# US 12,005,394 B2 · Permeable contaminant barrier system

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- Number: US 12,005,394 B2
- Document ID: US12005394B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/034,473
- Filed: 2020-09-28
- Published: 2021-04-22
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-18
- Assignees: Ti-DOX Patent Inc.
- Applicants: Ti-DOX Patent Inc.
- Inventors: Reinhard Schuetz; Dean Richard Neitz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005394B2

## CPC

- A01K 1/0052: {Arrangement of fans or blowers}
- B01D 53/88: Handling or mounting catalysts
- A01K 1/01: Removal of dung or urine {; Removal of manure from stables}(A01K1/015 takes precedence)
- B01D 19/00: Degasification of liquids
- B01D 50/00: Combinations of methods or devices for separating particles from gases or vapours
- B01D 53/007: {by irradiation}
- B01D 53/8687: {Organic components}
- B01J 21/063: {Titanium; Oxides or hydroxides thereof}
- B01J 35/39: Photocatalytic properties
- B01D 2255/20707: Titanium
- B01D 2255/802: Photocatalytic
- B01D 2258/06: Polluted air
- B01D 2259/804: UV light
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- 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)
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS

## Abstract

An arrangement and process of mitigating contaminants has a flow element intermediate a first space with contaminated matter (including contaminated gas) and a second space. Contaminated matter is drawn from the first space into the flow element and then urged into segregated contaminated gas and residual contaminated matter collected in the second space. Segregated contaminated gas is merged with gas from the second space to form mixed gas and treated to form primary treated gas which is directed to generate at least some of the drawing of contaminated matter from the first space into the flow element. Mixed gas can be treated by passing it through passages in the flow element coated with decontaminating agent and/or through a decontamination unit. The flow element allows for air flow to effectively act as a one-way barrier obstructing migration of contaminated matter from the second space back to the first space.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process of capturing and mitigating contaminants comprising:
providing a flow element intermediate a first space and a second space, said first space having contaminated matter with at least some contaminated gas;
drawing said contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element;
segregating at least a portion of said contaminated gas away from said contaminated matter while the contaminated matter is in the flow element, resulting in segregated contaminated gas entering passages of the flow element without having first entered the second space and residual contaminated matter entering the second space;
collecting said residual contaminated matter in said second space for further processing;
merging said segregated contaminated gas with gas from said second space to form a mixed gas;
treating contaminants in said mixed gas to form a primary treated gas; and,
directing at least some of said primary treated gas to generate at least some of said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element.

### Claim 2

A process of capturing and mitigating contaminants comprising:
providing a flow element intermediate a first space and a second space, said first space having contaminated matter with at least some contaminated gas;
drawing said contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element;
segregating at least a portion of said contaminated gas away from said contaminated matter resulting in segregated contaminated gas and residual contaminated matter;
collecting said residual contaminated matter in said second space for further processing;
merging said segregated contaminated gas with gas from said second space to form a mixed gas;
treating contaminants in said mixed gas to form a primary treated gas; and,
directing said primary treated gas to generate at least some of said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element,
wherein said treating comprises passing said mixed gas through a plurality of passages in said flow element coated with a decontaminating agent to create said primary treated gas.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2 wherein said directing comprises channeling said primary treated gas to at least one outlet in said flow element creating a suction effect within said flow element to contribute to said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The process of claim 3 wherein said channeling comprising locating a fan unit downstream of said plurality of passages for urging said primary treated gas to exit said flow element through said at least one outlet in said flow element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The process of claim 4 wherein at least some of said primary treated gas exiting said flow element is discharged to one or more of the ambient, said first space and said second space.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said second space is provided with at least one one-way inlet for permitting ambient air and/or primary treated gas therein.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2 wherein said decontaminating agent comprises a photocatalytic coating capable of destroying at least some toxins in said contaminated gas.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The process of claim 7 wherein said photocatalytic coating comprises Titanium Dioxide (TiO2).

