WO2022063948A1

WO2022063948A1 - Air purification system

Info

Publication number: WO2022063948A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/076297
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frédéric HAMMEL; Clément SCHAMBEL
Original assignee: Ethera
Priority date: 2020-09-25
Filing date: 2021-09-24
Publication date: 2022-03-31

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air purification system configured to protect airways of a subject from polluted air and a seat comprising said air purification system.

Description

AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of air purification. In particular, the invention relates to an air purification system and a seat comprising said system integrated to or removably coupled to said seat.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Air pollution has become a growing concern in industrialized countries and a major health issue for everybody living on this planet. In particular, the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has proven the vulnerability of populations to the exposure of airborne infectious agents, such as bacteria and viruses.

This phenomenon is all the more true in public transport wherein lots of people cross paths at any moment or travel together in a reduced space, thus increasing tremendously the risk of cross contamination and contamination by breathing ambient air if one or several travelers are ill.

One of the solutions adopted by many countries to fight the risk of spreading the COVID- 19 virus in public transport has been to make wearing a mask compulsory in said public transport.

This solution, although it seems to improve partially the situation, has many drawbacks: putting on a mask requires manipulations from the user and many people do not use the mask correctly, leaving their nose uncovered for example. Also the mask is never fully adjusted to the face of the user, and air entering through leaks is inhaled without being filtered from its airborne particles, including virus/bacterial particles. Also, if someone, travelling in closed proximity with a person wearing a mask, cough in direction of that person, then, due to leaks, postilions and thus virus can be deposited on the face of said person, and airborne biological particles can be inhaled through the mask leaks. Thus, there is a growing and urgent need for two-way protection for public transport users, preventing both the contamination of the room or the closed environment from a contaminated individual, and the contamination of other users by the contaminated ambient air.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an air purification system that creates a clean air area around a user for instance seated in a seat of a public transport vehicle or in an office and that has the following advantages: i) delivering purified air individually to each user; ii) preventing spreading of infectious agents in a public transport vehicle by isolating air exhausted by each user; iii) avoiding manipulations from the user.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an air purification system configured to protect airways of a subject from polluted air comprising: an air distribution device comprising:

• at least one air outlet;

• at least one air inlet; an air purification device comprising:

• at least one air filter;

• at least one airflow mechanism configured to draw air from the air inlet through the filter to said air outlet; a power supply; wherein air distribution device defines a closed airflow pattern from air outlet to air inlet.

In one embodiment, the air outlet is configured to deliver all the air entering the air purification system at the air inlet, and the air inlet is configured to collect most of the air delivered by the air outlet. In one embodiment, the air delivery axis defined by the air outlet is sensibly parallel to the air collection axis defined by the air inlet. The present invention also relates to a seat comprising an air purification system according to the invention, wherein air purification system is integrated or removably coupled to said seat. In one embodiment, the air outlet is configured to deliver purified air towards the front of the seat. In one embodiment, the seat comprises a headrest and the air outlet is configured to deliver purified air towards said headrest. In one embodiment, the air distribution device comprises an articulated arm having a proximal end connected to the seat and an orientable distal end connected to the air outlet. In one embodiment, the seat comprises a backrest and the air inlet is located on at least one side, both sides and/or on the front of said backrest. In one embodiment, the backrest comprises a headrest and the air inlet is located on at least one side, both sides and/or on the front of said headrest. In one embodiment, the air inlet is configured to collect all the air expired by a subject sitting on the seat. In one embodiment, the air inlet is a vent grille, a vent aureole, a filter, or any surface adapted to let air pass through. In one embodiment, the air filter removes at least 30% of polluting species from the air entering the air purification system at the air inlet. In one embodiment, the air filter has a bacterial and/or virus filtration efficiency of at least 90%. In one embodiment, the polluting species is selected in the group of particles, aerosols volatile organic compounds, odorous volatile molecules, toxic volatile molecules, bacteria, viruses, fungi or a mixture thereof. In one embodiment, the seat further comprises an air duct connecting the air purification device to the air outlet. In one embodiment, the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is ranging from 100 L/min to 1500 L/min. In one embodiment, the seat is in a public transport vehicle, such as for example an air vehicle, a sea vehicle or a land vehicle.

DEFINITIONS

In the present invention, the following terms have the following meanings:

“About” is used herein to mean approximately, roughly, around, or in the region of. When the term “about” is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth by 10%, preferably by 5%.

“Airflow patterns” refers to the trajectories that ambient air is following from its source, to its end: the direction and speed of air flushed from the source, the obstacle the air will encounter, such as surfaces (organized to control the airflow, or not), or other air flows, that will deviate it, up to the exhaust end (pulling the air outside the observed environment).

