EP0523118B1 - Process, installation and device for enriching ventilation or air-conditioning air with aromatic substances - Google Patents

Abstract

In a process, installation and device for enriching ventilation or air-conditioning air with aromatic substances, the enrichment is homogenised in that a mixture of preferably water and aromatic substance is produced and stocked in a container (11) having a free evaporation surface for the mixture, the intake air current of the ventilation or air-conditioning air or part thereof is taken over the free evaporation area and then fed into the air-conditioning system.

Description

The invention relates to a method, a system and device for enriching ventilation or air conditioning with fragrances.

It is known to introduce fragrances into ventilation or air conditioning air by fine spraying in order to create a pleasant fragrance in the artificially ventilated or air-conditioned room. This method has the disadvantage, among other things, that permanent spraying is not justifiable for various reasons, and tacked or sprayed spraying of the fragrances at intervals leads to noticeable fluctuations in the fragrance concentration in the artificially ventilated or air-conditioned room.

From DE 12 65 953 B a humidification device for air conditioning systems is known in which the air stream to be humidified is directed onto the liquid surface of a drip water collecting container and a nozzle spraying the dampening water into the air stream is directed obliquely towards the water surface above the inclined air stream. This known moistening device has i.a. the aforementioned disadvantages of water spraying and is intended primarily for humidification purposes and not for the introduction of fragrances.

From US Pat. No. 3,599,841 is a device for circulating air with simultaneous enrichment with a Fragrance is known in which a fragrance-receiving container is coupled to an air-flow channel through the use of an inlet and outlet valve in such a way that the circulation air is passed as a whole through the fragrance-receiving container when the valves are open, and also when the valves are closed aer flow channel for the circulating air is interrupted by the double seat valve for further fluid flow. The disadvantage of this known device is, inter alia, that it does not allow permanent ventilation or air conditioning, since the air flow is interrupted at intervals. In addition, the forced guidance of the circulating air flow through the container holding the fragrance leads to an extremely strong enrichment of the air flow with fragrance, which, particularly in connection with the cyclical operation of the device, is perceived as unpleasant by the people using such a ventilated space. Since this known device relies on the use of the double-seat valve to prevent evaporation of the relatively rapidly evaporating fragrance material in times of interrupted air circulation, it is also not possible to use this device in any other way than according to the on / off cycle principle. Although this document mentions the possibility that the double seat valve can not only be opened completely, but also partially, or that the blower air flow can be varied, these possibilities in no way result in the evaporation of the fragrance material being slowed down in this way. Rather, the result of such throttling attempts of the circulating air flow will only be that the same amount of air per unit time is emitted and only the air flow transporting the fragrance is weaker. Measures of this type therefore undesirably increase the fragrance concentration even further.

From DE-A1-27 40 476 a method for air humidification is known with which the odorous substances are simultaneously removed from the ambient air to be humidified. For this purpose, a container is provided that can only be partially filled with water. There is an enclosed volume of air above the water surface with two connections to the ambient atmosphere. One connection consists of a pipe opening just above the surface of the water, the other end of which opens into the ambient air. The other connection consists of an opening in the container lid, which is assigned a fan for generating a flow through the container. As a result of this circulation, the air sucked in via the feed pipe impinges vertically on part of the water surface. This type of flow releases the odorous substances contained in the room to be humidified into the water inside the container. At the same time, the air flow thus supplied to the water surface and discharged to the ambient atmosphere via the fan absorbs moisture. It is envisaged to add small amounts of additives, such as spring scent, chemical binders for odorants and the like, to the water for this known device. This measure does not yet make the known device suitable for the uniform delivery of fragrances. The mandatory impingement of the intake air on the water surface, which implements the step of air purification of odorous substances that is essential for this device, is in fact contrary to a uniform exposure of the air treated in this way to fragrances. The gradual accumulation with odorous substances within the evaporation water namely changes the fragrance concentration released by the device over time. Otherwise, this known device is also not intended or suitable for feeding the air flow treated in it into the air flow of a ventilation or air conditioning system (bypass circuit); At most, a treatment cleaning and humidification) of the total air flow of the ventilation or air conditioning system would be considered, since neither the air purification nor the air humidification in the partial flow process (bypass circuit) either would be sufficient in terms of cleaning and wetting effects. The decisive disadvantage of this known device and procedure, however, lies - as mentioned - in the fact that the desirable uniformity of the treatment of the treated air with fragrance by the impingement of an air jet on a part of the free water surface because of the resulting release of ingredients of the supply air to the water becomes impossible.

