TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for decreasing amount of particles from a gas flow and a ventilator using the method.

BACKGROUND ART

It is commonly known that it is possible to ionize particles e.g. of a gas with help of electrodes. Gas can be defined as a phase of matter, consisting of a collection of particles without a definite shape or volume that are in more or less random motion. An example of gas is air. Ionization is the physical process of converting a neutral atom or molecule into an ion by adding to or removing at least one charged particle from it.

Ionization takes place when an electric potential difference between two electrodes is created and a corona discharge between those two electrodes takes place. In electricity, a corona discharge is an electrical discharge brought on by the ionization of a fluid surrounding a conductor. This causes deflection of the ions toward one electrode with a lower potential and this deflection enables to transport particulate matter passing between the two electrodes to travel toward the electrode with the lower potential.

Problems relating with solutions according to the prior of art are e.g. that the ionized particles precipitate to the apparatus and those particles need to be removed e.g. mechanically from the inlet channel regularly to keep the apparatus in function.

Some ways for removing the particles from the apparatus have been introduced. As an illustration the publication US 2008 0120989 A1 introduces a dust particle collection means for trapping dust particles presented in the air. However, a problem with this solution is that particles precipitate in relation to the apparatus and that some kind of cleaning apparatus or procedure is needed for to keep the apparatus in function. With this procedure we refer, for example, mechanical cleaning or wash up episode or burning out the precipitate. The presented solutions have problems e.g. with the maintainability. Mechanical cleaning is demanding and time consuming. Water cleaning is not preferable to use either because water in relation to the electrical apparatus can cause short circuits or water can freeze. Burning out the particles produces combustion gas to air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to alleviate the problems related to the known prior art solutions.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for decreasing amount of particles from an inlet gas flow, said apparatus being in relation to an inlet channel (204) and which apparatus comprises electrically chargeable ionization means (201 ) for ionizing at least part of said particles from the inlet gas flow, characterized in that, the ionization means is arranged to deflect the ionized particles outside the inlet channel via the electrical interaction between the ionization means and said ionized particles.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a ventilator, characterized in that the ventilator comprises the apparatus according to the invention.

Yet in accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided a method for decreasing amount of particles from an inlet gas flow, the method comprising charging electrically chargeable ionization means and charging at least part of said particles by means of the ionization means, characterized in that the method comprises deflecting said ionized particles from a gas flow outside an inlet channel by means of the electrical interaction between the ionization means and said ionized particles from a gas flow.

The need for maintenance of the system according to the invention can be at least decreased in some embodiments of the invention. Some embodiments of the invention offer a maintenance free system. The term maintenance can comprise e.g. the functions like cleaning or otherwise removing the particles from the system according to the invention. Because some embodiments of the system work with fewer maintenance operations per a time sequence or the maintenance can be even avoided in some embodiments the system is more user-friendly. Some embodiments of the invention offer better safety for a user by decreasing the danger of electric shocks and other injuries and also physical stress. FIGURES

Next the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention according to which the ionization means locates outside of the apparatus,

Figure 2a illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention according to which the ionization means locates inside of the apparatus,

Figure 2b illustrates a simplified principle level top-down image of the embodiment presented in Figure 2a,

Figure 2c illustrates another simplified principle level top-down image of the embodiment presented in Figure 2a,

Figure 3 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the invention according to which the ionization means locates inside of the apparatus,

Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment wherein the counterpart is arranged to aerodynamically form outlet gas flow from the inlet gas flow,

Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention according to which the ionization means locates inside of the apparatus and the apparatus comprises a neutralization mean,

Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention according to which the inlet gas flow and the outlet gas flow have the same direction motion, and

Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 presents an apparatus which is arranged to decrease amount of particles from an inlet gas flow (102) and deflect said ionized particles outside an inlet channel (103). The inlet channel (103) can be understood e.g. an opening for intake of gas flow. The reduction of particles is done by means of electrically chargeable ionization means (101 ) which function is to charge at least part of the particles from the inlet gas flow (102) and due to that the ionized particles are thereafter deflected from their heading direction. In more details, the ionization means (101 ) ionize the particles and based on the electrical repulsive force between the ionization means and ionized particles the ionization means deflects said particles away from the inlet opening of the inlet channel (103) already before they enter to the inlet channel (103). At least partially cleaned inlet gas flow (102) can despite of that enter freely into the inlet channel (103).