“Closed airflow pattern” refers to air flows that are properly organized, thus being mainly maintained between the air outlet of a system and its exhaust (air inlet of said system): air is recirculating in a virtual tube from the air outlet to the air inlet, without exchanges with air coming from outside the system, and being potentially contaminated. In other words, all the air entering the system at the air inlet is delivered at the air outlet, and most of the air delivered at the air outlet is recovered at the air inlet. Closed airflow helps to protect one zone from contamination, as it will expose specific zones only to air without incorporating potential contamination. This protection is relative to both the considered system zone, and the “other zones”.

“Coarse particles (PM10-2.5)” refers to particles with diameters larger than 2.5 pm and smaller than or equal to 10 pm.

“Fine particles (PM2.5)” refers to particles having a diameter inferior or equal to 2.5 pm and superior to 1 pm.

“Laminar flow” refers to a fluid flow wherein fluid particles follow smooth paths in layers, with each layer moving smoothly past the adjacent layers with little or no mixing, i.e. there are no swirls or turbulences within the fluid flow contrary to a turbulent flow.

“Particulate matter (PM)” refers to microscopic particles suspended in the air. Particulate matter may be solid or liquid.

“Polluting species” refers to a substance with harmful, detrimental consequences that endanger human or animal health, harms biological resources or ecosystems, affects climate change, damages property and/or causes odor nuisance.

“Public seat” refers to a seat in a public area, preferably an enclosed public place such as public transport or an office.

“Ultra-fine particles (PMi)” refers to particles having a diameter inferior or equal to 1 pm This also encompasses nanoparticles which have diameters less than 0.3 pm. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the drawings. For the purpose of illustrating, the system and the seat are shown in the preferred embodiments. It should be understood, however that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements, structures, features, embodiments, and aspect shown. The drawings are not drawn to scale and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims to the embodiments depicted. Accordingly, it should be understood that where features mentioned in the appended claims are followed by reference signs, such signs are included solely for the purpose of enhancing the intelligibility of the claims and are in no way limiting on the scope of the claims.

Features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of a system, this description being given merely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Air purification system

This invention relates to an air purification system configured to protect airways of a subject from polluted air.

Said air purification system comprises: an air distribution device comprising:

• at least one air outlet;

• at least one air inlet; an air purification device comprising:

• at least one air filter;

• at least one airflow mechanism configured to draw air from the air inlet through the filter to said air outlet; a power supply;

In the invention, the air distribution device defines a closed airflow pattern from air outlet to air inlet. When a subject is located (sitting, laying or standing) in the space defined between the air inlet and the air outlet, the air expired, which is potentially polluted, by said subject is mainly recovered by the air inlet. The air passes then through the air filter to remove polluting species, thus be purified. The air passing through the air filter is pulsed by a differential pressure upstream and downstream of the filter: said differential pressure is created by the airflow mechanism that draw the air downstream of the filter, the air moving from the higher pressure to the lower one. The purified air is then delivered at the air outlet towards the airways of the subject. This closed airflow pattern is defined from air outlet to air inlet by the air distribution device, wherein all the expired/polluted air entering the air purification system at the air inlet is delivered, once purified, at the air outlet, and most of the purified air delivered at the air outlet is recovered at the air inlet, once breathed by the subject. Indeed, the air collected at the air inlet comprises a percentage of the air delivered at the air outlet and a percentage of the air expired by a subject located between the air outlet and the air inlet. Purified air is thus delivered and possible pollutants emitted by the subject are captured and filtered so as to not contaminate the direct environment of said subject. Thus, the air purification system has the following advantages: i) the air purification system limits the risks of transmission of polluting species, especially infectious agents like bacteria or viruses carried by an infected person to healthy people in his direct environment, by micro-projections (postilions) or by airborne (infectious agents stuck to expired particles, and remaining in levitation in the air); ii) the air purification system limits the risks of transmission of polluting species, especially infectious agents like bacteria or viruses carried by infected people in his direct environment to a healthy person. In other words, the air purification system of the invention makes it possible to organize an airflow pattern of potentially self-contaminated exhaled air of the subject located in the space defined between the air inlet and the air outlet, to filter it locally, with a minimum of ducts, then to deliver it once purified to the same subject, thus isolating completely said subject from his environment. This can be illustrated as the air purification system creating a “protective bubble” of purified air between the air inlet and the air outlet, wherein a subject can be standing, sitting or lying down. Said subject then inhales and exhales air in said “protective bubble”. Thus, the air purification system protects the airways of a subject from polluted air, said subject may be located in a space defined between the air inlet and the air outlet of said system or outside of said space, i.e. outside of the closed airflow pattern. In other words, the air purification system offers protection of the airways of a subject located within the “protective bubble” and, at the same time, protection of the airways of a subject located outside of said “protective bubble”. This “protective bubble” is especially important in public transport vehicle where promiscuity with others, especially between strangers, is particularly significant and of long duration.