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The process of claim 3 further comprising providing said flow element with a grated surface having a plurality of openings adjacent said first space to allow said suction effect to draw said contaminated matter into a plurality of conduits communicating with said second space.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The process of claim 9 comprising fortifying said grated surface to support dynamic loading thereon, and incorporates suitably sized openings for said loading.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The process of claim 9 wherein said grated surface is removable from said flow element to access at least one of said plurality of passages for maintenance and cleaning.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2 wherein said treating comprises passing said mixed gas from said second space through a decontamination unit to create said primary treated gas.

### Claim 13

A process of capturing and mitigating contaminants comprising:
providing a flow element intermediate a first space and a second space, said first space having contaminated matter with at least some contaminated gas;
drawing said contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element;
segregating at least a portion of said contaminated gas away from said contaminated matter resulting in segregated contaminated gas and residual contaminated matter;
collecting said residual contaminated matter in said second space for further processing;
merging said segregated contaminated gas with gas from said second space to form a mixed gas;
treating contaminants in said mixed gas to form a primary treated gas;
directing said primary treated gas to generate at least some of said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element; and,
providing a decontamination unit for receiving and further treating said primary treated gas to form a secondary treated gas.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 comprising passing said secondary treated gas from said decontamination unit to said second space.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 comprising locating a fan unit downstream of said decontamination unit for urging said secondary treated gas from said decontamination unit toward said second space and drawing said primary treated gas from said flow element through said decontamination unit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 comprising locating a relief device downstream of said decontamination unit for optionally diverting at least a portion of said secondary treated gas to at least one of the ambient and said first space.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The process of claim 15 comprising locating a relief device downstream of said fan unit for diverting a portion of said secondary treated gas to at least one of the ambient and said first space.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 comprising locating a particulate filter for said primary treated gas upstream of said decontamination unit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 comprising:
positioning an inlet of a piping system to communicate with said at least one outlet of said flow element for receiving said primary treated gas thereinto;
venting said piping system to flow said secondary treated gas into said second space to co-mingle with other gases therein; and,
configuring said flow element for accepting and directing said co-mingled gases from said second space thereinto to form said mixed gas by said suction effect.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 further comprising locating at least one fin in said decontamination unit, and coating said at least one fin with said decontaminating agent to enhance said treating of contaminants.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The process of claim 20 wherein said at least one fin is J-shaped.

### Claim 22

A process of capturing and mitigating contaminants comprising:
providing a flow element intermediate a first space and a second space, said first space having contaminated matter with at least some contaminated gas;
drawing said contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element;
segregating at least a portion of said contaminated gas away from said contaminated matter resulting in segregated contaminated gas and residual contaminated matter;
collecting said residual contaminated matter in said second space for further processing;
merging said segregated contaminated gas with gas from said second space to form a mixed gas;
treating contaminants in said mixed gas to form a primary treated gas; and,
directing said primary treated gas to generate at least some of said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element,
wherein said treating comprises passing said mixed gas from said second space through a decontamination unit to create said primary treated gas,
wherein said directing comprises channeling said primary treated gas into and through said flow element creating a suction effect within said flow element to contribute to said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The process of claim 22 wherein said channeling further comprises flowing said primary treated gas through a plurality of passages in said flow element coated with a decontamination agent for further treating said primary treated gas to form a secondary treated gas.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The process of claim 23 wherein said channeling further comprises locating a fan unit upstream of said plurality of passages for urging said primary treated gas thereinto.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The process of claim 24 comprising locating a relief device downstream of said fan unit for diverting a portion of said primary treated gas to at least one of the ambient and said first space.

### Claim 26 (depends on 22)

The process of claim 22 wherein said channeling further comprises flowing said secondary treated gas to said second space for said forming of mixed gas.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The process of claim 26 wherein a particulate matter removal system for said mixed gas is located downstream of said second space for filtering said mixed gas prior to entering said decontamination unit.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The process of claim 23 wherein said decontaminating agent comprises a photocatalytic coating capable of destroying at least some toxins in said contaminated gas.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The process of claim 28 wherein said photocatalytic coating comprises Titanium Dioxide (TiO2).

