Ion filtration air cleaner

Abstract

An ion filtration air cleaning device for cleaning air by use of electrostatic ion attraction. Air having suspended particles is drawn into the device through an inlet by a fan. An ionization source near the inlet generates ions. Electrical charge transfers from the ions to the suspended particles. The fan pushes the air and suspended charged particles toward an outlet. A filter located adjacent to the outlet operates by electrostatic attraction and filters the charged particles from the air, allowing cleansed air to be released from the device, with a reduced level of charged particle emission

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air filtration device comprising:
 a housing;   a fan positioned to create an airflow within the housing;   a prefilter disposed within the housing;   an ionizer disposed within the housing downstream from the prefilter; and   an electrostatically charged main filter disposed within the housing downstream from the ionizer.   
     
     
         2 . The air filtration device of  claim 1  wherein the fan is disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The air filtration device of  claim 1  wherein a serpentine pathway is disposed between the ionizer and the main filter, the airflow passing through the serpentine pathway. 
     
     
         4 . The air filtration device of  claim 1  wherein baffles are disposed between the ionizer and the main filter, the airflow passing through the baffles. 
     
     
         5 . The air filtration device of  claim 1  wherein the fan is disposed between the ionizer and the main filter. 
     
     
         6 . The air filtration device of  claim 1  wherein the electrostatically charged main filter comprises at least one electrically charged collection plate. 
     
     
         7 . The air filtration device of  claim 1  wherein the ionizer comprises a primary corona discharge emitter and a secondary corona discharge emitter. 
     
     
         8 . A method for filtering air, comprising:
 passing air through a prefilter disposed in a housing to remove at least a portion of particulates suspended in the air to thereby create prefiltered air;   passing the prefiltered air by an ionizer disposed in the housing to ionize at least a portion of the particulates suspended in the air to thereby create ionized particulates in the prefiltered air; and   prior to the prefiltered air exiting the housing with ionized particulates, causing the ionized particulates to pass through an electrostatically charged main filter disposed within the housing.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising causing the prefiltered air to pass through baffles subsequent to passing by the ionizer and prior to passing through the electrostatically charged main filter. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising causing the prefiltered air to pass through a serpentine pathway subsequent to passing by the ionizer and prior to passing through the electrostatically charged main filter.