Patent Application
20140205501
The present invention relates generally to the field of air filtration and, more particularly, to an apparatus, system and method for reducing the growth of microbial contamination, such as bacteria, virus, mold and biofilms, in an air-handling unit.
Traditional air-handling units will accumulate condensation from the moisture in the air passing through the unit. In order to prevent water damage from the condensation build up, air-handling units generally include a condensation drain system. A condensation drain system may include a drain line and a condensation pan configured to collect the drained condensation and convey it away from the HVAC unit to a suitable water discharge location.
Traditional condensation drain systems are prone to clogging and require maintenance because of bacteria, virus, mold and biofilm buildup, and from corrosion to the system caused by the condensation. A corroded primary and or secondary condensation pan can develop leaks which will allow the collected moisture to leak on to the house, building, vessel, or other machinery that needs to be kept dry. The bacteria, virus, mold and biofilm contained in the drain system can form clogs in the drain line which prevent the condensation from reaching the discharge location. Further, the bacteria, virus, mold and biofilm build up within the condensation system can be unsanitary and pose health problems (e.g., Legionella pneumophila).
Therefore, a need exists to treat condensation drainage systems to prevent corrosion and the build-up of bacteria, viruses, mold and biofilms which may clog the system and require maintenance. The present invention addresses the shortcomings of traditional condensation drainage systems and methods.
Particular embodiments of the present invention are directed to an apparatus, system and method for reducing the growth of microbial contamination, such as bacteria, virus, mold and biofilms, in an air-handling unit.
According to particular embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus for reducing the growth of microbial contamination in air-handling unit comprises a mounting member configured to couple with a housing of an air-handling unit and a turbine coupled with the mounting member and configured to produce energy when positioned in an air flow path through the air-handling unit. The apparatus also includes an electrode assembly including an anode configured to be placed in a condensate pan and receive energy from the turbine. The anode produces agents that reduce the growth of microbial contamination when energized.
In some embodiments, the anode produces agents that reduce the growth of microbial contamination, such as bacteria, virus, mold and biofilms.
In some embodiments, the mounting member of the apparatus includes a magnetic base configured to couple with the housing of the air-handling unit.
In some embodiments, the mounting member of the apparatus includes a support arm and the turbine is coupled to the support arm.
In some embodiments, the angle of the turbine relative to the support arm is adjustable. The support arm may include a plurality of coupling points and a coupling member configured to couple the turbine to at least one of the plurality of coupling points.
In some embodiments, an angle of the turbine relative to the mounting member is adjustable.
In some embodiments, the anode is coupled to the turbine by a wire, and the wire is configured to transfer energy from the turbine to the anode. The anode may be comprised of silver and configured to release silver ions when energized. The anode may be comprised of copper and configured to release copper ions when energized.
In some embodiments, the turbine is a wind turbine. The turbine may include a turbine arm, a rotor housing and a rotor. The rotor may include a plurality of blades.
In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a cathode configured to assist the anode to produce agents to reduce the growth of microbial contamination.
According to particular embodiments of the present invention, an air-handling system comprises an air-handling unit including a housing, a fan, a condensate line and a condensate pan. The fan is capable of generating a flow of air through the air treatment apparatus. The air-handling unit also includes an apparatus for reducing the growth of microbial contamination in the air-handling unit. The apparatus comprises a mounting member configured to couple with a housing of an air-handling unit and a turbine coupled with the mounting member and configured to produce energy when positioned in an air flow path through the air treatment apparatus. The apparatus further includes an electrode assembly including an anode configured to be placed in the condensate pan and receive energy from the turbine. The anode produces agents that reduce the growth of microbial contamination when energized.
In some embodiments, the anode produces agents that reduce the growth of microbial contamination, such as bacteria, virus, mold and biofilms,
In some embodiments, the mounting member includes a magnetic base configured to couple with the housing of the air-handling unit.
In some embodiments, the mounting member includes a support arm and the turbine is coupled to the support arm. The angle of the turbine relative to the support arm may be adjustable. The support arm may include a plurality of coupling points and a coupling member configured to couple the turbine to at least one of the plurality of coupling points.
In some embodiments, an angle of the turbine relative to the mounting member is adjustable.
In some embodiments, the anode is coupled to the turbine by a wire, and the wire is configured to transfer energy from the turbine to the anode.
In some embodiments, the anode is configured to release silver ions when energized. The anode may be configured to release copper ions when energized.
In some embodiments, the turbine is a wind turbine. The turbine may include a turbine arm, a rotor housing and a rotor. The rotor may include a plurality of blades.
