초록 ▼

A plant air purifying enclosure, or “PAPE,” contained within an unconditioned space, either within or outside a building, containing therein a plant air purifier, which is used to purify air using plants and microbes growing therein. The PAPE enclosure itself receives poor indoor quality air from wi

A plant air purifying enclosure, or “PAPE,” contained within an unconditioned space, either within or outside a building, containing therein a plant air purifier, which is used to purify air using plants and microbes growing therein. The PAPE enclosure itself receives poor indoor quality air from within structure where the PAPE is located or from a structure close by along with thermal energy which keeps the plant air purifier enclosure at a suitable temperature for the plants and air cleaning microbes within the air purifier. Poor air enters the enclosure, is purified by the plants and microbes, and returns in purified form back to the habitable space from which it was taken. This lowers the amount of outside air needed for ventilation purposes and so lessens a building's overall energy consumption while providing efficiently for naturally purified air. Fundamentally, the object of this invention is to specify devices, systems and methods to house/enclose plant purifiers in such a way that they can readily be deployed on a wide scale.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A plant air purification enclosure for enabling a plant air purifier to purify air in a building structure, comprising: an enclosure separating an interior space therein from an exterior space external thereto, said enclosure providing thermal insulation and substantially preventing moisture and

1. A plant air purification enclosure for enabling a plant air purifier to purify air in a building structure, comprising: an enclosure separating an interior space therein from an exterior space external thereto, said enclosure providing thermal insulation and substantially preventing moisture and air flow, between said interior and exterior spaces;incoming and outgoing air openings connecting said interior space with said exterior space, configured such that—exclusive of any emergency source of air which may optionally be provided—substantially all exchange of thermal energy and air between said interior and exterior spaces transpire through said openings;a plant air purifier containment within said interior space, said containment configured for containing at least one filter bed of a plant air purifier and plants growing within said at least one filter bed;at least one water source, situated relative to said plant air purifier containment to deliver water for plant growth to a plant air purifier, when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment;at least one source of growing light, situated relative to said plant air purifier containment to deliver light for plant growth to a plant air purifier, when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment;at least one air movement apparatus for causing impure air arriving from said exterior space via said incoming air opening to move from said incoming air opening, through a filter bed containment region of said containment, to said outgoing air opening, and be returned via said outgoing air opening as purified air to said exterior space; andsaid thermal insulation in combination with thermal energy from said impure air arriving from said exterior space via said incoming air opening maintaining the temperature within said interior space within a range suitable for plant growth; and said plant air purification enclosure further comprising at least one of the following:a work counter;a sink;sufficient space to physically accommodate a human being working therein;an emergency generator for supplying power to said plant air purification enclosure when a usual source of power is inoperative;backup batteries for supplying power to said plant air purification enclosure when a usual source of power is inoperative;baseboard heating;forced air heating;propane heating;an emergency water source for supplying water for the plants when said at least one water source is inoperative;an emergency source of air for supplying air to the plants when air arriving via said incoming air opening is insufficient to sustain the plants;an excess heat vent for discharging excess heat. 2. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, said at least one water source comprising a top leaf surface cleaning water source situated and oriented relative to said containment so as to clean a top surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment. 3. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 2, said at least one water source further comprising a bottom leaf surface cleaning water source situated below said top leaf surface cleaning water source and oriented relative to said containment so as to clean a bottom surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment. 4. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 3, said at least one water source further comprising a filter bed watering source situated below said bottom leaf surface cleaning water source, emitting water directly onto the filter bed so as to moisturize said filter bed when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment, without said water substantially contacting the leafs of the plants. 5. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, said at least one water source comprising a bottom leaf surface cleaning water source situated and oriented relative to said containment so as to clean a bottom surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment. 6. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, said at least one water source comprising a micro irrigation system. 7. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, wherein said plant air purifier containment comprising the capability to contain filter beds at a plurality of vertically-distinct levels. 8. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 7, further comprising, at each of said levels: at least one water source comprising a top leaf surface cleaning water source situated and oriented relative to said containment so as to clean a top surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment; andsaid at least one water source comprising a bottom leaf surface cleaning water source situated below said top leaf surface cleaning water source and oriented relative to said containment so as to clean a bottom surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment. 9. