초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for purifying air to deactivate toxic chemical and biological species such as Sarin, mustard gas, phosgene, cyanogen chloride, Anthrax spores, E. coli bacteria, Salmonella bacteria, Hepatitis virus, and Norwalk virus. The apparatus comprises a reaction chamber coupled to a cou

A method and apparatus for purifying air to deactivate toxic chemical and biological species such as Sarin, mustard gas, phosgene, cyanogen chloride, Anthrax spores, E. coli bacteria, Salmonella bacteria, Hepatitis virus, and Norwalk virus. The apparatus comprises a reaction chamber coupled to a counterflow heat exchanger. Incoming contaminated air is directed through a heating side of a counterflow heat exchanger to preheat it. The air is further heated to a temperature of at least 200.degree. C., which is sufficient to deactivate common biological toxic species. Optionally, the reaction chamber may include a catalyst on a surface area over which the heated air is directed, which enables a thermocatalytic reaction that is particularly effective in deactivating biological and chemical warfare agents, such as anthrax and Sarin. Portable embodiments of the invention are useful in both military and civilian air purifying applications, while fixed installation of the apparatus are useful in deactivating toxic species from the air in areas where food is prepared or stored, or in purifying air in the environment of a living space.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Apparatus for purifying a gas contaminated with toxic species, comprising:(a) a thermal reactor having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid path connecting the inlet point in fluid communication with the outlet port; (b) a heat source for heating the gas contaminated with the toxic species

1. Apparatus for purifying a gas contaminated with toxic species, comprising:(a) a thermal reactor having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid path connecting the inlet point in fluid communication with the outlet port; (b) a heat source for heating the gas contaminated with the toxic species passing through the thermal reactor to a temperature sufficient to thermally deactivate at least 90% of any toxic biological species contaminating the gas, producing a purified gas; (c) a counterflow heat exchanger comprising a first passage and a second passage, said first passage and said second passage being disposed adjacent each other in heat exchange relationship, the first passage having an inlet port for receiving the gas that is contaminated, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the inlet port of the thermal reactor, the second passage having an inlet port in fluid communication with the outlet port of the thermal reactor, and an outlet port for exhausting the purified gas from the thermal reactor that has been cooled by passing through the counterflow heat exchanger, the gas that is contaminated flowing through the first passage within the counterflow heat exchanger in a direction opposite that of the purified gas flowing in the second passage so that heat is transferred from the purified gas flowing through the second passage to the gas that is contaminated flowing in the first passage to preheat the gas that is contaminated and to cool the purified gas; said counterflow heat exchanger having a thermal efficiency of at least 90%; and (d) a blower that circulates the gas through the thermal reactor and the first and second passages of the counterflow heat exchanger.