An ionization means (101 ) can be understood e.g. as a system suitable for ionization. This kind of means can comprise ionization component(s) like a peak/peaks or a rod/rods and the number of the components can vary from one to several. It is generally known that charge and electric field throngs to the points of the shape. Therefore it is preferably to use components which have shape of pointed at the end like a peak.

In the embodiment presented by Figure 1 ionization means (101 ) comprise several electrically chargeable peaks. Said peaks are charged by means of any kind of undefined power source, for example, a battery or power line.

The ionization means (101 ) can be arranged e.g. into the upstream in relation to an inlet gas flow of an inlet channel (103). Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment according to which the ionization means (101 ) locates outside of the apparatus. Whether said ionization means is positioned outside the apparatus, its function is to ionize particles from the gas flow and deflect them away from the inlet opening of the inlet channel (103) already before they enter to the inlet channel (103) and thereby decrease the amount of particles that enter the inlet channel (103).

According to another embodiment the ionization means locate inside the apparatus (see e.g. Figure 2a). In that case ionization mean's function is to ionize particles already accessed in the inlet channel and deflect them outside the inlet channel either by on its own via the electrical interaction between the ionization means and said ionized particles, or additionally by the help of an outlet gas flow and/or roller. Ionized means located inside the apparatus can moreover deflect at least part of the particles before they are accessed to the inlet channel. It is also worth of noticing that according to an embodiment the ionization means can locate partially outside and inside the apparatus. Figure 2a illustrates another exemplary embodiment whereby the ionization means (201 ) locates inside the apparatus. Ionization mean's (201 ) function is to ionize particles already accessed in the inlet channel (200) and deflect them outside the inlet channel. The peaks of said ionization means (201 ) are charged in similar way as they have been in above presented embodiment.

Figure 2a introduces an embodiment wherein the components of ionization means are arranged to form of a growing formation. Growing formation means that the ionization means comprise at least two ionization components, a first ionization component (201 a) and a second ionization component (201 b). The ionization components are arranged at least partially on the inlet gas flow's (2000) direction of motion in such a way that the inlet gas flow (2000) meets at first the first ionization component (201 a) and thereafter the second ionization component (201 b) and the head of the second ionization component (201 b) that is arranged to ionize the particles is arranged to reach longer than the head of the first ionization component (201 a) that is arranged to ionize the particles.

Figure 2a shows an embodiment wherein every ionization component (201a, 201 b, 201 c, 201d...) of the ionization means (201 ) reaches longer than the previous one. Put differently, ionization component 201 b is longer than 201 a and 201 c is longer than 201 b also 201 d is longer than 201 c and so on. Due to the growing formation the particles are deflected more efficiently because an average electric force that affects to the particles is greater. In this embodiment inlet gas flow enters substantially perpendicular to the ionization means. It is to be noted that in another embodiment the inclination angle between the ionization means and the gas flow can be different.

This embodiment comprises a counterpart (202) with an electric potential difference in relation to the ionization means and electric force leads the particles towards the counterpart. Gas flow is cleaned after said gas flow has passed by said ionization peaks. The cleaned gas flow continues to flow in the inlet channel (200). Figure 2a shows an embodiment which comprises also an outlet gas flow (2001 ), which may be created e.g. by means of a fan (205). The ionized particles on their way towards the counterpart are removed from the apparatus via the outlet gas flow (2001 ).

It is worth of noticing that in other embodiments the outlet gas flow can be produced in several other manners, as an illustration, whether the apparatus is in relation to any mobile device, like a car, an air flow caused by the movement of the mobile device can be used as the outlet gas flow. Another way to produce outlet gas flow is to use an aerodynamically formed means to form the outlet gas flow from the inlet gas flow. At the same time the aerodynamically formed means can be arranged as an electrical counterpart for the ionization means in order to aspirating the ionized particles more efficiently into the outlet gas flow using both the electrical interaction between the ionized particles and the counterpart as well as also the formed outlet gas flow.

The embodiment may also comprise a gas flow resistance (206) between the inlet (2000) and the outlet (2001 ) gas flows which function is to adjust the direction of the inlet (2000) and outlet (2001 ) gas flows and/or to prevent the flows influence on each other. In an embodiment of the invention the ionized particles passes through said gas flow resistance (206) from the inlet gas flow to the outlet gas flow via which they are removed from the apparatus. According to an embodiment the gas flow resistance (206) is charged to have electricity of the same sign as the ionizing means (201 ) have but the electric potential difference between the gas flow resistance (206) and the counterpart (202) is arranged to be lower than the electric potential difference between the ionization means (201 ) and th e counterpart (202). A gained advantage is that the charging of the gas flow resistance (206) in that way reduces adhering of ionized particles to the gas flow resistance (206) meanwhile they deflect towards the counterpart (202).