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, said at least one water source selected from the water source group consisting of: water produced by a dehumidifier; water produced by an air conditioner; captured rainwater; rainwater purified by limestone; well water; water from a municipal water supply which water is dechlorinated prior application to the plants; water from a backwash reservoir which water has had salt or dirt filtered therefrom prior application to the plants; water stored in an acclimation tank for acclimating a temperature of said water into a range suitable for application to the plants. 10. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a UVC light source situated to sterilize the air passing through said plant air purification enclosure before said air is returned to said exterior space. 11. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, said light source comprising at least one of: a substantially transparent window through which light can penetrate from said exterior space into said interior space; anda substantially transparent skylight through which light can penetrate from said exterior space into said interior space. 12. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, said light source comprising an artificial grow light source. 13. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising an integrated grow and sterilization light fixture integrating an artificial grow light source for providing said at least one source of growing light, and a UVC light source providing sterilization light for sterilizing the air passing through said plant air purification enclosure before said air is returned to said exterior space; wherein: said UVC light source is oriented to direct UVC light in a first direction toward impure air arriving via said incoming air opening; andsaid grow light source is oriented to direct grow light in a second direction toward said plants, when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment. 14. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 13, said integrated grow and sterilization light fixture further comprising a shield substantially preventing said UVC light from propagating in a direction other than said first direction, so as to minimize the exposure of human eyes to said UVB light. 15. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, wherein said thermal insulation in combination with thermal energy from said impure air maintains the temperature within said interior space within a range suitable for plant growth by ensuring that during air purification operation, air passing through said enclosure does not have its temperature altered by more than five (5) degrees F. between when it enters and when it exits said enclosure. 16. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, said thermal insulation comprising at least one insulator selected from the insulator group consisting of: straw bales; straw panels; polyurethane; phenol-cored sandwich panels with layers of steel; phenol cored sandwich panels with layers of aluminum, polyurethane-cored sandwich panels with at least one side comprising steel; polyurethane-cored sandwich panels with at least one side comprising flexible sheet; Styrofoam; polyethylene; polyethylene beads; poly carbon; foam; and fiberglass. 17. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, wherein said incoming air opening is connected to, and receives air from, an HVAC system situated in said exterior space. 18. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, wherein: said plant air purification enclosure is a structure separate and distinct from, and situated outside of, the building;said incoming and outgoing air openings connect said plant air purification enclosure to an inside of the building through an exterior wall or roof of the building;said thermal insulation in combination with said thermal energy from said impure air is sufficient to enable said plant air purification enclosure to be placed out of doors in both the summer and the winter without damaging plants placed therein. 19. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 18, wherein: said plant air purification enclosure is mobile, wherein it can be moved to a location exterior and proximate to the building, from another location remote from the building;said incoming and outgoing air openings, at will, can be connected to and disconnected from the exterior wall or roof of the building; andsaid plant air purification enclosure, once a plant air purifier is contained within said containment, can thereafter be activated and used to purify air from inside the building. 20. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, wherein: said plant air purification enclosure is mobile; andsaid incoming and outgoing air openings, at will, can be connected in series with incoming and outgoing air openings of a second plant air purification enclosure to increase the air purification capacity thereof. 21. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, wherein said plant air purification enclosure is situated in an unconditioned space inside of the building. 22. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1: said incoming opening configured to deliver into said interior space through said enclosure, incoming air comprising impure air drawn from inside the building mixed with air drawn from outside the building; andsaid incoming opening configured therein to provide thermal contact and permit heat exchange between said impure air drawn from inside the building and said air drawn from outside the building. 23. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a heating apparatus within said enclosure for heating air within said enclosure. 24. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a cooling apparatus within said enclosure for cooling air within said enclosure. 25. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a limewater source, and said incoming air opening configured to pass incoming air through said limewater. 26. