THE AIR

Technical Field of the Invention The invention relates to a novel device and materials to capture and clean the air especially from Particulate Matter (PM) less than PM10 which is a mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air.

Materials used to catch Nano Particles are: Water and soap foam, and relevant chemicals which catch certain air pollutants. The invention is designed to suck and mix outside air with water and soap foam. The mix is circulating inside the Vessel by water pump and sprayed by ejectors. Ejectors split-up air into small pieces in water solution. The air is moving up through water solution and soap foam. On the top of the Vessel, there are felts to catch the water and soap foam drops. Clean Air is going out passing through felts and upper holes outlets in the wall of the Vessel. Background of the Invention

What are the main air pollutants? ^{M 1}

Primary air pollutants are directly emitted into the atmosphere e.g. from vehicle exhausts or chimneys. ^{M 1}

• PM Particulate Matter (primary) - A mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. PM10 refers to particles with a diameter larger than 2.5 micrometers and smaller than 10 micrometers. PM2.5 refers to fine particles with diameters of 2.5 micrometers and smaller. Both types can easily be inhaled. ^{M 1}

• Primary air pollutants are: S0 _{2 -} Sulphur Dioxide, NOx - Nitrogen (di)oxide, NH ₃ - Ammonia and VOC - Volatile Organic Compounds. ^{M 1} Secondary air pollutants are formed in the atmosphere through oxidation and reactions between primary air pollutants. ^{M 1} • PM Particulate Matter (secondary) - Formed in the atmosphere from S0 _{2 -} Sulphur Dioxide, NOx - Nitrogen (di)oxide, NH ₃ - Ammonia and VOC - Volatile Organic Compounds. ⁽¹⁾

• NH ₃ , S0 ₂ and NOx react in the atmosphere to form compounds.

These compounds form new particles in the air or condense onto pre-existing particles to form inorganic aerosols. ^{M 1}

• Combination of NH ₃ and SO2 forms ammonium sulphate.

• Combination of NH ₃ and NOx forms ammonium nitrate.

• Some VOC are oxidized to form compounds, which then form secondary organic aerosols.

The secondary particulates and organic aerosols also affect health, materials, agriculture and the environment. ^{M 1}

What are the main sources of air pollutants? ^{M 1}

• Electricity and Heat Production

• Commercial and Household Heating

• Industrial and Construction activities

• Petroleum Refining and Storage

• Road Transport

• Agriculture Why are air pollutants a problem? ^{M 1}

Air Pollutants have effect directly to human health, materials, agriculture and the environment.

Current situation

As a result of researches based on the invention and similar documents, it has been observed that studies about air cleaning devices have been made. US2585440A patent document discloses improvements in air-cleaners and washers and in particular to an improved air-cleaner and washer for separating air-borne impurities such as dirt, dust, ash, etc., from air in industrial use or in geographical areas where the air is mixed with impurities. US3811252A patent document discloses air-cleaning device which removes particulate matter from an input air stream and includes a wash section in which spaced apart air stream baffle members are removable adjustably and pivotally secured to supporting walls, a settling tank, a moisture eliminator section, and a suction fan section. According to documents US3811252A and US2585440A water or washing liquids pass through the air stream which contains impurities such as dirt, dust, ash, etc.

According to equation (1) there are fewer probabilities for washing liquids to catch and stably adsorb Particulate Matters less than PM10.

Problem Solving with Physics and Chemistry Theory of particles Adhesion at a solid / liquid / gas interface is controlled by the surface forces and fluid dynamics of the system. Adhesion occurs when a bubble, droplet, or particle of material transfers to and remains at the interface of two other materials due to surface forces. The adhering species has a greater affinity for residing at the interface than for either of the other two phases. ⁱ²⁾

The ability of a solid particle to attach to a bubble surface in a liquid is dependent upon the surface properties of the system. For adhesion to occur, a three-phase contact must exist such that the attractive and repulsive forces of the solid species are in equilibrium. Often, the liquid is an aqueous solution and the bubbles consist of air. An adhering particle will therefore be at least slightly hydrophobic; that is, it will prefer the air phase to the water phase. ⁱ²⁾

Particle to bubble attachment can be modelled as a series of sub processes. Each of these sub processes has a probability of occurrence, so that the overall probability of adhesion of a particle to a rising bubble, P, is defined as

P Overall = P( ' P.A ' PTPC‘ P tab (1)

Where:

Pc is the probability of bubble particle collision, PA is the probability of particle attachment,

PTPC is the probability of the formation of a stable three-phase contact, and Pstab is the probability that an adsorbed particle will remain stably attached.

