a serial arrangement of the cyclone separators, an irradiation device is arranged in each case between two cyclone separators arranged one behind the other; and/or

wherein, in the parallel arrangement of the cyclone separators, an irradiation device is assigned to each first gas outlet of a cyclone separator, or wherein, in the parallel arrangement of the cyclone separators, a plurality of first gas outlets of cyclone separators is assigned to an irradiation device, wherein a single irradiation device is provided for all cyclone separators.

14. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein:

a tempering device is provided for regulating the thermal room climate in a building for heating and/or cooling the medium flow;

an injection device for injecting a liquid is provided for humidity regulation and/or for disinfection of the medium flow; and

the tempering device, the injection device and/or the irradiation device can be controlled and/or regulated by a control and/or regulating device independently of one another.

15. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system is designed in such a way that a flow velocity of the medium flow in the irradiation device is selected from between 2 and 20 m/s and between 2.5 and 10 m/s; and/or

wherein the air conditioning system is designed in such a way that a turbulent flow of the medium flow is present in the irradiation device, and wherein a Reynolds number of the flow in the irradiation device is greater than 2300.

16. Use of the air-conditioning system according to claim 1 for air purification of residential, office, administrative and/or industrial buildings.

17. Use of an air conditioning system according to claim 16, wherein a flow velocity of the medium flow in the irradiation device is selected from between 2 and 20 m/s and between 2.5 and 10 m/s.

18. Use of an air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein a turbulent flow of the medium flow is present in the irradiation device, and wherein a Reynolds number of the flow in the irradiation device is greater than 2300.