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a wet scrubber for removing nitric oxide and SO2 from air, and said incoming air opening configured to pass incoming air through said wet scrubber. 27. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising an aerator, and said incoming air opening configured to pass incoming air through said aerator. 28. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a dehumidifying apparatus for removing moisture from the air before said purified air is returned to said exterior space. 29. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a humidifying apparatus for adding moisture to the air before said purified air is returned to said exterior space. 30. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, said containment further containing at least one filter bed of a plant air purifier and plants growing within said at least one filter bed. 31. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a control system which closes the passage of air through said air openings responsive to at least one of the following conditions: at least one of said water sources is operating;a predetermined amount of water is dripping down through a filter bed;air that would otherwise enter through said incoming and outgoing air opening is at a temperature either lower than 65 degrees F. or higher than 85 degrees F. 32. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising sensors which notify a control system responsive to sensing at least one of the following conditions: that the temperature within said interior space is outside of said range suitable for plant growth;that said air arriving from said exterior space has not been arriving for a predetermined period of time;that said air arriving from said exterior space is outside of said range suitable for plant growth;that a power source for operating said plant air purification enclosure is inoperative;that at least one of said source of light is inoperative;that least one of said water sources is inoperative; andthat a moisture sensor for detecting a level of moisture within a filter bed is inoperative. 33. The plant air purification enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a control system; and at least one of: an emergency generator responsive to said control system, for supplying power to said plant air purification enclosure when it is detected that a usual source of power is inoperative;an emergency heater responsive to said control system, for supplying heat to said plant air purification enclosure when it is detected that a usual source of heat is inoperative;an emergency cooler responsive to said control system, for supplying cooling to said plant air purification enclosure when it is detected that a usual source of cooling is inoperative;dampers or vents responsive to said control system, for allowing and preventing the air flow of air into said enclosure, in response to one or more of: when said water sources are operating; and the level of moisture sensed to be in said at least one filter bed;a movable opaque barrier responsive to said control system, for permitting and blocking the penetration of light from said exterior space into said interior space;a UVC light source responsive to said control system, situated to sterilize the air passing through said plant air purification enclosure before said air is returned to said exterior space;said at least one source of growing light, responsive to said control system;said at least one water source, responsive to said control system;said at least one air movement apparatus, responsive to said control system;a dehumidifying apparatus, responsive to said control system, for removing moisture from the air before said purified air is returned to said exterior space;a humidifying apparatus, responsive to said control system, for adding moisture to the air before said purified air is returned to said exterior space;a limewater source, responsive to said control system, with said incoming air opening configured to pass incoming air through said limewater; andan aerator, responsive to said control system, with said incoming air opening configured to pass incoming air through said aerator. 34. A method of providing a plant air purification enclosure for enabling a plant air purifier to purify air in a building structure, comprising: establishing an enclosure separating an interior space therein from an exterior space external thereto by providing thermal insulation and a substantial barrier to moisture and air flow, between said interior and exterior spaces;connecting said interior space with said exterior space by configuring incoming and outgoing air openings such that—exclusive of any emergency source of air which may optionally be provided—substantially all exchange of thermal energy and air between said interior and exterior spaces transpire through said openings;configuring a plant air purifier containment within said interior space for containing at least one filter bed of a plant air purifier and plants growing within said at least one filter bed;situating at least one water source relative to said plant air purifier containment for delivering water for plant growth to a plant air purifier, when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment;situating at least one source of growing light relative to said plant air purifier containment for delivering light for plant growth to a plant air purifier, when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment;causing impure air arriving from said exterior space via said incoming air opening to move from said incoming air opening, through a filter bed containment region of said containment, to said outgoing air opening, and be returned via said outgoing air opening as purified air to said exterior space, using at least one air movement apparatus; andmaintaining the temperature within said interior space within a range suitable for plant growth using said thermal insulation in combination with thermal energy from said impure air arriving from said exterior space via said incoming air opening; and said method further comprising at least one of the following:a work counter;a sink;a human being working therein, physically accommodated by a space sufficient therefor;supplying power to said plant air purification enclosure when a usual source of power is inoperative, using an emergency generator therefor;supplying power to said plant air purification enclosure when a usual source of power is inoperative, using backup batteries therefor;baseboard heating;forced air heating;propane heating;supplying for watering the plants when said at least one water source is inoperative, using an emergency water source therefor;supplying air to the plants when air arriving via said incoming air opening is insufficient to sustain the plants, using an emergency source of air therefor;discharging excess heat using an excess heat vent therefor. 