WO2010017572A1 - Air-conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an air-conditioning device (1), having a housing (2) with an air inlet and an air outlet as well as air-conditioning means, wherein the housing (2) provides a washing chamber (3), and is formed with a water inlet (5) and a waste water outlet (7) with a shut-off element (9).

Description

 Apparatus for conditioning air

The invention relates to a device for conditioning of air, with a housing with air inlet and outlet and air conditioning tioning.

Airborne particulates at higher concentrations present a potential health hazard to the population with respect to respiratory diseases; individual risk groups may be particularly affected by this. Fine dust is particularly harmful to health, both because of the direct

(e.g., inflammation inducing) effect on their deposition in the alveoli as well as due to the attachment of toxic substances, preferably to particulate matter. Dust is defined as solid particles distributed in the atmosphere. Dust particles do not have a uniform chemical composition. Dust is a natural part of the air; anthropogenic activities increase the dust pollution of the atmosphere directly and indirectly. Direct emission means the release of dust-laden exhaust air; the direct dust emissions are documented in the emission register. Industry, building heating and vehicle traffic are responsible for about the same amount of dust emissions. In addition, there are still indirect anthropogenic dust emissions, which are often referred to as secondary dust sources. These include e.g. Dust raising from the ground

(Motor vehicle traffic, construction sites, etc.), increased dust emissions from altered land use (agriculture) or dust formation by particle-forming gas reactions (such as the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfate or from nitrogen dioxide to nitrate, etc.).

Fundamental to the behavior of the dust in the atmosphere is that the dust particles have a very broad particle size distribution; It ranges from the smallest particles, which consist of a few molecules, to particles with diameters larger than 50 μm.

Small particles up to 1 μm float in the atmosphere without apparent sedimentation velocity; the residence time for these small dust particles is given in the literature as 4-10 days. Because of the residence time of up to 10 days, Dust a long distance transport possible. As the particle diameter increases, the sedimentation rate increases so that larger particles have a short residence time in the atmosphere. The particle size distribution of the dust particles in the atmosphere is to be understood as equilibrium process: Through the constant new formation of smallest particles by particle-forming gas reactions, the coagulation of smaller particles into larger particles and the sedimentation of the larger particles there is a dynamic equilibrium, by condensation processes in the cloud formation and washing out of dust particles is still modified by rain.

Today, air pollution is many times higher than it was a few years ago, and it has been found that the airways of people in buildings are often 50-60 times more likely to be polluted than outdoors, due to good building insulation. More than 80% of all diseases are caused by the respiratory system. Dust, especially particulate matter, is a particular problem in the air. On traffic routes, in particular highways, particulate matter emissions are measured in order to take measures when predetermined maximum values are reached. In contrast, the particulate matter in buildings, especially in homes, attributed no further importance, which in demarcated premises often higher concentrations of dust pollution are given as outdoors. As far as ventilation and air conditioning systems are available in commercial and industrial companies, they can often not fulfill their function since the air filters provided for air purification become very dirty in a short time and are rarely changed.

Known devices for cleaning, regeneration or general conditioning of air, especially in the field of closed rooms, such as according to WO 02/25180 Al, DE 10 2005 004 734 Al or DE 10 2004 027354 Al, use primarily filters for air purification. Moreover, from the aforementioned WO 02/25180 A, additional components, such as ionization, ozonization and perfume components, are already known. However, as mentioned, such devices with filters, such as nonwovens, only limited for conditioning, especially cleaning or regeneration, of indoor air are suitable because the filter quickly pollute and are not changed frequently enough. The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a generic device that can be operated virtually maintenance-free over long periods of time, and due to the reliable cleaning of air numerous health, but also provides technical and economic benefits. The solution for this is based in particular on, without conventional filters, for example made of nonwovens, get along and remove the pollutants, especially particulate matter, in other ways from the air.

To solve this problem, the invention provides a device as defined in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention thus provides a filterless, maintenance-free device in which the air is passed through a washing chamber, with a water bath, instead of through a conventional filter to remove the dusts, other particles, etc. from the air. The present device is suitable for numerous applications and creates a clean airspace climate. In this context, optional additional components are further advantageous, such as an ozone unit for generating ozone by means of electromagnetic radiation; for a silver ion unit which produces silver ions for bacteriological germ killing to enrich the water therewith; In order to bind particles in the water, an ultrasonic transducer unit may further be used and controlled with a, for example dependent on the air flow velocity, modulation voltage.