From DE-GM 16 74 979 an air conditioning system for improving indoor air is known, in which in turn nozzles are used to give the air conditioning air a liquid which has the property of absorbing odoriferous substances and corner substances which are present in the air conditioning air . This known air conditioning system essentially has the same disadvantages as the device described in connection with DE 12 65 953 B.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to even out the enrichment of ventilation or air conditioning air with fragrances. To achieve this object, the method set out in claim 1 is proposed. It enables a completely uniform enrichment of the ventilation or air conditioning air during the entire desired period. This period is normally the same as the daily operating time of the ventilation or air conditioning system. However, it is also possible to enrich the ventilation or air conditioning air with fragrance only during predetermined part-time periods.

For the purposes of the invention, “ventilation or air conditioning air” means that it can be both fresh air and circulating air and mixtures of the two.

If shut-off valves for the partial air flow to be conducted through the container are opened and closed or throttled in cycles, the partial air flow enriched with fragrances can also be controlled with regard to its flow rate. The concentration of the fragrances in ventilation or air conditioning air can thus be controlled in a simple manner.

Another possibility of enriching with fragrances only during part-time periods is to provide within the container having the evaporation surfaces the possibility that the partial intake air flow optionally comes into or out of contact with the evaporation surfaces. This is due to movable ventilation control surfaces, such as sliders, flaps and the like. Like. Possible if they can alternatively direct the air flow over the free evaporation surfaces or over an appropriately dimensioned parallel duct.

Another alternative to enriching the ventilation or air conditioning air only in predetermined part-time periods is that the container having the evaporation surfaces contains fragrances only during these part-time periods. Of course, it is also possible to connect part-time periods with different fragrance notes in series. This is preferably done by using a plurality of containers according to the invention, particularly those connected in parallel with respect to the air flow.

In order to take into account above all the hygienic requirements of a ventilation or air conditioning system, it is provided that the containers having the evaporation surfaces are emptied and cleaned at predetermined intervals and fill. In order to achieve thorough mixing between the fragrance and the dilution liquid when filling, the measure according to claim 7 is proposed. The use of a spray device for the dilution liquid has proven to be particularly simple and effective both for mixing and for cleaning the container (claim 9).

In order to promote a particularly pronounced fragrance development, it is advantageous to keep the mixture of dilution liquid and fragrance at a certain temperature (advantageously above room temperature). The concentration of the fragrance in the ventilation or air conditioning air can also be changed to a certain extent via a temperature control.

A system for enriching ventilation or air conditioning air with fragrances, in which the ventilation or air conditioning air is conveyed into a distribution system by means of a blower, in particular by suction, solves the object on which the invention is based by the combination of features according to claim 10.

Appropriate embodiments of the subject matter of the invention, which in particular ensure simple manufacture, automated operation, good cleaning options and adaptability to the individual application, are contained in further claims.

• Fig. 1 ein Gerät zum Anreichern von Lüftungs- oder Klimatisierungsluft mit Duftstoffen in Seitenansicht (scheiatisch);
• Fig. 2 von demselben Gerät eine stirnseitige Ansicht des Behälters (Ansicht A gemäß Fig. 1);
• Fig. 3 von demselben Gerät eine Ansicht von oben (Ansicht B gemäß Fig. 1 und 2), aber ohne Einzelheiten der Auf- und Anbauten sowie
• Fig. 4 eine Anlage zum Anreichern von Lüftungs- oder Klimatisierungsluft mit Duftstoffen - als Schemaskizze.

Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention result from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of a system and a device for enriching ventilation or air conditioning with fragrances is shown in the drawing and is described in more detail below . The drawing shows:

• Figure 1 shows a device for enriching ventilation or air conditioning with fragrances in side view (schiatisch).
• 2 shows an end view of the container from the same device (view A according to FIG. 1);
• Fig. 3 of the same device a view from above (view B of FIGS. 1 and 2), but without details of the structures and attachments as well
• Fig. 4 shows a system for enriching ventilation or air conditioning with fragrances - as a schematic sketch.