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising cleaning a top surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment, using said at least one water source comprising a top leaf surface cleaning water source, situated and oriented relative to said containment therefor. 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising cleaning a bottom surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment, using said at least one water source comprising a bottom leaf surface cleaning water source, situated below said top leaf surface cleaning water source and oriented relative to said containment therefor. 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising moisturizing said filter bed when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment, using said at least one water source further comprising a filter bed watering source situated below said bottom leaf surface cleaning water source, emitting water directly onto the filter bed without said water substantially contacting the leafs of the plants. 38. The method of claim 34, further comprising cleaning a bottom surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment, using said at least one water source comprising a bottom leaf surface cleaning water source, situated and oriented relative to said containment therefor. 39. The method of claim 34, said at least one water source comprising a micro irrigation system. 40. The method of claim 34, further comprising configuring said plant air purifier containment for containing filter beds at a plurality of vertically-distinct levels. 41. The method of claim 40, further comprising, at each of said levels: cleaning a top surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment, using said at least one water source comprising a top leaf surface cleaning water source, situated and oriented relative to said containment therefor; andcleaning a bottom surface of the plants within the plant air purifier when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment, using said at least one water source comprising a bottom leaf surface cleaning water source, situated below said top leaf surface cleaning water source and oriented relative to said containment therefor. 42. The method of claim 34, said at least one water source selected from the water source group consisting of: water produced by a dehumidifier; water produced by an air conditioner; captured rainwater; rainwater purified by limestone; well water; water from a municipal water supply which water is dechlorinated prior application to the plants; water from a backwash reservoir which water has had salt or dirt filtered therefrom prior application to the plants; water stored in an acclimation tank for acclimating a temperature of said water into a range suitable for application to the plants. 43. The method of claim 34, further comprising sterilizing the air passing through said plant air purification enclosure before said air is returned to said exterior space, using a UVC light source situated therefor. 44. The method of claim 34, further comprising delivering said light for plant growth using at least one of: a substantially transparent window through which light can penetrate from said exterior space into said interior space; anda substantially transparent skylight through which light can penetrate from said exterior space into said interior space. 45. The method of claim 34, said light source comprising an artificial grow light source. 46. The method of claim 34, further comprising an artificial grow light source delivering said light for plant growth using, and providing sterilization light for sterilizing the air passing through said plant air purification enclosure before said air is returned to said exterior space, using an integrated grow and sterilization light fixture comprising: a UVC light source oriented to direct UVC light in a first direction toward impure air arriving via said incoming air opening; andsaid grow light source oriented to direct grow light in a second direction toward said plants, when the plant air purifier is contained within said containment. 47. The method of claim 46, said integrated grow and sterilization light fixture further comprising substantially preventing said UVC light from propagating in a direction other than said first direction, so as to minimize the exposure of human eyes to said UVB light, using a shield therefor. 48. The method of claim 34, said thermal insulation in combination with thermal energy from said impure air maintaining the temperature within said interior space within a range suitable for plant growth by ensuring that during air purification operation, air passing through said enclosure does not have its temperature altered by more than five (5) degrees F. between when it enters and when it exits said enclosure. 49. The method of claim 34, further comprising providing said thermal insulation using at least one insulator selected from the insulator group consisting of: straw bales; straw panels; polyurethane; phenol-cored sandwich panels with layers of steel; phenol cored sandwich panels with layers of aluminum, polyurethane-cored sandwich panels with at least one side comprising steel; polyurethane-cored sandwich panels with at least one side comprising flexible sheet; Styrofoam; polyethylene; polyethylene beads; poly carbon; foam; and fiberglass. 50. The method of claim 34, said incoming air opening connected to, and receiving air from, an HVAC system situated in said exterior space. 