In order to reduce the surface tension of the water, a polarization can be carried out with the aid of a polarization unit. It is also advantageous to provide a C0 ₂ ~ reduction unit for the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) in the air, which sprays calcium carbonate powder into the wash chamber. A further advantageous embodiment provides to assign a fragrance dosing unit to realize by spraying fragrance oils a pleasant coordinated indoor climate. By a nonwoven roll unit with a drivable, immersed in the water bath of the wash chamber nonwoven tape sedimentation of nicotine and water-soluble pollutants of the air can be achieved; The nonwoven tape is preferably cleaned continuously by the ultrasonic transducer unit in a water bath. With the help of heating and / or cooling elements, with appropriate heating or cooling circuits can Furthermore, a preheating or pre-cooling of the air can be achieved.

The present device is energy efficient and can be operated in a recirculation mode, which also allows for significant energy savings compared to known devices.

In addition, when connecting vacuum cleaner pipes to the air inlet, the apparatus can be used as the central vacuum cleaner system, without any dust load on the room air being the consequence. Even with the use of the device in painting essential advantages are achieved, being made possible by the extraction of water-soluble paints in the water long Umluftbetriebszeiten. In addition, the proportion of paint in the wastewater can be recovered from this.

An important element in the present device is also the obturator, by means of which, e.g. cyclically, the wastewater discharge is made possible for the removal of the wastewater enriched with substances taken from the air. This obturator is preferably formed by a slide, wherein in particular a slide cassette unit is provided for attachment to the housing of the device. In order to enable quick actuation of the obturator or slide, a rack drive with electric motor, a corresponding gear and a rack connected to the obturator can be provided.

For sucking air through the housing, a blower unit can be provided, which can be designed as a separate component and can be assembled with the housing. For the guidance of the air inside the housing in order to guide it through the water bath, an air guide element is preferably also arranged in the housing, which is curved in such a way that air vortexes are avoided as much as possible and a laminar air flow from the air inlet into the water bath is ensured.

The present maintenance-free, filterless air conditioning device can be firmly connected via the shut-off device to a special or an existing drainage system, so that dirty water can be discharged via the shut-off device. The water supply is fixed, so that the water bath is renewed maintenance-free. Apart from the health Benefits works in this way the present filterless, maintenance-free device highly economical.

The guidance of air through the housing and thereby in particular through the water bath on the basis of a pressure difference control, wherein the blower unit, in particular a mounted on the top of the housing blower unit, is controlled accordingly to guide the required volume of air through the water. In this case, various parameters are determined, such as the actual pressure difference in relation to a predetermined target differential pressure, the water level in the water, the determination of the air flow, then optionally provided in the housing louvers as well as the fan motor and the water inlet or the obturator be controlled so as to achieve the desired air flow rate and degree of purification.

The invention will be explained below with reference to particularly preferred embodiments, to which it should not be limited, and with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a device according to the invention seen from two different sides, wherein in

Fig. 2, the front wall of the housing is broken away to make various additional components apparent;

3 shows an ultrasonic transducer, as can be seen on the housing in FIG. 2, viewed from the inside of the housing;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing various different frequency drive signals (in arbitrary units, AU, over frequency) for the US converter unit; FIG.

5 shows a blower unit to be mounted on the housing with the washing chamber together with the drive motor;

Fig. 6 in the sub-figures 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, a slider cassette unit in front view, plan view, side view and axonometric view;

7 is a block diagram of the control structure and principle of operation of the device according to the invention;

8 schematically shows an arrangement with two interconnected devices according to the invention, wherein the air circulation lation or provided for switching to recirculation air provided louvers are illustrated; and

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the pressure difference control for the guidance of air through the device according to the invention.