In some embodiments, the anode is comprised of silver. The anode may be comprised of copper.
According to particular embodiments of the present invention, a method for reducing microbial contamination in an air-handling unit comprises the steps of mounting a turbine to the air-handling unit such that the turbine is positioned in a flow of air through the air-handling unit and placing an anode configured to produce agents that reduce the growth of microbial contamination when energized in a condensate pan of the air-handling unit. The anode is configured to receive energy from the turbine.
In some embodiments, the anode is configured to produce agents that reduce the growth of microbial contamination, such as bacteria, virus, mold and biofilms.
In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of adjusting the angle of the turbine relative to the flow of air through the air-handling unit.
In some embodiments, the anode is configured to produce silver ions.
In some embodiments, the anode is configured to produce copper ions.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the disclosure and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the embodiments disclosed herein. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
a)-(b) illustrate a rotor and a turbine shell for a turbine in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
a)-(c) illustrate an air-handling system including an apparatus for reducing the growth of microbial contamination in which the position of the turbine relative to the mount is adjusted in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.
According to particular embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus for reducing the growth of microbial contamination in an air-handling unit includes a micro turbine configured to capture a small amount of wind energy from the air-handling unit and the energy is used to actively release agents for reducing microbial contamination, such as silver and copper ions, into the condensate water pan. The agents for reducing microbial contamination are produced by a replaceable electrode assembly including an anode coupled with the micro turbine. The apparatus is a self-contained unit and does not require any additional energy, i.e., all energy for the unit is provided by the captured wind energy. The apparatus includes a magnetic base configured to mount the pan turbine to the air-handling unit. The angle of the micro turbine relative to the magnetic base, and the direction of the flow of air through the air-handling unit, may be adjusted, which allows the amount of wind energy captured to be adjusted.
The apparatus 110 reduces the growth of microbial contamination, such as bacteria, virus, mold and biofilms, in the condensate pan 106 and the drain 107 and helps prevent corrosion. The apparatus 110 includes a mini-turbine 112, a mount 114, a wire 116 and an electrode assembly 118. The mini-turbine 112 is mounted to the air-handling unit 102 by the mount 114. The mount 114 can be magnetized and configured to be attracted to the material of the air-handling unit 112. In an embodiment of the present invention, the mount 114 may be any component capable of mounting the mini-turbine 112 to the air-handling unit, e.g., a plate with openings corresponding to openings in the air-handling unit and coupling members configured to simultaneously engage the holes in the plate and in the air-handling unit 102 or an appropriate adhesive in such cases the blower housing is made from plastic. The turbine 112 is mounted to the air-handling unit 102 such that it is in the path of the air flow 105. The position of the turbine 112 relative to the mount 114 may be adjusted, which also adjusts the turbine 112 relative to the flow of air 105. The angle of the turbine 112 relative to the air 105, which adjusts the amount of wind energy captured by the turbine 112. The turbine 112 captures wind energy from the air flow 105 and transfers energy via a wire 116 to the electrode assembly 118. This is advantageous because it does not require a direct wiring of the apparatus 110 to the air-handling unit 102 wiring. The electrode assembly 118 and turbine 112 may include a housing composed of a non-conductive material that isolates the apparatus 110 from the air-handling unit 102, which eliminates any potential issue of corrosion to the air-handling unit 102 caused by electrolysis due to the induced current. These potential issues could occur if the apparatus 110 took its power directly from the power supplied to the air-handling unit 102. Also, not wiring into the air-handling unit 102 prevents the air-handling unit 102 from being adulterated for any national research testing laboratory listing purposes.
The electrode assembly 118 is configured to actively release agents for reducing microbial contamination into the condensate water pan when it is energized. As discussed in further detail with reference with
Referring now to
a)-(b) illustrate the components of the turbine in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
b) illustrates a turbine shell in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The turbine shell 710 includes a handle portion 712, a base portion 714 and a rotor housing portion 716. The rotor housing portion 716 includes at least one shell coupling member 718 configured to couple with a member of a complementary shell piece. The at least one shell coupling member 718 can also be configured to couple with the rotor openings 706. In an embodiment of the present invention, two complementary turbine shell 710 pieces couple with each other to form the support arm 200 and rotor housing 202 of the turbine 112.
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Additionally, while the processes described above and illustrated in the drawings are shown as a sequence of steps, this was done solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some steps may be added, some steps may be omitted, the order of the steps may be re-arranged, and some steps may be performed in parallel.