In one embodiment, the air outlet is configured to deliver all the air entering the air purification system at the air inlet, and the air inlet is configured to collect most of the air delivered by the air outlet.

By “most of the purified air delivered at the air outlet is recovered at the air inlet”, it is understood that at least 50% of the purified air delivered at the air outlet is recovered at the air inlet, preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 80%, even more preferably 90%.

In one embodiment, the air collected at the air inlet comprises at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 80%, even more preferably 90%, of the air delivered at the air outlet and at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 80%, even more preferably 90%, of the air expired by a subject located between the air outlet and the air inlet.

By “purified air”, it is understood that the concentration of polluting species in the purified air delivered by the air outlet is smaller than in the air entering the air purification system at the air inlet. For example, said concentration of polluting species in the air is reduced by at least 30% and up to 99,999% by the air purification system.

In the invention, the air outlet delivers purified air towards the air inlet.

In the invention, the air purification system is configured to create a laminar flow of air between the air outlet and the air inlet. This is particularly advantageous as it ensures that the air travels from the air outlet to the air inlet without any flow deviation. This allows for the creation of an efficient “protective bubble” of purified air between the air inlet and the air outlet, thus ensuring the protection of airways of a subject within or outside said “protective bubble”. In this embodiment, the air outlet delivers purified air in said “protective bubble” and said purified air is contained in this “protective bubble” due to the laminar flow between the air outlet and the air inlet.

According to one embodiment illustrated in figure 4A, the air delivery axis (AA’) defined by the air outlet is sensibly parallel to the air collection axis (BB’) defined by the air inlet, in other words, the air inlet and the air outlet are sensibly parallel. This is particularly advantageous as it ensures a laminar flow between the air inlet and the air outlet as the air travels from the air outlet to the air inlet without any flow deviation, i.e. it ensures a continuous straight air flow between the air outlet and the air inlet. This allows for the creation of an efficient “protective bubble” of purified air between the air inlet and the air outlet, thus ensuring the protection of airways of a subject within or outside said “protective bubble”. Furthermore, as illustrated in figure 4B, no or almost no deviation of fluid flow between the air outlet and the air inlet increases efficiency of capturing polluting particles on the outlet-inlet path, and only a minimal portion of purified air is flowing outside of the system. The “air delivery axis” refers to the axis normal to the plane (i.e. surface) of the air inlet or outlet. By “sensibly parallel”, it is understood that the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 45°, preferably less than 30°, preferably less than 25°, more preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10°.

According to one embodiment, the air delivery axis (AA’) defined by the air outlet is parallel to the air collection axis (BB’) defined by the air inlet.

For example, a system wherein the air delivery axis has a deviation angle from the air collection axis of about 90° would not be efficient as it would be near impossible to deviate fluid particles to ensure that all the air delivered at the outlet is recovered at the inlet, i.e. the fluid flow between outlet and inlet would not be laminar. With such a system, important air leaks would happen, resulting in pollution of the air inside and outside the airflow pattern, i.e. such a system would not protect efficiently the airways of a subject located between the air inlet and air outlet, nor the airways of a subject located in the near environment of said system. According to one embodiment, the planes of the air inlet and the air outlet are sensibly parallel. This is particularly advantageous as it ensures a laminar flow between the air inlet and the air outlet as the air travels from the air outlet to the air inlet without any flow deviation. This allows for the creation of an efficient “protective bubble” of purified air between the air inlet and the air outlet, thus ensuring the protection of airways of a subject within or outside said “protective bubble”. Furthermore, no or almost no deviation of fluid flow between the air outlet and the air inlet increases efficiency of capturing polluting particles on the outlet-inlet path. By “sensibly parallel”, it is understood that the normal vectors of said planes have a deviation angle of less than 45°, preferably less than 30°, preferably less than 25°, more preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10°.

According to one embodiment, the planes of the air inlet and the air outlet are parallel.