In Fig. 1 and 2 is a device 1 for conditioning, in particular cleaning, sterilization, etc., of air, in particular room air, shown, wherein this device 1 comprises a housing 2 containing a water bath (the water level is shown in FIG. 8) and thus forms a washing chamber 3. The housing 2 includes a viewing window or a revision opening 4, so as to be able to visually check the water level in the washing chamber 3 and optionally, after draining the water from the washing chamber 3 by opening the transparent lid of the viewing window 4 into the interior of the housing. 2 to be able to intervene, for example, to remove objects.

The housing 2 further has at its inclined bottom only a very schematically indicated water connection as a water inlet 5 and on a slide cassette unit 6 at the bottom of the housing 2, a drain pipe as a water outlet 7. The slider cassette unit 6 has a motor 8 for driving a not shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2, but illustrated in Fig. 6 slide valve or generally a slide as obturator 9. The motor 8 drives the obturator 9 via a gear unit 10 on a lower part 11 of the cassette unit 6, wherein the transmission unit 10 further includes a toothed rail 12 which is connected to the obturator 9 - in an upper part 13 of the cassette unit 6. The obturator 9, especially the slide is sealed in the cassette shell 13 via a ring seal 14 slidably. Furthermore, slide guide rods 15 can be seen in FIG. 6C to ensure exact movement of the obturator or slide 9.

With such a design of the slide-obturator 9 and its drive unit can easily a slide speed of, for example, 0.4 m / s can be achieved. This is advantageous for a rapid discharge of dirty water or for the regulation of the water level in the washing chamber 3. 1 and 2 is further, for example, placed on the housing 2, a blower unit 16 with a drive motor 17 and arranged in the interior of the housing of the blower unit 16, in Fig. 2 schematically indicated turbine runner 18 is provided.

For the supply of air to be cleaned, an air inlet 19, for example in the form of a pipe elbow or nozzle, see FIG.

1, attached to the housing 2, and below it are on the housing

2, as further seen in FIG. 1, a dosing unit 20 for fragrances for room air freshening, furthermore a CO ₂ reduction unit 21 and, below it, an ozone unit 22 for generating and emitting ozone is cultivated in the washing chamber 3. On the opposite side of the air inlet 19, an air outlet 23 is provided on the blower unit 16, cf. Except Fig. 1, in particular Fig. 2.

The ozone unit 22 includes an electromagnetic irradiation unit, not further shown, for generating waves having a wavelength of, for example, 160 nm to 300 nm. By switching between different wavelengths, ozone formation can be controlled, with the ozone helping to kill germs and bacteria in the room air supplied.

The C0 ₂ reduction unit 21 has a metering device for the delivery of calcium carbonate powder (lime powder) into the washing chamber 3, wherein this lime powder is sprayed into the washing chamber 3. CaCO ₃ is sparingly soluble in water, but in the presence of CO ₂ (carbon dioxide) the solubility increases 100-fold. This gives rise to the easily soluble calcium hydrogen carbonate, Ca (HCO ₃ ) 2, which occurs in natural waters. For example, a Venturi 21A may be used to inject calcium carbonate.

The fragrance dosing unit 20 can be equipped with various fragrance oils which are injected into the washing chamber 3 via a nozzle 20A. By several outside attached Duftölbehälter can optionally be enriched the room air with different fragrance oils.

In the interior of the housing 2, as shown in FIG. 2, an air guide element 24 is arranged in order to supply the sucked, to be cleaned air from the air inlet 19 into the housing 2 in a lami- naren flow down into the water bath 25, as shown in Fig. 8, (where there, the water level 26 is indicated schematically) to conduct. In this way disturbing turbulent air flows can be prevented. In the region of this air guide element 24, in the region of the bottom of the housing 2, a polarization unit 27 is provided, this polarization unit 27 serving to dipole the water, thereby reducing the surface tension. In addition, due to the dipole effect of the water molecules, any charged particles in the air can be better bound to the water molecules. Even with water-soluble pollutants in the air, such as nicotine, an improved absorption of these pollutants in the water is achieved.

Further, in this lower entrance side area of the housing 2, silver electrodes belonging to a silver ion unit 28 are provided so as to provide the water bath 25 with silver ions so as to improve the sterilization of the air. The silver electrodes are inserted into the water chamber 3 with a flange guide (not shown). A corresponding measuring device monitors the silver concentration in the water bath 25. It is also conceivable, however, for larger plants, to prepare the silver ions in an external container and to feed them via a peristaltic pump to the water chamber 3.

