# US 11,110,387 B2 · Low noise, ceiling mounted indoor air scrubber

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- Number: US 11,110,387 B2
- Document ID: US11110387B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/348,082
- Filed: 2017-11-10
- Published: 2019-10-03
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-10
- Assignees: Enverid Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: enVerid Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Udi Meirav; Israel Biran; Sharon Perl-Olshvang; Shawn Brown
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110387B2

## CPC

- B01D 53/0462: {Temperature swing adsorption}
- B01D 45/12: by centrifugal forces (centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C)
- B01D 46/0005: {Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames (B01D46/2422 takes precedence)}
- B01D 46/0036: {by adsorption or absorption}
- B01D 46/44: controlling filtration
- B01D 46/46: automatic
- B01D 46/62: connected in series
- B01D 50/20: Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
- B01D 53/14: by absorption
- B01D 53/30: Controlling by gas-analysis apparatus (regulating non electrical variables in general G05D)
- B01D 2253/102: Carbon
- B01D 2253/104: Alumina
- B01D 2253/106: Silica or silicates
- B01D 2253/108: Zeolites
- B01D 2253/204: Metal organic frameworks (MOF's)
- B01D 2253/25: Coated, impregnated or composite adsorbents
- B01D 2257/106: Ozone
- B01D 2257/502: Carbon monoxide
- B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide
- B01D 2257/70: Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/602
- B01D 2257/708: Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
- B01D 2258/06: Polluted air
- B01D 2259/4508: for cleaning air in buildings
- F24F 8/15: by chemical means
- F24F 13/28: Arrangement or mounting of filters
- Y02C 20/40: of CO2
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]

## Abstract

In some embodiments, an indoor air cleaning apparatus and a method for removing at least a portion of at least one type of gas from an indoor airflow are disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a cabinet; at least one sorbent bank comprising at least one cartridge; a fan assembly comprising at least one housing including at least one housing inlet and at least one housing outlet, at least one motor and at least one impeller; and a heating element configured to operate in at least one of two modes: an active mode and an inactive mode; and a controller configured to operate in at least two modes: an adsorption mode and a regeneration mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An indoor air cleaning apparatus for removing at least a portion of at least one type of gas from an indoor area of a building, the apparatus comprising:
a cabinet including a substantially square or rectangular cross section having a height H, a width W, and a length L, the cabinet also including at least one inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the cabinet is configured for deployment from an elevated position within an indoor area of a building;
a plurality of dampers for managing airflow through at least one or more of the apparatus, the first outlet and the second outlet;
at least one sorbent bank comprising a plurality of cartridges, wherein each cartridge:
comprises a rigid frame, at least a first and a second permeable surface, and one or more sorbent materials contained within the frame, and
is configured to receive an airflow through the first permeable surface, over and/or through the one or more sorbent materials, and expel the airflow through the second surface;
a fan assembly comprising a panel including at least one panel opening, at least one housing including at least one housing inlet and at least one housing outlet, at least one motor and a plurality of parallel, forward curved cylindrical impellers, wherein:
the panel is configured to substantially cover a cross section of the cabinet perpendicular to an airflow direction of the fan assembly,
the plurality of parallel, forward curved cylindrical impellers are arranged on a common impeller axis oriented in a direction parallel to the panel,
the fan motor is located between two impellers,
the at least one housing is attached to the panel such that the at least one housing outlet substantially corresponds to the at least one panel opening so as to allow an airflow exiting the plurality of impellers to flow therethrough; and
the panel opening is configured to direct airflow from the at least one housing toward at least the sorbent bank;
a heating element configured to be in one of at least two modes: an active mode whereby an airflow passing over the heating element is heated, and an inactive mode whereby an airflow passing over the heating element is not heated; and
a controller configured to operate in at least two modes: an adsorption mode and a regeneration mode, and configured to control at least the plurality of dampers, the fan assembly and the heating element, wherein:
in the adsorption mode, the plurality of impellers draw an indoor airflow from the indoor area, the indoor airflow entering the inlet of the cabinet then the inlet of the housing, whereby the indoor airflow is optionally directed over the heating element in inactive mode and into the sorbent bank such that at least a portion of at least one type of gas contained in the airflow is captured by the sorbent, the indoor airflow then exiting the cabinet via the first outlet of the cabinet,
in the regeneration mode, the plurality of impeller draw an indoor airflow from the indoor area, the indoor airflow entering the inlet of the cabinet then the inlet of the housing, whereby the indoor airflow is directed over the heating element in active mode and thereafter the heated indoor airflow is directed to flow over the sorbent such that at least a portion of the at least one type of gas captured by the sorbent during the adsorption mode is released therefrom, then out the second outlet of the cabinet, and
the controller controls the plurality of dampers, the fan assembly and the heating element based upon at least one of a schedule and a concentration level of the at least one type of gas in the indoor airflow.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein deployment comprises hanging the apparatus from at least one of a ceiling and a wall of the indoor area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filter configured for removing particulate matter from the airflow, wherein the filter is arranged to filter the airflow prior to or after being received by the sorbent bank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of cyclonic separators.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panel is arranged at an oblique angle relative to a height direction of the cabinet between 5 and 30 degrees.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panel is arranged at an oblique angle relative to a height direction between 2 and 45 degrees.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one gas type is selected from a group consisting of: carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, sulfur oxide, nitrous oxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and ozone.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conduit in fluid communication with the second outlet, wherein the conduit is configured to carry the airflow expelled by the second outlet away from the indoor area or outside the building.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sorbent bank is configured for access such that each of the plurality of cartridges can be removed or replaced.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein access is via at least one of an opening and/or a removable or movable access panel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least two of the cartridges are arranged substantially parallel to each other and to an overall airflow direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of: one or more appendages, brackets, hooks, ears, holes, bars, tabs, and sockets.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An indoor air cleaning method for adsorbing at least one type of gas from an indoor airflow without use of an independent ventilation or circulation system, the method comprising deploying one or more apparatuses of claim 1 from an elevated position within the indoor area and operating the one or more apparatuses to remove at least a portion of the at least one type of gas from the indoor air of the room.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein deploying comprises hanging the one or more apparatuses from at least one of a ceiling or a wall of the room.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein deploying comprises placing the one or more apparatuses within a drop ceiling such that, the one or more apparatuses are configured to receive indoor air from the indoor area via a first grill or first opening in the drop ceiling, and returns air to the indoor area via a second grill or second opening in the drop ceiling.

