WO2011061485A1

WO2011061485A1 - Ionisation apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2011061485A1
Application number: PCT/GB2010/002112
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin Froud; David John Martin
Original assignee: Cso Technik Ltd
Priority date: 2009-11-19
Filing date: 2010-11-16
Publication date: 2011-05-26
Also published as: GB0920321D0

Abstract

Ionisation apparatus (10) comprising a generally tubular electrically conductive wall (12). The latter defines a passageway (14). An ioniser (18) is positioned within and to one side (16) of the passageway (14) in such a manner that the ioniser (18) generates an ionising field substantially everywhere in a cross-section of the passageway (14).

Description

Ionisation apparatus

The present invention relates to an ionisation apparatus .

Previously proposed ionisation apparatus comprises one or more corona discharge tubes arranged within an air duct. Air flowing through the duct is ionised by the corona discharge tubes.

Such an arrangement is inefficient both in terms of energy utilisation and percentage volume of air ionised to a satisfactory level of ionisation.

According to the present invention there is provided ionisation apparatus comprising a generally tubular electrically conductive wall which defines a passageway and an ioniser positioned within and to one side of the passageway in such a manner that the ioniser generates an ionising field substantially everywhere in a cross- section of the passageway.

Preferably the passageway has dimensions such that the ionising field remains substantially wholly within the passageway when air flows therethrough.

An advantage of providing an ionising field everywhere in a cross-section of the passageway is that air flowing therethrough cannot avoid the ionising field so that the efficiency of the ionising device is good.

Preferably the ionising field is generated by a bipolar ioniser.

Advantageously the bipolar ioniser comprises a recess which causes the ionising field to extend from the ioniser in a preferred direction.

Preferably the opening of the recess is directed towards the axis of the passageway.

Preferably the passageway is of substantially uniform diameter along substantially its whole length.

Advantageously the mouth of the wall at an intended upstream end of the passageway is flared, preferably bell shaped.

A passageway of uniform diameter improves the efficiency of the air flow through the passageway. A bell shaped mouth portion smoothes the air flow as it enters the passageway, improving the efficiency of the contact between the air and the ionising field, and reducing the energy required to operate the device.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a plurality of such tubular walls with respective such ionisers with the walls arranged parallel to one another to form an array.

This arrangement allows a larger throughput of air to be ionised.

Preferably the electrically conductive wall is constructed from steel or aluminium.

Advantageously such apparatus forms part of an ionising installation.

An ionising installation can reduce odour levels in or improve the freshness of the air in a particular place or within a part or parts of a building.

Advantageously the ionisation apparatus is supplied with a flow of air by a blower, for example a fan. Preferably a filter is located upstream of the blower, so that the latter draws air from a supply of filtered air, preferably filtered fresh air.

Advantageously the ionisation apparatus supplies ionised air to a configuration of ducts arranged to distribute the ionised air around a part or parts of a building, or throughout the whole of a building.

Advantageously the ionisation installation comprises a blower which supplies air to an array of such tubular walls .

Advantageously, the ionisation apparatus provides ionised air to a configuration of ducts for distribution of ionised air around a building or part of a building.

Examples of ionisation apparatus which embody the present invention, and examples of installations which incorporate an embodiment of the present invention, will now be described in greater detail with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of ionisation apparatus which embodies the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ionisation apparatus shown in Figure 1, together with a mounting plate therefor;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of apparatus comprising an array of tubular walls and associated ionisers each as shown in Figures 1 and 2; ■ Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative such array;

Figure 4a shows an exploded view of part of ..the apparatus shown in Figure 4;

Figure 5 shows diagrammatically an ionisation installation incorporating an array as shown in Figures 1 to 3; and

Figure 6 shows diagrammatically an ionising installation as shown in Figure 5 being used in combination with a scrubbing device .

Figure 1 shows an ionisation apparatus 10 comprising a section of stainless steel tubular wall 12 of substantially uniform cross-section, the interior of which constitutes a passageway 14. Within and to one side 16 of the passageway 14 is positioned a bipolar ioniser 18 having a recess open towards the axis of the wall 12 so that it projects an ionising field (not shown) into the passageway 14. The ionising field extends to all positions throughout a cross-section of the passageway 14 indicated by the line A-A in that Figure. One end 20 of the tubular wall 12 is formed with a bell- shaped mouth portion 22 which at its open end is wider than the circumference of the section of substantially uniform cross-section, the mouth in cross-section being curved outwardly.

In Figure 2 the tubular wall 12 extends through and is mounted in a flat mounting wall 24.