Even though Figure 2 presents an arrangement wherein the inlet gas flow (2000) and the outlet gas flow (2001 ) stream substantially adjacently, it is worth of noticing that other ways to construct the arrangement according to invention can be found as well. As an example, in an embodiment the inlet gas flow (2000) can be arranged inside the outlet gas flow (2001 ). This can be fulfilled e.g. in such a way that the inlet gas flow (2000) drifts along the inlet channel (200) which comprises at least one hole. The ionization means (201 ) can be placed e.g. at the center of said inlet channel (200). The ionization means (201 ) deflects the ionized particles outside said the inlet channel (200) through said hole to the outlet gas flow (2001 ) which drifts on the outside of said inlet channel (200). According to an embodiment the outlet gas flow (2001 ) is arranged inside a chamber which can be at least partially open but according to another embodiment said chamber does not exist at all.

Figures 2b and 2c are simplified principle level top-down pictures of the apparatus of Figure 2a. They do not contain all elements than can be found in Figure 2a.

Their purpose is to show some exemplary structures of the gas flow resistance (206). Figures show holes in the gas flow resistance for removing ionized particles from the inlet gas flow (2000) to the outlet gas flow (2001 ). The holes aspirate the ionized particles to the outlet gas flow. It is worth to notice that these holes can be arranged to have different shapes and directions. Figure 2b illustrates an example wherein the holes are slanting in relation to the gas flow resistance's (206) longitudinal direction and Figure 2c shows another embodiment wherein the holes are perpendicular in relation to the gas flow resistance's (206) longitudinal direction. According to an embodiment of the invention the shape of the holes can be changed or adjusted as well. All holes do not need to be arranged in the same way but they can be.

The embodiment illustrated by Figure 2a comprises a throttle (207) which is arranged in the outlet gas flow for decreasing the pressure in the outlet gas flow (2001 ) nearby the throttle (207) and thereby aspirating said ionized particles to said outlet gas flow (2001 ). The throttle works according to the Bernoulli's principle. It aspirates the ionized particles to the outlet gas flow even more efficiently compared to the apparatus without the throttle. As a conclusion the function of this throttle (207) in the embodiment presented by figure 2a is to intensify the particles way out of the apparatus.

Figure 3 illustrates another exemplary embodiment according to which the ionization means (301 ) locates inside of the apparatus. The ionization means (301 ) works in this embodiment similarly as it does in the previously presented embodiment.

Moreover, the apparatus may comprise a roller (302). According to an embodiment the roller also can be used to remove the particles of the inlet gas flow (3000) in addition to the ionization means (301 ). A function of the roller (302) is to capture said ionized particles to its relation and thereby additionally help to remove said particles outside of the inlet channel (303). According to an embodiment the roller (302) can have an electric potential difference compared to the ionization means (301 ). The electric potential difference can be caused by charging the roller (302). Alternatively the roller (302) can be only an uncharged medium and be positioned at least partially in an electric field created by the counterpart and said ionization means (301 ) and meanwhile the ionized particles aim towards the counterpart at least part of them are captured by the roller (302). Thereafter captured particles are rolled outside the apparatus by means of the roller (302). Rolling can be continuous process during the operation when amount of particles are decreased from the inlet gas flow (3000) or it can be periodic. Said captured particles can be moved from the roller outside of the inlet channel (303), for example, by means of gravitation force, mechanical cleaning, burning out the particles or vibrating said particles away.

The function of the roller (302) is to precipitate said particles in its relation or at least remove said particles outside the inlet channel (303).

According to an embodiment a roller (302) may also be charged. Thus said ionized particles aim to deflect towards the roller (302) and precipitates in its relation. Hereafter, the precipitated particles can be moved outside the inlet channel (303) by means of the roller (302). Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment comprising an aileron means (402) arranged to aerodynamically form outlet gas flow (404) from the inlet gas flow (4000). Moreover, the embodiment comprises an ionization means (401 ) which works e.g. as in the embodiment illustrated in the connection figure 2a. In this embodiment the aileron means may act as a counterpart for ionization means and comprises several holes (403) or slits to aerodynamically form the outlet gas flow (404). The number of holes (403) can vary from one to several.