### Claim 16

An indoor air cleaning apparatus for removing at least a portion of at least one type of gas from an indoor airflow, the apparatus comprising:
a cabinet including a substantially square or rectangular cross section, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the cabinet is configured for hanging from an elevated position within an indoor area of a building;
at least one sorbent bank comprising at least one cartridge, wherein the at least one cartridge includes one or more sorbent materials;
a fan assembly comprising at least one housing including at least one housing inlet and at least one housing outlet, at least one motor and at least one impeller, wherein the at least one housing is arranged within the cabinet such that the at least one housing outlet directs an airflow to the sorbent bank;
a heating element configured to operate in at least one of two modes: an active mode whereby an airflow passing over the heating element is heated, and an inactive mode whereby an airflow passing over the heating element is not heated or the airflow is re-directed so as to not flow over the heating element; and
a controller configured to operate in at least two modes: an adsorption mode and a regeneration mode, and configured to control at least the fan assembly and the heating element, wherein:
in the adsorption mode, the at least one impeller draws an indoor airflow from the indoor area, the indoor air entering the inlet of the housing, the housing directing the indoor airflow optionally over the heating element in inactive mode, the airflow then being received into at least the sorbent bank such that at least a portion of one type of gas is captured by the one or more sorbent materials, the indoor airflow then exiting the cabinet via the first outlet of the cabinet,
in the regeneration mode, the at least one impeller draws an indoor airflow from the indoor area by entering the inlet of the housing, the housing directing the indoor airflow over the heating element in active mode and thereafter the heated indoor airflow is directed to flow over the one or more sorbent materials such that the at least a portion of the one type of gas captured by the one or more sorbent materials is released therefrom, then out the second outlet of the cabinet, and
the controller controls at least the fan assembly and the heating element based upon at least one of a schedule and a concentration level of the at least one type of gas in the indoor airflow.