Photocatalytic oxidation enhanced evaporator coil surface for fly-by control
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsNorman A. Washburn, Timothy J. Roberts, Christian C. Herbeck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat exchanger coil has its fins coated with a photocatalytic semi-conductor material in such a manner that its fins may then be illuminated by UV light to activate the material so as to cause the oxidation of organic pollutants which are on the fin coils themselves or in the air passing therethrough. A preferred photocatalytic semi-conductor material is titanium dioxide, which may be applied to the fin stock prior to the fabrication of the coil.
Claims18
An air conditioning system of the type having a heat exchanger coil with a plurality of fins which are in heat exchange contact with a plurality of tubes comprising:
- a fan for causing air to be passed through the heat exchange coil to be conditioned by the exchange of heat therewith;
- a coating of a photocatalytic semi-conductor material being disposed on a surface of said plurality of fins;
- and
- a light source disposed in optical proximity to said coated fins and having a wave length capable of activating said photocatalytic semi-conductor material.
An improved heat exchanger coil of the type having a plurality of fins aligned in generally parallel relationship and spaced apart to facilitate the flow of air therethrough, and a plurality of tubes passing through openings in said fins, said tubes adapted to carry a flow of refrigerant therethrough, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a coating applied to a surface on said fins, said coating containing a photocatalytic semi-conductor material which is activatable by light so as to be capable of dissociating water molecules to form hydroxial radicals for oxidizing organic pollutants that may be on said fins or in the air passing through said fins.
A method of treating an air flow through a heat exchanger coil having fins and refrigerant tubes in heat exchange relationship, comprising the steps of:
- coating a surface of the fins with a photocatalytic semi-conductor material;
- irradiating the fin surfaces with a light source having a wave length capable of activating said photocatalytic semi-conductor material;
- and
- causing air to pass through said evaporator coil so as to be exposed to and purified by said activated photocatalytic semi-conductor material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.