Air treatment apparatus and methods

Abstract

A multi-function air treatment apparatus includes a photo-ionizing assembly and a negative ion generator. The photo-ionizing assembly emits a predetermined wavelength of light that produces ozone when it impinges upon air. When a portion of the light impinges on a target material, radicals and ions that bond with and reduce some of volatile organic compounds in the air are produced. The negative ion generator produces negative ions and a radiating negative electrostatic field from an outer high dielectric surface by an electrical charge applied to an enclosed conductive inner surface.

1 - 4 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         5 . An air treatment apparatus, comprising: 
 a base;    a generally frustoconical housing extending upwardly from the base that terminates in a slanting top surface, the housing having an inner surface that defines an interior and a cross section that decreases in size from a lower end adjacent the base to an upper end adjacent the top surface, the housing also having a side surface with louvered openings including an upper air inlet portion that serves as an air inlet and an adjacent lower air outlet portion that serves as an air outlet, the housing also having additional air outlets defined in the lower end of the housing adjacent the base and in the top surface of the housing;    a negative ion generator positioned within the interior of the housing and coupled to the base, the negative ion generator being a hollow cylinder with dielectric outer side and top surfaces and a conductive inner surface;    a fan positioned within the interior above the negative ion generator, the fan being adjacent the air inlet portion of the side surface of the housing;    a photo-ionizing assembly disposed within the interior and generally above the fan and the negative ion generator, the photo-ionizing assembly including a fluorescent bulb and a tray for supporting the bulb, the tray being slidingly removable through a tray opening defined in the side surface of the housing above the air inlet opening; and    an electrical circuit that provides power to the negative ion generator, the fan and the photo-ionizer, the circuit including a power switch, a power supply and a ballast.    
     
     
         6 - 21 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         22 . A method for treating air, the method comprising: 
 producing negative ions on a substantially non-conductive exterior dielectric surface of a negative ion generator by applying a charge to an enclosed inner conductive surface of the negative ion generator;    passing air to be treated along the exterior dielectric surface so that negative ions encounter the passing air; and    exposing air to be treated to a photo-ionizing light source to photo-ionize at least a portion of the passing air such that ozone is produced to oxidize contaminants in the air.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein photo-ionizing includes emitting from the light source ultraviolet light that produces ozone upon impingement with air and allowing a portion of the light produced to impinge upon a predetermined target that produces radicals and ions that bond with and reduce volatile organic compounds in the air.  
     
     
         24 . A method for treating air, the method comprising: 
 producing negative ions on a substantially non-conductive exterior dielectric surface of a negative ion generator by applying a charge to an enclosed inner conductive surface of the negative ion generator;    passing air to be treated along the exterior dielectric surface so that negative ions encounter the passing air; and    exposing air to be treated to a photo-ionizing light source that produces light at a desired wavelength to react with airborne matter.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the act of exposing air to be treated to a photo-ionizing light source includes exposing air to ozone produced by light from the photo-ionizing light source striking oxygen in the air.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising providing a target substance and producing at least one of peroxide radicals and super-oxide ions by causing some of the light produced by the photo-ionizing light source to strike the target substance.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the target substance comprises at least about 10% TiO 2  by weight.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the target substance comprises about 10-30% TiO 2 , about 0-30% Ag and about 0-30% Cu, by weight.  
     
     
         29 . A multi-approach method of treating air with an air treatment apparatus, comprising; 
 providing a housing that defines an interior area;    providing a photo-ionizing assembly positioned within the housing that emits a predetermined wavelength of ultraviolet light, wherein a first portion of the emitted light produces ozone upon impingement with adjacent air and a second portion of emitted light impinges upon a target that produces radicals and ions that bond with and reduce a portion of volatile organic compounds within the air;    providing a negative ion generator positioned within the housing that produces negative ions by an electrical charge applied to an enclosed conductive inner surface, the negative ion generator having a substantially non-conductive outer surface on which the negative ions are formed and from which the negative ions are transferred to the air; and    providing an air moving device adapted to cause air movement through the housing.    
     
     
         30 . A multi-function air treatment apparatus, comprising: 
 a generally enclosed housing in which an interior and a plurality of through openings are defined, at least one of the through openings being an air inlet through which air enters the housing and at least one of the through openings being an air outlet through which air exits the housing;    a negative ion generator positioned within the housing, the negative ion generator having an enclosed charged surface and an opposite outer surface on which negative ions are generated and from which the negative ions are transferred to the air via a negative electrostatic field; and    a photo-ionizing assembly positioned within the housing, the photo-ionizing assembly having a light source that produces light at a desired wavelength to react with airborne matter,    wherein negative ions generated by the negative ion generator interact with and neutralize positively charged airborne particles and the light from the photo-ionizing assembly causes oxidation of at least some of the airborne matter in adjacent air within the housing, and    wherein the power supply is self-limiting such that in steady-state operation, power supplied to the negative ion generator is decreased as the electronegativity of the field decays toward a neutral value.