According to one embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 20 cm to 150 cm. In a preferred configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 20 cm to 60 cm, more preferably from 30 cm to 50 cm. In another preferred configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 60 cm to 150 cm, more preferably from 70 cm to 110 cm, even more preferably from 70 cm to 90 cm, most preferably from 75 cm to 85 cm. Indeed, the air purification system being configured to protect airways of a subject from polluted air requires that said system is configured to accommodate a subject between the air inlet and the air outlet, in particular his head. This is particularly advantageous as it allows the air purification system to be removably coupled or integrated in a seat, preferably in a public transport seat. Indeed, in a public transport vehicle, the promiscuity with others, especially between strangers, is particularly significant and of long duration; thus, it is paramount that each one of the travelers sitting in said public transport vehicle is well protected thanks to an optimal distance between the air inlet and the air outlet.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 20 cm to 60 cm and the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 45°, preferably less than 30°, preferably less than 25°, more preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10°.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 30 cm to 50 cm and the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 45°, preferably less than 25°, even more preferably less than 10°.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 60 cm to 150 cm and the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 30°, preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10°. Indeed, the greater the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet, the more the parallelism of the air delivery axis (AA’) and (BB’) must be strict in order to ensure a laminar flow between air outlet and air inlet.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 70 cm to 110 cm and the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 30°, preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10°.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 70 cm to 90 cm and the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 30°, preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10°.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 75 cm to 85 cm and the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 30°, preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10°.

According to one embodiment, the air inlet is a vent grille, a vent aureole, a filter, or any surface adapted to let air pass through.

According to one embodiment, the air filter removes at least 30 % of polluting species from the air entering the air purification system at the air inlet. In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the air filter removes polluting species from the air entering the air purification system at the air inlet in a range from 30% to 90%, preferably from 70% to 90%, most preferably the air filter removes more than 90% of polluting species from the air entering the air purification system at the air inlet. Removing more than 90% of polluting species corresponds to the filtration efficiency of masks for non-sanitary use classified in category one.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the air filter has a bacterial and/or virus filtration efficiency of at least 90%, preferably of at least 95%. Advantageously, a bacterial and/or virus filtration efficiency of at least 90% corresponds to the filtration efficiency of masks for non-sanitary use classified in category one, whereas a bacterial and/or virus filtration efficiency of at least 95% corresponds to the filtration efficiency of FFP2 masks (filtering facepiece category 2). In a preferred configuration, the air filter has a bacterial and/or virus filtration efficiency of at least 99% or more, thus allowing a real contamination risk decrease, especially adapted to a sanitary crisis.

According to one embodiment, the polluting species is selected in the group of particles, aerosols volatile organic compounds, odorous volatile molecules, toxic volatile molecules, microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses, fungi, (or other biological entities) or a mixture thereof.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, examples of particles include but are not limited to: dust, pollen, coarse particles (PM10-2.5), fine particles (PM2.5), ultra-fine particles (PMi), asbestos, bacteria, bacterial spores, viruses, black carbon, particles with a size above 10 pm, or a mixture thereof.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, examples of aerosols include but are not limited to: particles, droplets, viruses, bacteria, spores, or a mixture thereof.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, examples of volatile organic compounds include but are not limited to: phytosanitary products, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, pheromones, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene, acetaldehyde, acrolein, tri cresol phosphate or a mixture thereof. In a specific configuration of this embodiment, examples of semi-volatile compounds include but are not limited to: pesticides, phthalates, benzopyrenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or a mixture thereof.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, examples of odorous molecules include but are not limited to: sulfur derivatives, esters derivatives, moisture related volatiles, or a mixture thereof.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, examples of bacteria include but are not limited to: pseudomonas aeruginosa, cyanobacteria, mycoplasma, staphylococcus, streptococcus, legionella, mycobacteria, or a mixture thereof.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, examples of viruses include but are not limited to: corona viruses such as for example coronavirus, COVID- 19, adenovirus, rhinovirus, echovirus, influenza, or a mixture thereof.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system further comprises an air duct connecting the air purification device to the air outlet.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system further comprises a plurality of air ducts configured to guide the air from the air outlet to the air inlet and from the air inlet to the air outlet.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system does not comprise an air duct connecting the air purification device to the air outlet. In this configuration, the air filter is located near the air outlet.

According to one embodiment, the air inlet and the air outlet have equal surfaces. “Surface” refers here to the surface configured to deliver/collect air of the air outlet/inlet.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system is configured to create a volume of air between the air outlet and the air inlet ranging from 0.2 to 1 m³, preferably from 0.2 to 0.8 m³, more preferably from 0.2 to 0.6 m³, even more preferably from 0.2 to 0.8 m³. The aim is then to isolate a small volume of air around a subject located between the air outlet and the air inlet, such as for example a subject sitting in a public transport seat or at a restaurant table, in order to create a “protective bubble” around him.