On the right side of the housing according to the illustration in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ultrasound (US) converter unit 29 is mounted on the housing. As can be seen from Fig. 2 also from Fig. 3, in the installed state of the US converter unit 29 whose actual US converter 30 at an angle of 45 ° obliquely downward directed to the ultrasonic waves at this angle in the Water bath, ie the water chamber 3, to radiate.

The US transducer unit 29 serves to cavitate the medium, whereby trapped in air bubbles particles are easily dissolved out. The tilt of the US converter 30 favors the effect of the ultrasonic waves, which counteract the rising air bubbles (with particles). For example, depending on the size of the particles in the air, the US converters operate in a frequency range between 4OkHz and IMHz, and are driven sequentially in frequency and power. Different frequencies are used, preferably in each case numerous multiples of a fundamental frequency, so as to achieve interleaving of the wave crests and troughs; see. Fig. 4, in which various waves are shown schematically in connection with particles. In addition, half-wave control is used, as also shown in Fig. 4, to increase the power density per unit area. As a result, the smallest particles in the air can be detected with enormously high power densities. Instead of as shown in Fig. 3, of course, in the US converter unit 29 more, for example, five single-US converter, are used in a row in a row. For example, the US converter unit 29 generates a peak power of 2kW at full power, and can be operated in pulse width modulation (PWM) mode. The power depends on the air flow and is regulated accordingly to allow economic operation.

Then, from Fig. 2 still a nonwoven roll unit 31 can be seen, which consists of an arrangement with offset by 120 ° with respect to conveyor belt rollers over which a nonwoven belt 32 runs, which binds water-soluble residual pollutants such as nicotine on a large deposition surface. The nonwoven web 32 which dips into the water bath 25 (FIG. 8) at the bottom of the nonwoven roll unit 30 and binds the residual water-soluble contaminants is recovered in the water bath 25 by means of the US transducer unit 29 or by means of US Pat -Wander unit 29 emitted ultrasonic waves cleaned. The fleece belt 32 runs counter to the air flow, and with the help of the belt speed, the humidity can be controlled, i. the nonwoven roll unit 31 then acts as a humidifier.

Only schematically indicated in Fig. 2 heating and cooling coils 33A, 33B in the washing chamber 3, so as to accomplish a preheating or pre-cooling of the air. For this air conditioning, the heating and / or cooling elements (pipe coils) 33A, 33B can be connected to corresponding heating or cooling systems.

In Fig. 7, a control scheme for the present apparatus 1 is illustrated, wherein the system with the washing chamber 3 is shown centrally, for which purpose the US converter unit 29, the silver ion unit 28, the heating or cooling elements 33rd , the C0 ₂ reduction unit 21, the polarization unit 27, the nonwoven roll unit 31, the dosing unit 20, the obturator 9 or the associated cassette unit 6 with the water outlet 7, the water inlet unit with the inlet 5, the ozone unit 22 and the various associated sensors and sensors (not shown in detail) belong.

For a better overview, the additional units 28, 29, 22, 20, 21 and 27 are also shown drawn from the washing chamber 3 in FIG. 7, and additionally a controller unit is illustrated at 40. In detail, in the diagram of Fig. 7 with a block 41 (5) illustrates the water inlet unit and the measurement of dirty water, the actual drain and separator unit - with regard to an extraction of water-soluble paints and solid components, etc. - with a block 42 (7) in Fig. 7 is illustrated. At 43, a container cleaning unit not further explained in FIGS. 1 and 2 (for example with the aid of high-pressure washing nozzles) is indicated, and likewise with this block 43 the connection of the heating or cooling elements 33A, 33B to corresponding circuits, for preheating or pre-cooling, as well as the nonwoven roll unit 31 in conjunction with a nicotine separator, see. the nonwoven roll unit 31 in Fig. 2, to be indicated.