The surrounding area of said hole can be, for example, formulated in such a way that it forms a flow resistance which leads portion of the inlet gas flow (4000) through said hole (403) because of the gas pressure in relation to the hole (403), in other words the outlet gas flow (404) is caused. The other possibility to create pressure in relation said hole (403) is to join a flow resistance (405) in relation to the inlet gas flow (4000) and said pressure causes outlet gas flow (404) through the hole (403). The formulation of said surrounding area of said hole (403) in such a way that it forms said flow resistance (405) which leads portion of the inlet gas flow (4000) through said hole (403) and joining said flow resistance (405) in relation to said inlet flow (4000) can be in use in an embodiment simultaneously or in other embodiment the one of them can be in use. The counterpart attracts ionized particles and they can be ejected outside the apparatus via the outlet gas flow (404).

The aileron means may also be arranged to form an outlet gas flow in the apparatus where the ionization means is arranged outside the inlet channel, as is depicted e.g. in connection with Figure 1.

Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment according to which an ionization means (502) is placed inside of the inlet channel (500) and the apparatus comprises a neutralization means (501 ) which comprises at least one neutralization component. A function of the neutralization means (501 ) is to neutralize ionized particles before they are deflected out from the apparatus. The neutralization means work in similar manner with ionization peaks (502) but is opposite charged comparing to the ionization means. Also in this context neutralization means (501 ) mean a component suitable for ionization. The function of the means is to discharge the ionized particles before they are removed outside the apparatus. This makes easier to remove particles from the apparatus than it would be whether the particles were charged, because after neutralizing operation no other forces affect them except the outlet gas flow (5001 ).

This embodiment comprises a chargeable ionization means (502), counterpart (504) and fan (503) all of which work in this embodiment as they do in the previously presented embodiment. However, it should be noted that the fan (503) is only exemplification of a means for causing the outlet gas flow (5001 ) and can be replaced by other kind of means, as is depicted elsewhere in this document.

Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention according to which the inlet gas flow (6000) and the outlet gas flow (6001 ) have substantially the same direction of motion.

There may be many components that have an effect on inlet gas flow's direction of motion e.g. arrangement's structure like a form of an inlet channel (600), factors of drifting forces like air temperatures, a gas flow resistance (606), counterpart etc. and the ionization means (601 ). In practice there will be a turbulent flow of gas, with gas molecules moving in all directions, but the principal direction of movement may be defined as the direction in which the largest net movement of inlet gas can be observed. The ionization means (601 ) is located associated with said inlet gas flow (6000) for ionizing particles that are in said inlet gas flow (6000).

Correspondingly, there may be many components that have an effect on outlet gas flow's (6001 ) direction of motion e.g. arrangement's structure like a form of an outlet channel (600) or components that are associated with said arrangement e.g. a fan, neutralization means, throttle, gas flow resistance (606), counterpart (602) etc. They are configured to define a principal direction of movement for the outlet gas flow, which in the embodiment of Figure 6 is essentially the same as the principal direction of movement defined for the inlet gas flow (6000). Making the directions of movement essentially the same may result in advantages in e.g. defining the trajectories for the particles that should be removed from the inlet gas flow (6000). A particle that enters the inlet channel (600) is moving within the inlet gas flow (6000) and has thus some intrinsic momentum in its direction of motion. After ionization, the electric field deflects the ionized particle from its initial trajectory and transfers it to the outlet gas flow (6001 ). If the principal direction of movement of the outlet gas flow is essentially the same in which the inlet gas was moving, the trajectory of the particle only needs to be deflected enough to transfer the particle from said inlet gas flow (6000); it is not necessary to force the particle to make a complete U-turn like in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2a. A significant part of the original momentum of the particle can be re-used when it joins the net movement of the outlet gas flow.

Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method according to the invention to decrease amount of particles from a gas flow. The first step (701 ) of the method is to charging at least one, electrically chargeable, ionization means. The second step (702) is to charging particles from a gas flow by means of the ionization means. The third and last step (703) in this particular embodiment is deflecting said ionized particles outside an inlet channel via the electrical interaction between the ionization means and said particles. According to other embodiments the method can also comprise other kinds of steps like deflecting particles out of the inlet channel or the apparatus, for example, by charging a counterpart for directing said ionized particles, neutralizing ionized ions before they are deflected outside the inlet channel or apparatus and using an outlet flow or even a roller for helping to remove said particles outside the inlet channels and apparatus.

RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

Although the description above contains many specifics, these are merely provided to illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limitations of the invention's scope. It should be also noted that the many specifics can be combined in various ways in a single or multiple embodiments. Thus it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the apparatuses and processes of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.