According to one embodiment, the flow rate of the air purification system is ranging from 5 volumes per hour to 35 volumes per hour, preferably from 5 volumes per hour to 20 volumes per hour, more preferably from 5 volumes per hour to 15 volumes per hour, even more preferably of 10 volumes per hour. A flow rate of 5 volumes per hour means that the volume of air created between the air outlet and the air inlet is renewed 5 times in 1 hour.

According to one embodiment, the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is ranging from 100 L/min to 1500 L/min, from 300 L/min to 1500 L/min, preferably from 100 L/min to 500 L/min, preferably from 200 L/min to 500 L/min, more preferably from 100 L/min to 300 L/min, most preferably from 150 L/min to 250 L/min. In a preferred configuration of this embodiment, the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is about 200 L/min. Advantageously, the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is tuned according to the air delivering surface of said air outlet. For example, a small surface will require a higher flow rate than a bigger surface to ensure that the same air renewal is applied in both cases.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 20 cm to 60 cm, the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 45°, preferably less than 30°, preferably less than 25°, more preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10, and the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is ranging from 20 L/min to 80 L/min, preferably ranging from 30 L/min to 70 L/min, more preferably ranging from 40 L/min to 60 L/min.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 30 cm to 50 cm, the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 45°, preferably less than 30°, preferably less than 25°, more preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10, and the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is ranging from 20 L/min to 80 L/min, preferably ranging from 30 L/min to 70 L/min, more preferably ranging from 40 L/min to 60 L/min.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 60 cm to 150 cm, the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 30°, preferably less than 25°, more preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10, and the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is ranging from 50 L/min to 200 L/min, preferably ranging from 50 L/min to 150 L/min, more preferably ranging from 50 L/min to 100 L/min.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 70 cm to 110 cm, the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 30°, preferably less than 25°, more preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10, and the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is ranging from 50 L/min to 200 L/min, preferably ranging from 50 L/min to 150 L/min, more preferably ranging from 50 L/min to 100 L/min.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 70 cm to 90 cm, the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 30°, preferably less than 25°, more preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10, and the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is ranging from 50 L/min to 180 L/min, preferably ranging from 50 L/min to 150 L/min, more preferably ranging from 50 L/min to 100 L/min.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the air outlet is ranging from 75 cm to 85 cm, the air delivery axis (AA’) has a deviation angle from the air collection axis (BB’) of less than 30°, preferably less than 25°, more preferably less than 20°, even more preferably less than 10, and the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is ranging from 50 L/min to 170 L/min, preferably ranging from 50 L/min to 150 L/min, more preferably ranging from 50 L/min to 100 L/min.

Advantageously, the flow rate of air delivered at the air outlet is significantly higher than the flow rate of air inhaled by a subject located between the air inlet and the air outlet, and this higher flow rate will ensure a state of overpressure which protects said subject from the penetration of turbulent ambient air, potentially contaminated, in the air to be inhaled. Furthermore, the flow rate of the air sucked in the air purification system at the air inlet is equal to the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet in order to suck in a volume of air greater than the volume of air exhaled by the subject, thus creating a depression that will draw all the potentially polluted air to the air filter.

According to one embodiment, the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is ranging from 100 L/min to 500 L/min per subject, preferably from 200 L/min to 500 L/min per subject, more preferably from 100 L/min to 300 L/min per subject, most preferably from 150 L/min to 250 L/min per subject. In a preferred configuration of this embodiment, the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet is about 200 L/min per subject. In this embodiment, “per subject” refers to a subject whose airways are located between the air inlet and the air outlet.

According to one embodiment, the at least one airflow mechanism is a fan, a turbine or any air blower.

According to one embodiment, a seat may be placed in the space defined between the air inlet and the air outlet with a subject sitting on said seat and facing the air outlet, wherein the closed airflow pattern is configured to flow towards air inlet the air expired by said subject.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system is configured to be removably coupled or integrated to a seat, preferably a public transport seat.