In Figures 1 to 3, the device 10 for enriching ventilation or air conditioning with fragrances in different views. It has a container 11 which is delimited by end walls 12, 13, a cylindrical floor pan 14 and a flat cover plate 15.

The elongated, transparent cover plate 15 has in the region of its one narrow side a plurality of elongated supply air openings 16, which from above with a semicircular dust protection device 17 against the ingress of dust settling down and. Like. Are protected. The supply air can enter the open end faces 18 of the dust protection device 17.

In the area of the other narrow side of the container 11, a circular exhaust air opening 19, which is the only one in the drawing, is provided, which can be connected to the suction line of a blower 22 (FIG. 4) via a pipe socket 20 and a pipe 21.

The container 10 can be charged with a dilution liquid, in particular water, via a centrally arranged opening 23. For this purpose, an atomizing head 24 is used, which can generate a wide-ranging atomizing cone 25. By means of a solenoid valve 26, the dilution liquid can be injected in predetermined times and predetermined amounts.

Via at least one (two in FIG. 3) further openings 27 and corresponding connecting lines 28, the container 11 can be charged with fragrance or fragrance concentrate from a storage container 29. The exact mixing ratio can be set by means of a pump 30, such as a magnetic metering pump.

At the deepest point of the floor pan 14, which (as not specifically shown in the drawing) can also be inclined to one side, an emptying opening 31 is provided, which can be opened and closed by means of a solenoid valve 32.

All time functions can be triggered via at least one time switch 33.

For the sake of clarity, the electrical lines 34 connecting the various electrically operable components to one another are not shown individually, especially since they are known in principle to the person skilled in the art.

The timer 33 can e.g. B. be designed as a weekly timer and on all days on which the ventilation or air conditioning is to be enriched with fragrance, switch the various valves at the set time. Should the z. B. overnight out of operation and therefore preferably emptied device 10 are put into operation, the fresh water supply is first kept open for a predetermined period of time, so that part of the water requirement is injected into the container 11. The metering pump 30 is then started for a likewise predetermined period of time. Finally, water is mixed in again until the desired amount of water (e.g. 12 liters of water with 10 cm ³ fragrance extract) is complete. Then, e.g. B. in the evening, the enrichment with fragrance is ended, the container 11 is automatically emptied and then sprayed with water for a predetermined time with the solenoid valve 32 open (cleaning phase).

The mode of operation of the system in operation can best be seen in FIG. 4: at the beginning of a A section of the pipe duct 35 shown is a blower 22 which draws in ventilation or air conditioning air from an intake tract 36. This can flow through a known upstream unit 37, in which it is cleaned, moistened, tempered and / or treated in some other way. The pipe duct 35 branches, for. B. in air distribution channels 38, the air outlet slots 39 at various locations, for. B. open in different rooms.

When the system is operating, there is a mixture 40 of dilution liquid, fragrance concentrate and possibly an emulsifier known per se in the container 11. This liquid mixture 40 forms a free surface (evaporation surface 41).

Due to the fluidic connection between the gas space 42 of the container 11 and the intake tract 36 of the blower 22, a negative pressure is created in the gas space 42 of the container 11, through which an air flow 43 is generated and kept in motion. This bypass air sweeps over the evaporation surface 41 and leads to an extremely uniform discharge of fragrance from the container 11 and a corresponding uniform enrichment of the ventilation or air conditioning with this fragrance.

It goes without saying that the device 10 can also be equipped directly with a blower so that it can serve as a compact unit for the ventilation of individual rooms. However, the device is preferably connected to a (possibly already existing) ventilation or air conditioning system, in particular in the manner shown in FIG. 4.

It goes without saying that the device can also be connected to several storage containers 29 for different fragrances, so that different fragrance notes can be introduced into the ventilation or air conditioning air on different days or at different times on the same day.