Furthermore, a block 44 schematically illustrates the air guidance and measurement and a block 45 an exhaust air and recirculation operating unit, belonging at 46 a recirculation control and air quality measurement, combined with a temperature and humidity measurement and a CO ₂ measurement , is illustrated. Apart from the recirculation mode, operation is also conceivable in which a supply air to be purified is supplied from the outside, cf. For example, the air inlet 19 in Fig. 1, wherein furthermore, as mentioned, a vacuum cleaner, a suction hose in detail, can be connected to this air inlet 19 so as to realize a vacuum cleaner operation with the aid of the device 1, see. Block 47 in Fig. 7. With 48 is a supply air and recirculating air control unit with associated control flaps (see the louvers 49, 50, 51, 52 in Fig. 8) shown, so that in total from the scheme in Fig. 7 shows that either a recirculation mode (via the unit 46) or an operation with cleaning of separate air supply can be set. Finally, FIG. 7 also shows in FIG. 7 the supply of clean air for further use, for example also for compressed air compressors or for conveying drinks in dispensing systems. The blower unit 16 is further associated with a drive controller 54.

In FIG. 8, unless the components or modules have already been explained, a water inlet system 55 and a drainage system 56 for the dirty water and, further, an air line 57 for circulating operation are illustrated. Further, (suction) blower units 16A, 16B are shown, and at 23A, the purified, conditioned air is discharged as desired.

In Fig. 9, a pressure difference scheme is shown, wherein at 60 the sensor inputs (collected) are illustrated. Corresponding data is fed to a controller 61, for example a microprocessor or microcomputer, wherein additional measuring inputs for the controller 61 are also present. By way of example, FIG. 9 shows a block 62 for counting the water feed (in liters). Further, at 63 is a water level measurement in cm, at 64 a measurement of the water temperature with density correction, at 65 a measurement of the hydrostatic pressure, at 66 the target value specification for the differential pressure, at 67 the actual value determination of the differential pressure and at 68 illustrates a tachogenerator signal for driving the blower unit 16. On the output side are at the controller 61, a control 69 of the louvers 49, 50, 51, 52 (FIG. 9), a driver 70 for the US converter 30 in terms of voltage and frequency, a drive 71 for the water inlet and finally a control 72 for the Slider 9 illustrates.

In this way, waste water is automatically discharged through the obturator 9, and the water is renewed maintenance-free as a cleaning medium via a permanently connected water feed. For the air flow, a pressure difference control is provided so as to pass the respective air volume through the water of the washing chamber 3. The various parameters mentioned above are for this purpose detected by the corresponding sensors or sensors, respective setpoint and actual values are compared with each other, and the required manipulated variables are applied to corresponding actuators (not shown), cf. the controls 69-72 in Fig. 9.

Claims

Claims: Device (1) for conditioning air, comprising a housing (2) with air inlet and outlet and air conditioning means, characterized in that the housing (2) has a washing chamber (3) provides and with a water inlet (5) and a waste water drain (7) with obturator (9) is formed. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the obturator (9) by a slide (9) is formed. 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the slide (9) in an add-on cassette unit (6) is executed. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the slide (9) is connected to a rack and pinion drive. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the housing (2) is associated with a blower unit (16) for conducting air to be conditioned through the housing (2) or the washing chamber (3). 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (2) is associated with an ozone unit (22). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the housing (2) an air guide element (24) is arranged. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the housing (2) is arranged a nonwoven roll unit (31) with a drivable, in the water in the washing chamber (3) dipping nonwoven tape (32). 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the housing (2) an ultrasonic (US) -Wandlereinheit (29) is arranged. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the US converter unit (29) is inclined at an angle of about 45 ° downwards. 11. The device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the US converter unit (29) has a half-wave control on ^¬ . 12. Device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the US converter unit (29) is designed for a multi-frequency operation. 13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that in the washing chamber (3) a silver ion unit (28) is arranged. 14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in the washing chamber (3) a polarization unit (27) is arranged for Dipolausrichtung in the water. 15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the washing chamber (3) is a C0 ₂ -reduction unit (21) for spraying calcium carbonate powder into the washing chamber (3) is assigned. 16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the housing (2) is assigned a fragrance metering unit (20) for air freshening. 17. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that in the washing chamber (3) heating and / or cooling elements (33A, 33B) are mounted for Lufttemperierung.