51. The method of claim 34, further comprising: embodying said plant air purification enclosure in a structure separate and distinct from, and situated outside of, the building; andconnecting said plant air purification enclosure to an inside of the building through an exterior wall or roof of the building, through said incoming and outgoing air openings; wherein:said thermal insulation in combination with said thermal energy from said impure air is sufficient to enable said plant air purification enclosure to be placed out of doors in both the summer and the winter without damaging plants placed therein. 52. The method of claim 51, further comprising: providing said plant air purification enclosure in a mobile embodiment;moving said plant air purification enclosure to a location exterior and proximate to the building, from another location remote from the building; andconnecting to said incoming and outgoing air openings to the exterior wall or roof of the building; wherein:said plant air purification enclosure, once a plant air purifier is contained within said containment, can thereafter be activated and used to purify air from inside the building. 53. The method of claim 34, further comprising: providing said plant air purification enclosure in a mobile embodiment; andincrease the air purification capacity of said plant air purification enclosure by connecting said incoming and outgoing air openings in series, at will, with incoming and outgoing air openings of a second plant air purification enclosure. 54. The method of claim 34, situating said plant air purification enclosure in an unconditioned space inside of the building. 55. The method of claim 34: delivering into said interior space through said enclosure, a mix of incoming air comprising impure air drawn from inside the building and air drawn from outside the building, using said incoming opening configured therefor; andproviding thermal contact and permitting heat exchange between said impure air drawn from inside the building and said air drawn from outside the building, using said incoming opening configured therein, therefor. 56. The method of claim 34, further heating air within said enclosure using a heating apparatus within said enclosure, therefor. 57. The method of claim 34, further comprising cooling air within said enclosure using a cooling apparatus within said enclosure, therefor. 58. The method of claim 34, further comprising passing incoming air through a limewater source, using said incoming air opening configured therefor. 59. The method of claim 34, further comprising removing nitric oxide and SO2 from air using a wet scrubber, using said incoming air opening is configured to pass incoming air through said wet scrubber. 60. The method of claim 34, further comprising passing incoming air through an aerator, using said incoming air opening configured to pass said incoming air through said aerator. 61. The method of claim 34, further comprising removing moisture from the air before said purified air is returned to said exterior space, using a dehumidifying apparatus therefor. 62. The method of claim 34, further comprising adding moisture to the air before said purified air is returned to said exterior space, using a humidifying apparatus therefor. 63. The method of claim 34, said further comprising containing at least one filter bed of a plant air purifier and plants growing within said at least one filter bed, in said containment. 64. The method of claim 34, further closing the passage of air through said air openings, using a control system responsive to at least one of the following conditions: at least one of said water sources is operating;a predetermined amount of water is dripping down through a filter bed;air that would otherwise enter through said incoming and outgoing air opening is at a temperature either lower than 65 degrees F. or higher than 85 degrees F. 65. The method of claim 34, further comprising notifying a control system responsive to sensors sensing at least one of the following conditions: that the temperature within said interior space is outside of said range suitable for plant growth;that said air arriving from said exterior space has not been arriving for a predetermined period of time;that said air arriving from said exterior space is outside of said range suitable for plant growth;that a power source for operating said plant air purification enclosure is inoperative;that at least one of said source of light is inoperative;that least one of said water sources is inoperative; andthat a moisture sensor for detecting a level of moisture within a filter bed is inoperative. 66. The method of claim 34, further comprising a control system; and at least one of: an emergency generator supplying power to said plant air purification enclosure when it is detected that a usual source of power is inoperative, responsive to said control system;an emergency heater supplying heat to said plant air purification enclosure when it is detected that a usual source of heat is inoperative, responsive to said control system;an emergency cooler supplying cooling to said plant air purification enclosure when it is detected that a usual source of cooling is inoperative, responsive to said control system;dampers or vents allowing and preventing the air flow of air into said enclosure, in response to one or more of: when said water sources are operating; and the level of moisture sensed to be in said at least one filter bed, all responsive to said control system;a movable opaque barrier permitting and blocking the penetration of light from said exterior space into said interior space, responsive to said control system;a UVC light source sterilizing the air passing through said plant air purification enclosure before said air is returned to said exterior space, responsive to said control system;said at least one source of growing light, responsive to said control system;said at least one water source, responsive to said control system;said at least one air movement apparatus, responsive to said control system;a dehumidifying apparatus removing moisture from the air before said purified air is returned to said exterior space, responsive to said control system;a humidifying apparatus adding moisture to the air before said purified air is returned to said exterior space, responsive to said control system;a limewater source with said incoming air opening configured to pass incoming air through said limewater, responsive to said control system; andan aerator, with said incoming air opening configured to pass incoming air through said aerator, responsive to said control system.