### Claim 30 (depends on 22)

The process of claim 22 further comprising providing said flow element with a grated surface having a plurality of openings adjacent said first space to allow said suction effect to draw said contaminated matter into a plurality of conduits communicating with said second space.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The process of claim 30 comprising fortifying said grated surface to support dynamic loading thereon, and incorporates suitably sized openings for said loading.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The process of claim 30 wherein said grated surface is removable from said flow element to access said plurality of passages for maintenance and cleaning.

### Claim 33 (depends on 2, 23)

The process of claim 2 or 23 further comprising providing said flow element with a plurality of spaced ribs adjacent said second space, and locating said plurality of passages within at least some of said ribs.

### Claim 34 (depends on 2, 23)

The process of claim 2 or 23 further comprising locating at least one fin in said plurality of passages in said flow element, and coating said at least one fin with said decontaminating agent to enhance said treating of contaminants.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The process of claim 34 wherein said at least one fin is J-shaped.

### Claim 36 (depends on 33)

The process of claim 33 further comprising locating at least one fin in said plurality of passages in said flow element, and coating said at least one fin with said decontaminating agent to enhance said treating of contaminants.

### Claim 37 (depends on 2, 23)

The process of claim 2 or 23 further comprising providing said flow element with a plurality of spaced ribs adjacent said second space forming conduits therebetween to allow flow of said contaminated matter from said first space to said second space, and locating said plurality of passages externally of said ribs spaced there below.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The process of claim 37 within said plurality of passages are formed of hollow sections coated internally with said decontaminating agent.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The process of claim 38 wherein said hollow sections are provided with orifices which are located below suitable shaped bottom surfaces of said ribs for directing gas flow between said orifices and said conduits.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The process of claim 39 comprising locating at least one fin in said hollow sections, and coating said at least one fin with said decontaminating agent to enhance said treating of contaminants.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The process of claim 40 wherein a plurality of said fins are arranged within said hollow structural sections in a rosette formation.

### Claim 42

A process of capturing and mitigating contaminants comprising:
providing a flow element intermediate a first space and a second space, said first space having contaminated matter with at least some contaminated gas;
drawing said contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element;
segregating at least a portion of said contaminated gas away from said contaminated matter resulting in segregated contaminated gas and residual contaminated matter;
collecting said residual contaminated matter in said second space for further processing;
merging said segregated contaminated gas with gas from said second space to form a mixed gas;
treating contaminants in said mixed gas to form a primary treated gas, wherein said treating comprises passing said mixed gas from said second space through a decontamination unit to create said primary treated gas;
directing said primary treated gas to generate at least some of said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element;
positioning an inlet of a piping system to communicate with said second space to contribute to said merging to form said mixed gas;
positioning said piping system outlet to flow said primary treated gas from said decontamination unit into said flow element; and,
configuring said flow element to direct gas inside the flow element to said second space and create a suction effect to draw said contaminated matter from said first space.

### Claim 43

A process of capturing and mitigating contaminants comprising:
providing a flow element intermediate a first space and a second space, said first space having contaminated matter with at least some contaminated gas;
drawing said contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element;
segregating at least a portion of said contaminated gas away from said contaminated matter resulting in segregated contaminated gas and residual contaminated matter;
collecting said residual contaminated matter in said second space for further processing;
merging said segregated contaminated gas with gas from said second space to form a mixed gas;
treating contaminants in said mixed gas to form a primary treated gas, wherein said treating comprises passing said mixed gas from said second space through a decontamination unit to create said primary treated gas;
directing said primary treated gas to generate at least some of said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element; and
locating at least one fin in said decontamination unit, and coating said at least one fin with a decontaminating agent to enhance said treating of contaminants.