Reference list

10th

device

11

container

12th

Front wall

13

Front wall

14

Floor pan

15

Cover plate

16

Supply air opening

17th

Dust protection device

18th

End faces

19th

Exhaust vent

20th

Pipe socket

21

Pipeline

22

fan

23

opening

24th

Atomizing head

25th

Atomizing cone

26

magnetic valve

27

opening

28

Connecting cable

29

Storage container

30th

pump

31

Drain opening

32

magnetic valve

33

Timer

34

electrical line

35

Pipe channel

36

Intake tract

37

Ballast

38

Air distribution channels

39

Air outlet slots

40

mixture

41

Evaporation surface

42

Gas space

43

Air flow

Claims (16)

1. A process for enriching ventilating or air-conditioning air with fragrances, wherein a mixture of a diluting liquid and a fragrance is prepared and stored in at least one container having a free evaporation surface for the mixture, characterised in that a sub-stream of the ventilating or air-conditioning air is conveyed over the free evaporation surface and then fed into the ventilating or air-conditioning air stream as a sub-stream thereof, and in that the concentration of the fragrances in the ventilating or air-conditioning air is controlled by controlling the flow rate of the sub-stream of air conveyed over the free evaporation surface.
2. A process according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one container is filled with mixture at predetermined intervals or at predetermined or freely selectable times in such a manner that the container is first emptied, in particular automatically, optionally cleaned and subsequently refilled with new mixture or with diluting liquid and fragrance.
3. A process according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least one container contains different fragrances during different periods, and a plurality of parallel containers or a plurality of parallel feed members for supplying a single container with the different fragrances are used for this purpose.
4. A process according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the quantity of air conveyed over the free evaporation surface per unit time is controlled.
5. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the at least one container only contains the fragrance during certain periods.
6. A process according to claim 1 or according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the at least one container is refilled or topped up with diluting liquid and fragrance at predetermined intervals or at predetermined or freely selectable times, in particular automatically, or in that diluting liquid or fragrance or both are subsequently metered, varying the fragrance concentration in the container.
7. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that first diluting liquid, then the fragrance and then the remaining quantity of diluting liquid are introduced into the container.
8. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised by the use of a spray arrangement for the diluting liquid for filling and, optionally, mixing or for cleaning the container.
9. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in particular according to claim 4, characterised in that the container contents are held at a predetermined or predeterminable temperature.
10. An installation for carrying out the process according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the ventilating or air-conditioning air is conveyed by means of a fan (22) to a distribution line system (pipe duct 35, air distribution ducts 38), characterised in that a container (11) is provided for holding a mixture (40) of diluting liquid and fragrance and has a free evaporation surface (41) for the mixture (40) and is provided with at least one air inlet opening (16) and an air outlet opening (19), in that the part of the interior of the container (11) located above the evaporation surface (41) is fluidically connected to the fan (22) via a pipeline (pipe connecting piece 20, pipeline 21) in such a manner that a sub-stream of the ventilating and air-conditioning air flows via the interior of the container (11), and in that control means are provided which control the flow rate of the sub-stream of air, conveyed over the free evaporation surface (41), in such a manner that the concentration of the fragrances in the ventilating and air-conditioning air is controlled.
11. An installation according to claim 10, characterised in that, for the purpose of enriching the ventilating and air-conditioning air with different fragrances during different periods, [the installation] comprises a plurality of parallel containers each provided with independent feed members (27 to 30) for each of the fragrances, or a single container provided with a plurality of parallel feed members (27 to 30) for the different fragrances.
12. An installation according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the container (11) has a round, optionally sloping base (base trough 14).
13. An installation according to claim 10, 11 or 12, characterised in that the at least one air inlet opening (16) is provided with a dust protector (17).
14. An installation according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the container is provided with a discharge opening (31) controllable by a remote-control valve (32), a distributing device (23, 24, 26) for the diluting liquid, and a control arrangement (33) for emptying the at least one container (11) via the discharge opening (31) and for the optional subsequent cleaning and subsequent refilling of the container with new mixture (40) or with diluting liquid and fragrance at predetermined intervals or at predetermined or freely selectable times.
15. An installation according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterised by at least one pump (30) fluidically connected to the container (11) and provided for the metered, in particular automatic supply of at least one fragrance.
16. An installation according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterised by at least one valve (26) fluidically connected to the container (11) and provided for the metered, in particular automatic supply of diluting liquid.

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