The first and second of these probabilities depend strongly on the fluid dynamics of the system, while the third and fourth probabilities depend upon the surface phenomena. ⁱ²⁾

Particle Attachment to Bubble Surface The probability of collision only denotes that a particle has a chance to adsorb to the bubble surface.

Probability of Formation of Three-Phase Contact

Once the thin film has ruptured, three-phase contact points must form between the bubble, particle, and liquid. A contact point must form quickly to prevent the particle from immediately detaching from the surface.

Probability of Attachment Stability

If attachment does occur, a particle must remain adsorbed to the bubble surface in order to be successfully floated.

Probability of Attachment by Sliding This equation requires an estimate for the particle induction time, which is not available. The particle induction time is dependent upon the particle size.

Probability of Formation of Three-Phase Contact Point

The probability of the formation of the three-phase contact point is assumed to be unity for all particle sizes. Probability of Attachment Stability

It’s the probability of particle stability from the forces of attachment and detachment. ⁱ²⁾ Objects and Summary of the Invention

Materials:

To catch hydrophobic particles two common surfactant types in flotation are using in the process of invention: fatty-acid based soaps and sodium silicate/sulfonic acid based surfactants. Invention Efficiency:

According to equation (1) and experiments done with the invented device and materials used in the process report records show that there is no possibility for Particulate Matter (PM) to escape therefore the invention is capturing Particulate Matters (PM) with 100 % efficiency.

Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1: Front cross section general view of the invention

Figure 2: Top cross section view illustrating water solution circulation

Figure 3: Top cross section view illustrating Air supply and circulation to the Vessel

Figure 4: Vessel cross section view with separation Vessels and Water Solution Level (40)

Figure 5: Foam forming illustration with different diameters (J, K, L) in Room Spaces (A, B, C) and Clean Air (P) Blowing Out in the process

Figure 6: Travel and capture of Particulate Matters (PM) in the invention

Figure 7: Electrical Panel view illustrating Ambient Air Conditions Measurements and Control

Figure 8: Air Ultrasonic Humidifier working principal illustration, humid dust (O) creation and releasing of clean air (P) Explanations of process in the figures have been made as follows:

A. Room Space Created by Inner Separation Vessel (23)

B. Room Space Created by Middle (22) and Inner Separation Vessels (23)

C. Room Space Created by the Vessel (19) and Middle Separation Vessels (22) D. Water solution way to Vessel (19)

E. Water solution intake

F. Air way to Vessel

G. Dirty Air intake

H. Dirty water flow

I. Water and soap solution in the Vessel

J. Soap Bubbles with diameter up to 2 mm created by water solution circulation from pump in Room Space A

K. Soap Bubbles with diameter up to 4 mm created by passing bubbles from Room

Space A holes (18.3) in Inner Separation Vessel to Room Space B

L. Soap Bubbles with diameter up to 5 mm created by passing bubbles from Room Space B holes (18.2) in Middle Separation Vessel to Room Space C

M. Path of Nano Particulate Matters (PM) Travel

N. Water in Ultrasonic Air Humidifier

O. Water Vapors and Humidity Created by Ultrasonic Air Humidifier

P. Clean Air

The parts in the figures have been numbered as follows:

1. Device Frame

2. Water Pump

3. Air Fan

4. Air Fan Pressure Pipe

5. Water Pump Electric Motor

6. Air Fan Suction Pipe

7. Water Pump Suction Pipe

8. Water Pump Pressure Pipe

9. Water Suction Collector

10. Water Pressure Collector

11. Water Pressure Pipe

12. Water Suction Pipe

13. Mixing Ύ Pipe

14. Air Pressure Pipe

15. Air Pressure Ring 16. Felts

17. Top Cover

18. Air Outlet Holes

18.1. Air Outlet Holes in the Vessel

18.2. Air Outlet Holes in Middle Separation Vessel

18.3. Air Outlet Holes in Inner Separation Vessel

18.4. Air Outlet Holes in Top Cover

19. Vessel

20. Waste Water Outlet Valve

21. Water Suction Connection Kit

22. Middle Separation Vessel

23. Inner Separation Vessel

24. Ejectors

25. Fan Electric Motor

26. Air Pressure Pipe Connection Kit

27. Automatic Flow Control Valve

28. Electric Control Panel

29. Ultrasonic Air Humidifier

30. Particle Counter Sensor

31. Humidity Sensor

32. Thermometer

33. Barometer

34. Monitor Screen

35. PLC - Programmable Logic Control

36. AC Speed Driver - Fan Electric Motor

37. Flow Control Relay

38. Internet Connection Port

39. Water filling cap

40. Water Solution Level Working principle of device

Contaminated dirty air (G) which carry Particulate Matter (M) is sucked through air suction pipe (6) by fan (3) run with electric motor (25) installed in Device Frame (1) and pressurized through pipe (4) in Air Pressure Ring (15). Pressurized air (F) is forced to Ejectors (24) through pipes (14), pipe connectors (26) and Ύ mixing pipes (13). Water pump (2) run by electric motor (5) suck water solution with suction connection kit (21) through pipe (7) from collector (9) which is connected to water solution intake (E) by suction pipes (12) and pressurized (D) through pipe (8), distributor (10), pipe connectors (11) and Ύ mixing pipes (13). In Ύ mixing pipes (13) dirty air is mixing with circulating water solution (I). The mix of air (F) and water solution (I) is sprayed by Ejectors (24) inside Water solution (I) in the Vessel (19). Spraying the mixture of solution with air (F) in the water solution (I) is creating mini Soap Bubbles (J) with diameter up to 2 mm. Water Solution level (40) and intake (E) is always over Ejectors (24) and under Air Outlet Holes in Middle Separation Vessel (18.2).

Soap Bubbles (J) creation depends on air and water mixture speed. Air speed is controlling by Fan Electric Motor’s (25) AC Driver (36) and water flow speed is controlling by Automatic Water Flow Control Valve (26) and Flow Control Relay (37). Mini Soap Bubbles (J) is filling Room Space (A) surrounded by Inner Separation Vessel (23). Soap Bubbles (J) pass to Room Space (B) through Air Outlet Holes (18.3) in Inner Separation Vessel (23). After filling Room Space (B) Soap Bubbles (K) pass to Room Space (C) through Air Outlet Holes (18.2) in Middle Separation Vessel (22) and getting bigger in diameter. Soap Bubbles (L) fill the Vessel (19) as shown in Fig. 5. Soap Bubble diameter depends on diameter of Air Outlet Holes (18) drilled in Vessels. Creating more bubbles means to increase the overall probability of adhesion of a particle to a rising bubble, P _OV eraii, as defined in equation (1). Water solution (I) is circulating in the Vessel (19) by Water Pump (2). Dirty water (H) is drained by valve (20) and fresh water and small amount of liquid soap is supplied from Water filling Cap (39) inside to Vessel (19).

Water itself catches hydrophilic Nano Particles (M) and Soap foam catches hydrophobic Nano Particles (M) and increase Probability of Formation of Three-Phase Contact. Felts (16) are installed before Air Outlet Holes (18) to catch water drops and stop soap bubbles to go out from the Vessel (19). Cleaned Air (P) is leaving out the Vessel (19) through Air Outlet Holes (18.1) and (18.4) in Top Cover (17). Particle Counter Sensor (30) counts PM2.5 and PM10 per m ³ and is monitored by Monitor Screen (34) mounted in Electric Control Panel (28). Device working time is programmed by PLC (Programmable Logic Control) (35) according to speed of Air Fan (3) set and Particle Counter Sensor (30) feedback to PLC (35). Water solution (I) flow is programmed and controlled by Automatic Flow Control Valve (27) by PLC (35). Ambient Temperature is measured by Thermometer (32) and shown by Monitor Screen (34).

Ambient Pressure is measured by Barometer (33) and shown by Monitor Screen (34).

Ambient Humidity is measured by Humidity Sensor (31) and monitored by Monitor Screen (34). Ultrasonic Air Humidifier (29) is installed in the device in case of need for humidity in the room and Humidity is programmed by PLC (Programmable Logic Control) (35) and working time of Ultrasonic Air Humidifier (29) is set according to measured Ambient Humidity by Humidity Sensor (31). Water (N) returned to Humidity (O) leaves the device together with Clean Air (P) through Outlet Holes (18.1) and (18.4).

By Internet Connection Port (38) device has opportunity in applications for cellphone and Industry 4.0 controls.

REFERENCES:

(1)

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/ en/opportunities/h2020/topics/cleanair

-0l-20l5.html

(2) Particle and bubble interactions in flotation systems, Zachery Ian Emerson, Auburn University, May 10, 2007, Auburn, Alabama