Figure 3 shows a multiplicity of stainless steel tubular walls 12 of substantially uniform cross-section, the interior of the tubular walls constituting respective passageways 14, the walls 12 being arranged parallel to one another to form an array and each being as described with reference to Figure 1. A flat panel or flat mounting wall 24 connects and holds multiple walls 12 together .

Figure 4 shows a multiplicity of ionisation devices 10 each as shown in Figure 4a and connected together in a honeycomb like array. Each of the multiplicity of devices shown in Figure 4 incorporates a device as shown in Figure 1, except that instead of the bell-shaped mouth 22 it has a flared mouth constituted by six flat plates 25 slanting forwardly from the intended upstream end of the tubular wall 12. The rear end of the tubular wall 12 is also flared in the same way, and six flat plates 26 extend from the front slanting plates to the rear to form a casing around the device 10 having a hexagonal cross- section. A multiplicity of such devices as shown in Figure 4a are assembled together in honeycomb form as shown in Figure .

Figure 5 shows an ionisation installation which comprises a louvre 30, a filter 32, a blower in the form of a fan 28, a first conduit 34 which contains an array of tubular walls 12 connected together by a flat plate 24, a second conduit 36 and a configuration of ducts 38 within a building 40. The direction of air flow through the installation is shown by the arrows, so that the parts of the installation just described are referred to in order moving progressively downstream. Inside the installation the fan 28 draws air from outside the installation through the louvre 30 and the filter 32. The fan 28 directs the filtered air into the first conduit 34 which contains the array of tubular walls 12. The plate 24 forms a seal with the inside of the first conduit 34 so that all air which flows through the first conduit 34 passes through one of the tubular walls 12. Once air has passed through the tubular walls and has been ionised it flows into the second conduit 36 which leads to the configuration of ducts 38 which distribute the ionised air to desired locations within the building 40.

Figure 6 shows an ionisation installation 42- as shown in Figure 5 with the configuration of ducts 38 arranged throughout a building 44 so as to provide ionised air to parts of a building through nozzles 46. Air within the building 44 is drawn by a pump 48 and a fan 54 through a further conduit 50 to a scrubbing device 52 which filters the air before exhausting it into the environment .

Variations to the described embodiments may occur to the reader without taking the resulting constructions outside the scope of the present invention. For example, the ionisation apparatus may have walls constituting an axially non-linear passageway. The devices in the array of ionising devices may have axes which are not arranged in parallel. Each ionising device may be used in conjunction with an air diffuser downstream from it.

An ionisation apparatus as described herewith may be used in conjunction with a safety system which enables the installation to be used in potentially hazardous environments .

Claims

Claims :

1. Ionisation apparatus (10) comprising a generally tubular electrically conductive wall (12) which defines a passageway (14) characterised by an ioniser (18) positioned within and to one side (16) of the passageway (14) in such a manner that the ioniser (18) generates an ionising field substantially everywhere in a cross- section of the passageway (14).

2. Ionisation apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the passageway (14) has dimensions such that the ionising field remains substantially wholly within the passageway (14) when air flows therethrough.

3. Ionisation apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the ioniser (18) is a bipolar ioniser (18).

4. Ionisation apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the bipolar ioniser (18) comprises a recess which causes the ionising field to extend from the ioniser (18) in a preferred direction.

5. Ionisation apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the opening of the recess- is directed towards the axis of the passageway (14).

6. Ionisation apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the passageway (14) is of substantially uniform diameter along substantially its whole length.

. Ionisation apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a mouth (22) of the wall (12) at an intended upstream end of the passageway (14) is flared.

8. Ionisation apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the said mouth (22) of the wall is bell shaped.

9. Ionisation apparatus according to any preceding^' claim, characterised in that the electrically conductive wall (12) comprises steel.

10. Ionisation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the electrically conductive wall (12) comprises aluminium.

11. Ionisation apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of such tubular walls (12) with respective such ionisers (18) with the walls (12) arranged parallel to one another to form an array.

12. Ionisation apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it further comprises a blower (28), for example a fan, which serves to supply a flow of air to the passageway (14) or the passageways (14) .

13. Ionisation apparatus according to claim 12, characterised in that it further comprises a filter (32) located upstream of the blower (28), so that the latter draws air from a supply of filtered air, preferably filtered fresh air.

14. An ionising installation comprising ionising apparatus (10) as claimed in any preceding claim.

15. An ionising installation according to claim 14, characterised by a configuration of ducts (38) to which the ionisation apparatus supplies ionised air, arranged to distribute the ionised air around a part or parts of a building (44), or throughout the whole of a building (44).