According to one embodiment, a piece of furniture, such as for example a seat, a chair (e.g. a restaurant chair), a bed, a reclining seat (up to 180°), a desk, a table (e.g. a restaurant table), a partition wall (in a working open space), may be placed in the space defined between the air inlet and the air outlet with a subject sitting, laying or standing on said piece of furniture and facing the air outlet, wherein the closed airflow pattern is configured to flow towards air inlet the air expired by said subject. According to one embodiment, the air purification system further comprises a control unit configured to control the efficiency of the air purification system, the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet and/or the flow rate of the air sucked in at the air inlet.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system further comprises a flowmeter to measure the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet and/or the flow rate of the air sucked in at the air inlet.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system is a built-in air purification system for a seat or an air purification system removably coupled to a seat, preferably a public seat, more preferably a public transport seat.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system is a built-in air purification system for a piece of furniture or an air purification system removably coupled to a piece of furniture, preferably a seat, a desk, a bed, a reclining seat (up to 180°), a partition wall (in a working open space) or any other piece of furniture on which a user can sit, lay or stand.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, a desk (such as an office desk) comprises the air purification system of the invention, wherein said desk typically comprises a flat table- style work surface and a panel at its distal end, wherein the air inlet is located at the front of the desk, i.e. on the surface being normal to the table-style work surface configured to be proximal to a subject sitting in front of the desk, and the air outlet is located on a panel facing said subject at the back of the desk.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, a table (such as, for example, a restaurant table) comprises the air purification system of the invention, wherein said table typically comprises a flat dining surface, wherein the air inlet is integrated in said surface, e.g. in a slot or a fence at the center of the table, and the air outlet is located above said surface, e.g. above and aligned with the table surface, or said slot or fence.

Seat

The invention also relates to a seat comprising an air purification system of the invention, wherein the air purification system is integrated or removably coupled to said seat. All embodiments of the air purification system of the invention may be implemented in said seat.

The air purification system has the advantage of guiding the flow of air exhaled by each subject sitting on a seat to the air inlet, so that it is filtered again and again, and delivering it, once purified, to the same subject, without exposing other persons to potential polluting species, especially infectious agents generated by said subject. In other words, the seat of the invention makes it possible to organize an airflow pattern of potentially self-contaminated exhaled air of the subject sitting on said seat, to filter it locally, with a minimum of ducts, then to deliver it once purified to the same subject. This can be illustrated as the air purification system creating a “protective bubble” of purified air between the air inlet and the air outlet, i.e. around a subject sitting on the seat. Thus, the air purification system protects at the same time the airways of a subject sitting in said seat from polluted environmental air and the airways of a subject outside of the “protective bubble”, e.g. in the near environment of said seat from air expired by the subject sitting in same seat.

According to one embodiment, the air outlet is configured to deliver purified air towards the front of the seat.

According to one embodiment, the seat comprises a headrest and the air outlet is configured to deliver purified air towards said headrest. In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the air outlet delivers purified air horizontally towards said headrest, i.e. the air outlet delivers purified air parallel to the normal direction of the headrest and towards said headrest.

According to one embodiment, the air distribution device comprises an articulated arm having a proximal end connected to the seat and an orientable (i.e. directional) distal end connected to the air outlet. Furthermore, the air distribution device is adjustable in inclination and will be able to guide purified air and better direct it towards the headrest of the seat, in particular towards the airways of a subject sitting on said seat.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the proximal end of the articulated arm is connected to the armrest of the seat. In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the articulated arm folds down automatically in an emergency, such as for example in the occurrence of a crash. Preferably the arm folds down in the armrest of the seat or under the seat.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment wherein the seat is a seat in an airplane, the articulated arm is combined with the articulated arm supporting the individual screen of each passenger.

According to one embodiment, the seat comprises a backrest and the air inlet is located on at least one side, both sides and/or on the front of said backrest.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the backrest comprises a headrest and the air inlet is located on at least one side, both sides and/or on the front of said headrest, preferably on either side of the space reserved for the support of the head of a subject sitting on the seat. This embodiment allows to recover the entire volume of exhaled air around the face of said subject.

According to one embodiment, the seat comprises a headrest, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are located each on one side of said headrest. In this embodiment, when a subject is sitting in said seat, the air inlet and the air outlet are located each on one side of his head.

According to one embodiment, the air inlet is configured to collect all the air expired by a subject sitting on the seat.

According to one embodiment, the seat is in a public transport vehicle, such as for example an air vehicle, a sea vehicle or a land vehicle. In this embodiment, the seat is a public seat. In the invention, an air vehicle refers to an airplane, a sea vehicle refers to a boat, and a land vehicle refers to a bus, a taxi, a subway car or a train.

According to one embodiment, the seat further comprises at least one partition, preferably two partitions, located on a side, preferably each side of the seat. These partitions separate the space in “private” spaces for the subjects sitting on each seat, thus confining the exhaled, potentially polluted air, limiting turbulence, air exchanges and enhancing a good separation of air flows coming from several subjects, i.e. the possible mixing of purified air and potentially polluted ambient air, or the possible mixing of air flows of two neighboring subjects.

