Development of an eco-friendly air purification system that does not require filter replacement

(Health Korea News / Park Won-jin) An eco-friendly air purification system technology that uses water-based fine bubbles as a filter instead of the existing solid filter that produces waste has been developed by domestic researchers.

Professor Seunghwan Ko’s research team at Seoul National University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering announced on the 14th that they have developed a circulatory air purification system that can remove fine dust indoors and discharge volatile organic compounds outdoors by simulating the human body.

The biggest problem in a closed indoor environment is air pollution caused by oxygen reduction, carbon dioxide accumulation, fine dust, and volatile organic compounds. Ventilation is essential, but this can allow external contaminants to flow in, so advanced indoor purification methods are required.

For this reason, many people are using air purifiers, but the existing filtration type filters are not suitable for application in closed indoor environments due to poor performance due to accumulation of fine dust and difficulty in removing molecular substances such as volatile organic compounds.

Periodic cleaning and filter replacement are also necessary. The waste (environmental pollution) generated as a result of this cannot be ignored.

(Concept and actual configuration of an air purification system that simulates the human circulatory system and respiratory system)<br />(A) Left) Schematic diagram of the gas exchange and waste discharge processes that occur within the human body. Right) Schematic diagram of a circulatory air purification system with a structure similar to the human body. <br />(B) Configuration of a circulating air purification system consisting of water, gas exchange device, and circulation pump.<br />(C) Structure of gas exchange device using microbubbles and appearance of elastic micropore filter. High-speed camera photo when an actual microbubble occurs.<br />” src=”<figcaption>(Concept and actual configuration of an air purification system that simulates the human circulatory system and respiratory system)</p>
<p>(A) Left) Schematic diagram of the gas exchange and waste discharge processes that occur within the human body. Right) Schematic diagram of a circulatory air purification system with a structure similar to the human body. <br />
(B) Configuration of a circulating air purification system consisting of water, gas exchange device, and circulation pump.<br />
(C) Structure of gas exchange device using microbubbles and appearance of elastic micropore filter. High-speed camera photo when an actual microbubble occurs.</p>
</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p>The research team developed a comprehensive air purification system that simulates the gas exchange of the human respiratory and circulatory systems and can remove fine dust in a closed room while simultaneously discharging accumulated carbon dioxide to supply insufficient oxygen.</p>
<p>In fact, the human body’s circulatory system and respiratory system prevent the inflow of pollutants from the outside, supply necessary oxygen to cells through a medium called blood, and discharge unnecessary carbon dioxide to the outside. At this time, natural gas exchange occurs in the alveoli and capillaries, blocking the inflow of fine dust from the external environment, and in this process, waste products are discharged through the kidneys.</p>
<p>The research team was inspired by these human body functions (structure) and implemented a water circulation system that simulates blood circulation, and confirmed that it was possible to maintain the carbon dioxide concentration of indoor air at a normal level. Here, it was proven that the elastic filter developed using laser technology forms smaller and more uniform microbubbles than existing bubble production methods. They succeeded in developing the so-called ‘microbubble-based gas exchange system.’ </p>
</p>
<div style= — Professor Seunghwan Ko, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University

(Evaluation of fine dust and CO2 removal performance of human body-simulating circulating air purification system)<br />(A) Photo of the fine dust (PM) removal process in an enclosed space. Filter efficiency measurement results for various fine dust sizes.<br />(B) Photo of the carbon dioxide removal process in a closed space. CO2 removal performance measurement results according to water circulation speed.<br />(C) Animal testing to identify and solve the problem of indoor oxygen deficiency/carbon dioxide accumulation due to respiration. Measurement of rat activity with and without a circulating air purification system in operation.<br />” src=”<figcaption>(Evaluation of fine dust and CO2 removal performance of human body-simulating circulating air purification system)</p>
<p>(A) Photo of the fine dust (PM) removal process in an enclosed space. Filter efficiency measurement results for various fine dust sizes.<br />
(B) Photo of the carbon dioxide removal process in a closed space. CO2 removal performance measurement results according to water circulation speed.<br />
(C) Animal testing to identify and solve the problem of indoor oxygen deficiency/carbon dioxide accumulation due to breathing. Measurement of rat activity with and without a circulating air purification system in operation.</p>
</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p>The ‘microbubble-based gas exchange system’ has a simple principle and structure, so it can be scaled up simply by increasing the size or number of devices. It can be applied to everything from small desks or vehicles to large spaces such as offices and conference rooms, and its feasibility has been experimentally proven.</p>
</p>
<div style= — Professor Seunghwan Ko, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University

Regarding the results of this research, Professor Seunghwan Ko said, “With the simple principle of using water instead of a filtration type filter, not only can polluting particles and molecules present in the air be purified at the same time, but it can also replace the existing filter system with an eco-friendly technology without filter waste. “It will be possible,” he said.

The results of this research were published in the October 10th issue of ‘Advanced Materials’, an international academic journal in the materials field.

Source: www.hkn24.com

Issue: *
Your Name: *
Your Email: *

Details: *