### Claim 44

A system for capturing and mitigating contaminants from a first space, the system comprising:
a chamber providing a second space;
a flow element intermediate the first space and the second space, the flow element comprising first openings, air passages, flow conduits, second openings, and third openings, wherein the flow element is configured to permit at least some contaminated matter in the first space to enter the flow element through the first openings and pass through the flow conduits to exit the third openings to reach the second space, wherein the second openings fluidically connect the air passages with the flow conduits, wherein the first openings, second openings, and third openings are different from one another;
a decontamination agent and/or decontamination unit for treating contaminants; and,
a fan configured to create a suction effect at the first openings by creating a positive pressure which causes air flow from the air passages into the flow conduits or a negative pressure which causes air flow from the flow conduits into the air passages,
wherein the flow element, chamber, and fan are arranged such that when the fan is operating, (i) the at least some contaminated matter is segregated into a portion of contaminated gas and residual contaminated matter, (ii) the segregated contaminated gas is merged with gas from the second space to form a mixed gas, and (iii) at least some of the mixed gas is moved through the air passages of the flow element and subjected to the decontamination agent and/or the decontamination unit to form a treated gas, and
wherein the chamber is configured for collecting the residual contaminated matter for further processing.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The system of claim 44, wherein the system is characterized by one or more of the following:
the air passages are coated with the decontamination agent;
the at least some of the mixed gas is first treated in the air passages of the flow element to form the treated gas then further treated by the decontamination unit;
the treated gas is channeled into and through the flow element creating a suction effect within the flow element to contribute to drawing of the contaminated matter from the first space into the flow element;
the mixed gas is passed through the decontamination unit to create the treated gas, the system further comprises a piping system with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is positioned to communicate with the second space to contribute to merging of the segregated contaminated gas with the gas from the second space to form the mixed gas, wherein the outlet is positioned to flow the treated gas from the decontamination unit into the flow element, wherein the flow element is configured to direct gas inside the flow element to the second space and create the suction effect to draw the at least some contaminated matter from the first space;
the mixed gas is passed through the decontamination unit to create the treated gas and the system further comprises at least one fin in the decontamination unit coated with the decontaminating agent;
the system is configured to recirculate some or all of the treated gas to the first space and/or the second space;
the system is configured to direct at least some of said treated gas into the flow element to generate at least some drawing of the at least some contaminated matter from the first space into the flow element; and
the system is configured to direct at least some of the treated gas from passages of the flow element toward the second space to generate the suction effect for at least some drawing of the at least some contaminated matter from the first space into the flow element.

### Claim 46

A process of capturing and mitigating contaminants comprising:
providing a flow element intermediate a first space and a second space, said first space having contaminated matter with at least some contaminated gas;
drawing said contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element;
segregating at least a portion of said contaminated gas away from said contaminated matter resulting in segregated contaminated gas and residual contaminated matter;
collecting said residual contaminated matter in said second space for further processing;
merging said segregated contaminated gas with gas from said second space to form a mixed gas;
treating contaminants in said mixed gas to form a primary treated gas;
directing said primary treated gas to generate at least some of said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element; and,
recirculating some or all of the primary treated gas to the first space and/or the second space.

### Claim 47

A process of capturing and mitigating contaminants comprising:
providing a flow element intermediate a first space and a second space, said first space having contaminated matter with at least some contaminated gas and non-gaseous waste;
causing said contaminated matter from said first space to enter into said flow element;
collecting said non-gaseous waste in said second space for further processing;
merging the at least some contaminated gas with gas from said second space to form a mixed gas;
treating contaminants in said mixed gas to form a primary treated gas; and,
directing at least some of said primary treated gas into one or more of the flow element and the first space to generate a positive pressure that contributes at least some to said step of causing the contaminated matter from said first space to enter into said flow element.

### Claim 48

A process of capturing and mitigating contaminants comprising:
providing a flow element intermediate a first space and a second space, said first space having contaminated matter with at least some contaminated gas;
drawing said contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element;
segregating at least a portion of said contaminated gas away from said contaminated matter resulting in segregated contaminated gas and residual contaminated matter;
collecting said residual contaminated matter in said second space for further processing;
merging said segregated contaminated gas with gas from said second space to form a mixed gas;
treating contaminants in said mixed gas to form a primary treated gas; and,
directing at least some of said primary treated gas from passages of the flow element toward the second space to generate a suction effect for at least some of said drawing of contaminated matter from said first space into said flow element.