According to one embodiment wherein the air purification system is removably coupled to the seat, said air purification system may also be coupled to the backrest of a seat located in front of said seat.

Uses

The invention also relates to the use of the air purification system and/or the seat of the invention.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system and/or the seat of the invention is used in a public area, preferably an enclosed public place such as public transport or an office.

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the seat of the invention is used in a public transport vehicle, such as for example an air vehicle (airplane), a sea vehicle (boat) or a land vehicle (bus, a subway car or a train).

In a specific configuration of this embodiment, the air purification system of the invention is used in public transport vehicle, in particular the air purification system is integrated or removably coupled to a public seat of said public transport vehicle. Preferably, each seat or almost each seat of the public transport vehicle is equipped with an individual air purification system which blows a stream of purified air in front of each subject sitting on each seat, and takes up the exhaled air by said subject. This has the advantage of isolating each subject from his environment, preventing his contamination by polluting species generated by others or present in his environment and preventing contamination of others by polluting species generated by himself.

According to one embodiment, the air purification system and/or the seat of the invention is used in a piece of furniture, preferably a seat, a bed, a reclining seat (up to 180°), a desk, a partition wall (in a working open space) or any other piece of furniture on which a user can sit, lay or stand. According to one embodiment, the air purification system is used as a portative system, wherein said system further comprises supporting means configured to hold the system on a subject’s shoulders, the air inlet facing the airways of said subject and the air outlet being located behind the subject’s head. In this embodiment, the air purification device is located on the upper back of said subject.

While various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the detailed description is not to be construed as being limited hereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the air purification device according to one embodiment.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the seat according to one embodiment.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the seat according to one embodiment.

Figure 4A is a schematic representation of the air purification device showing that the air delivery axis (AA’) defined by the air outlet (11) is sensibly parallel to the air collection axis (BB’) defined by the air inlet (12).

Figure 4B is a schematic representation of the air purification device showing that the purified air flow delivered at the air outlet (black arrows), the air flowing outside of the system (dotted arrows) and the air flow collected at the air inlet (dashed arrows and dot- dashed arrows), when the air outlet (11) and the air inlet (12) are sensibly parallel: the protective bubble is supplied mainly by the purified air exhausted from the air outlet (11), and most of the air from the protective bubble is collected into the air inlet (12), avoiding external contamination. ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in Figure 1, the air purification system 1 comprises: an air distribution device comprising:

• an air outlet 11 ;

• an air inlet 12; an air purification device 13 comprising:

• an air filter;

• an airflow mechanism configured to draw air from the air inlet 12 through the filter to said air outlet 11; an air duct 14 connecting the air inlet 12 to air outlet 11 through the air purification device 13.

In this embodiment, the polluted air in the space defined between the air inlet 12 and the air outlet 11 is completely recovered by the air inlet 12. The air passes then through the air purification device 13: through the air filter to remove polluting species guided by the airflow mechanism. The purified air is then delivered at the air outlet 11 towards the air inlet 12, defining a closed airflow pattern from air outlet 11 to air inlet 12.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous as it creates an isolated space wherein a subject can be completely isolated from a polluted environment, or wherein an infected subject can be completely isolated from a healthy environment so as to not contaminate others in said environment. This isolated space delimits the airflow pattern from air outlet 11 to air inlet 12, and said airflow pattern being closed through air filter and air duct 14.

As shown in Figure 2, the seat 2 of the invention comprises an air purification system 1 of the invention.

In this embodiment, a subject is sitting in the seat 2. The air expired, which is potentially polluted, by said subject is completely recovered by the air inlet 12. The air passes then through the air filter to remove polluting species guided by the airflow mechanism. The purified air is then delivered at the air outlet 11 towards the airways of the subject. This closed airflow pattern defined from air outlet 11 to air inlet 12 by the air distribution device 13, wherein all the expired/polluted air entering the air purification system 1 at the air inlet 12 is delivered, once purified, at the air outlet 11, and all the purified air delivered at the air outlet 11 is recovered at the air inlet 12, once breathed by the subject.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous as it allows to: i) limit the risks of transmission of polluting species, especially infectious agents like bacteria or viruses carried by an infected person to healthy people in his direct environment, by micro-projections (postilions) or by airborne (infectious agents stuck to expired particles, and remaining in levitation in the air); ii) limit the risks of transmission of polluting species, especially infectious agents like bacteria or viruses carried by infected people in his direct environment to a healthy person.

