Air treatment apparatus having a liquid holder and a bipolar ionization device

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[0076] Known electrostatic air cleaning machines can emit ions having a single polarity or perform unipolarization (e.g., either negative or positive ions) of air molecules. This unipolarization can create unbalanced electric charges in the air (air or water ions), which can cause undesirable effects such as wall plating. Wall plating can be caused when particles of dust accept an electric charge (e.g., positive or negative) and get deposited on walls, furniture or other objects creating dark spots. Additionally, depending upon the conditions, charges in the air of any polarity can lead to the malfunctioning of electronic equipment and cause unpleasant, harmful or damaging electric shock. Therefore, there is a need to overcome such disadvantages or otherwise lessen the effects of such disadvantages.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the air treatment apparatus includes a bipolar ionization device which includes two independent emitters, each of which is an electrode. The emitters are coupled to separate voltage supplies having opposite polarities. For example, in FIG. 1, one emitter is coupled to a positive voltage supply (+5 KV) and one emitter is coupled to a negative voltage supply (−5 KV). Each voltage supply establishes an electric field between an emitter and a corresponding electrode or ground ring. Two independent fluid sources, such as liquid holders or tanks provide a source of liquid to each of the emitters. Each emitter, for example, includes a sharp conical ceramic stick that has a porous structure and supplies water or another liquid to the sharp tip or end of the stick using a “wick effect” (i.e., capillary effect); if the stick is pointed up or gravity pulling the liquid down if the sharp point is facing downward.

[0080] The combination of the electric field (i.e., between each emitter and electrode) and the “wick effect” cause each emitter to generate charged micro-droplets of liquid that have nanometer particle size (in range of 3 to 100 nm). The liquid droplets are charged by the electric field generated between the sharp point of the emitter and an electrode or ground ring located in the vicinity of the sharp point of the emitter. The charged liquid droplets break down to a fine mist or fine particulates of charged liquid due to electrostatic liquid atomization.

[0081] A droplets tend to have a spherical shape because of the surface tension of the liquid. If it is electrically charged, the electrostatic repulsion between ions might overcome the surface tension, leading to its breakup. Upper estimates for the charge in spherical systems are given by the Rayleigh limits:
Sphere: q²=64π²εσr³
where:
ε is the permittivity of the medium surrounding the droplet.
σ is the surface tension of the liquid.
r is the radius of the droplet.

[0082] In this embodiment, one emitter generates positively charged liquid droplets and positive ions, and the other emitter generates negatively charged liquid droplets and negative ions. Sufficient airflow through the air treatment apparatus is provided so that the mist of liquid droplets, carry an electric charge, are dispersed throughout the surrounding environment thereby avoiding immediate recombination of oppositely charged liquid droplets. The mist of droplets can be transported by airflow provided by a fan or electrostatic wind. Together, both emitters produce a bipolar distribution of ionized liquid droplets or particles.

[0083] Charged liquid droplets of nanometer particle size have germicidal, deodorization and other air treatment effects, including, but not limited to, humidification. These effects are attributed to chemical reactions between, for example, ionized water and ionized oxygen molecules in the air.

[0084] Another benefit of this embodiment is that positively charged hydrogen ions and negatively charged oxygen ions collide and form highly reactive OH⁻ hydroxyl radicals. A hydroxyl radical is unstable and to stabilize itself, it will take away one hydrogen atom from any airborne particle it encounters, which forms water vapor in the process and chemically alters the micro-particle. Thus, the hydroxyl radicals have a beneficial deodorizing effects and other air treatment effects.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the air treatment apparatus includes a bipolar ionization device which has a single emitter that receives power from a pulse voltage supply. The pulse voltage supply generates a sequence of positive and negative voltage pulses that, in turn, cause the emitter to generate a bipolar distribution of charged particles, that is, positively and negatively charged particles of liquid and ions intermittently. Air velocity, pulse duration and pulse period can be adjusted to provide relatively uniform and efficient distribution of the charged liquid droplets and ions in the surrounding environment. The emitter (e.g., sharp ceramic stick) can be under high potential or under ground potential.

[0086] Additionally, the emitter may have any orientation in space as long as it supplies charge liquid droplets. By way of example, the emitter can be a ceramic stick, hypodermic needle or any other capillary device that has a regulated liquid supply and a sharp point sufficient for the emission of charged liquid droplets. The emitter can be made from a porous metal or any other porous materials. It is also contemplated that this embodiment can be implemented for bipolar atomization and ionization of different liquid substances including, but not limited to, various deodorants, perfumes, fragrances or aromas.

[0087] In one embodiment, the air treatment apparatus includes an elongated housing that supports the bipolarization components illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Though the housing has an elongated shape, it should be understood that other shapes for the air treatment apparatus are suitable. The front of the air treatment apparatus includes an air outlet with a plurality of fins, slats or louvers that facilitate air flow from the apparatus. In this embodiment, the air treatment apparatus can be embodied in a relatively small plug-in device which has a housing coupled to a plurality of prongs. The prongs are configured to mate with the openings defined by an electrical wall outlet. By way of example, the air treatment apparatus receives power from a wall outlet and, in operation, emits both positively and negatively charge liquid droplets. The flow of charged liquid droplets from the air treatment apparatus can be facilitated by a small fan, which also received power from the wall outlet. The flow of liquid droplets and ions from the air treatment apparatus help to balance the electric charge in the air as well as provide germicidal, deodorization and humidification benefits to the surrounding environment.

[0088] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.