As shown in Figure 3, the air inlet 12 is a vent aureole located on both sides of the headrest of the seat 2.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous as it allows to recover the entire volume of exhaled air around the face of said subject.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples.

A seat has been set up with the following elements:

An air purification system comprising: an air distribution device comprising:

• an air outlet oriented to face the front of the backrest of the seat;

• an air inlet being a vent aureole located on each side of the headrest of the seat; an air purification device comprising: • an air filter;

• an airflow mechanism being a fan; a power supply.

Example 1: A subject is sitting on the seat, and breathing. The expired air is recovered by the inlet and filtered through the air filter and delivered back to the subject in direction of his airways by the air outlet.

Results reported in Table 1 were measured using polluted environmental air.

Efficiency of the air purification system can be defined by E = 100 — —J %, Cl 1 is

the concentration of polluting species in the air delivered at the air outlet and C12 is the concentration of polluting species in the air recovered at the air inlet (i.e. in part, the air exhaled by the subject). When E equals 100%, air delivered at the air outlet does not contain any pollutant.

Table 1 below lists configurations in which experiments have been performed.

Example 2:

Example 1 is reproduced with a subject laying on a reclining seat (angle at 180°, simulating a bed), or sitting at an office desk.

A first subject is sitting on a seat as in example 1. A second subject is laying on the reclining seat, and breathing. The expired air is recovered by the inlet and filtered through the air filter and delivered back to the subject in direction of his airways by the air outlet.

A third subject is sitting at an office desk. The air inlet is located at the front of the desk, the air outlet is located on a panel in front of the subject. The expired air is recovered by the inlet and filtered through the air filter and delivered back to the subject in direction of his airways by the air outlet.

Results reported in Table 2 were measured using polluted environmental air.

Table 2 below lists configurations in which experiments have been performed.

REFERENCES

I - Air purification system

I I - Air outlet

12 - Air inlet 13 - Air purification device

14 - Air duct

2 - Seat

Claims

26 CLAIMS

1. Air purification system (1) configured to protect airways of a subject from polluted air comprising: an air distribution device comprising:

• at least one air outlet (11);

• at least one air inlet (12); an air purification device (13) comprising:

• at least one air filter;

• at least one airflow mechanism configured to draw air from the air inlet through the filter to said air outlet; a power supply; wherein air distribution device defines a closed airflow pattern from air outlet (11) to air inlet (12).

2. The air purification system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet (11) is configured to deliver all the air entering the air purification system (1) at the air inlet (12), and the air inlet (12) is configured to collect most of the air delivered by the air outlet (11).

3. The air purification system (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the air delivery axis (AA’) defined by the air outlet (11) is sensibly parallel to the air collection axis (BB’) defined by the air inlet (12).

4. A seat (2) comprising an air purification system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein air purification system (1) is integrated or removably coupled to said seat (2).

5. The seat (2) according to claim 4, wherein the air outlet (11) is configured to deliver purified air towards the front of the seat.

6. The seat (2) according to any one of claim 4 or 5, wherein the seat (2) comprises a headrest and the air outlet (11) is configured to deliver purified air towards said headrest.

7. The seat (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the air distribution device (13) comprises an articulated arm having a proximal end connected to the seat and an orientable distal end connected to the air outlet (11).

8. The seat (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the seat (2) comprises a backrest and the air inlet (12) is located on at least one side, both sides and/or on the front of said backrest.

9. The seat (2) according to claim 8, wherein the backrest comprises a headrest and the air inlet (12) is located on at least one side, both sides and/or on the front of said headrest.

10. The seat (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the air inlet (12) is configured to collect all the air expired by a subject sitting on the seat.

11. The seat (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the air inlet (12) is a vent grille, a vent aureole, a filter, or any surface adapted to let air pass through.

12. The seat (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the air filter removes at least 30% of polluting species from the air entering the air purification system (1) at the air inlet (12).

13. The seat (2) according to claim 12, wherein the air filter has a bacterial and/or virus filtration efficiency of at least 90%.

14. The seat (2) according to claim 12, wherein the polluting species is selected in the group of particles, aerosols volatile organic compounds, odorous volatile molecules, toxic volatile molecules, microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses, fungi or a mixture thereof.

15. The seat (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 14, further comprising an air duct (14) connecting the air purification device to the air outlet.

16. The seat (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the flow rate of the air delivered at the air outlet (11) is ranging from 100 L/min to 500 L/min.

17. The seat (2) according any one of claims 4 to 16, wherein the seat is in a public transport vehicle, such as for example an air vehicle, a sea vehicle or a land vehicle.