Abstract: A system is disclosed which incorporates low pressure drop contaminant removal from gas phases or streams, which advantageously can be used to enhance efficiency, improve humidity characteristics, and reduce capital cost of air handing systems such as HVAC systems and the like. Placement of the low pressure drop contaminant removal mechanism for enhancing effectiveness of same is also disclosed.

Abstract: An air treatment system includes a filter and heating element, a plasma device, and a photocatalyst and UV light that cooperate to purify an air stream flowing through the air treatment system and protect the photocatalyst from passivating effects of certain contaminants. The air treatment system operates in two different modes. In the first mode, the air treatment system primarily draws air from and returns air to a space, and the heating element and plasma device are selectively shut off. In the second mode, the air treatment system regenerates the filter using the heating element to selectively heat the filter and release adsorbed contaminants. The plasma device is selectively turned on and chemically transforms the released contaminants into solid contaminant products. The solid contaminant products are deposited on a biased electrode of the plasma device. The UV light is turned off to ensure that the photocatalyst is inoperable during the release and transformation of the contaminants.

Abstract: A layered photocatalytic/thermocatalytic coating oxidizes contaminants that adsorb onto the coating into water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The layered coating includes a photocatalytic outer layer of titanium dioxide that oxides volatile organic compounds. The coating further includes an intermediate layer of Group VIII noble metal doped titanium dioxide that oxidizes low polarity organic molecules. An inner layer of gold on titanium dioxide oxidizes carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the coating, reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed. When a contaminant is adsorbed onto the coating, the hydroxyl radical oxidizes the contaminant to produce water, carbon dioxide, and other substances.

Abstract: A photocatalytic/thermocatalytic coating includes an inner layer of metal/titanium dioxide or metal oxide/titanium dioxide that is applied on a honeycomb and an outer layer of titanium dioxide or metal oxide doped titanium dioxide applied on the inner layer. The inner layer of can be gold/titanium dioxide, platinum/titanium dioxide, or manganese oxide/titanium dioxide. The outer layer of titanium dioxide or metal oxide doped titanium dioxide oxides volatile organic compounds to carbon dioxide, water, and other substances. As the outer layer is thin and porous, the contaminants in the air can diffuse through the outer layer and adsorb onto the inner layer. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the coating, reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed that oxidize the contaminant to produce water, carbon dioxide, and other substances.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which incorporates low pressure drop contaminant removal from gas phases or streams, which advantageously can be used to enhance efficiency, improve humidity characteristics, and reduce capital cost of air handing systems such as HVAC systems and the like. Placement of the low pressure drop contaminant removal mechanism for enhancing effectiveness of same is also disclosed.

Abstract: A photocatalytic coating oxidizes volatile organic compounds that adsorb onto the coating into water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the coating, reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed. When a contaminant is adsorbed onto the coating, the hydroxyl radical oxidizes the contaminant to produce water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. Humidity has an effect on the photocatalytic performance of the titanium dioxide coating. Water adsorbs strongly on the coating, and water and contaminants compete for adsorption sites on the coating. A magnetron emits microwaves of the desired wavelength. The microwaves are only absorbed by the adsorbed water, desorbing the water from the photocatalytic coating and creating additional photooxidation sites for the contaminants.

Abstract: A photocatalytic coating oxidizes volatile organic compounds that adsorb onto the coating into water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the coating, reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed. When a contaminant is adsorbed onto the coating, the hydroxyl radical oxidizes the contaminant to produce water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. A humidity sensor or a temperature sensor detects the humidity or temperature, respectively, of the air entering the air purification system. Information about the optimal microwave wavelength and intensity for various humidity and temperature levels are stored in a control of a microwave actuator. The microwave actuator determines the optimal wavelength or intensity based on the sensed humidity and temperature level and sends a signal to a magnetron to emit a microwave of the desired wavelength or intensity.

Abstract: A lamp including a reflective portion is utilized in a fluid purification system to maximize the light delivery to a photocatalytic coating that oxidizes gaseous contaminants that adsorb onto the surface to form carbon dioxide, water, and other substances. An ultraviolet light source positioned proximate to the honeycomb activates the titanium dioxide coating. In one example, the reflective portion is a reflective coating. Light directed out of the non-reflective portion of the lamp travels towards the honeycomb and absorbs onto the photocatalytic coating. Light directed towards the reflective portion on the lamp is reflected off the surface of the reflective portion and passes through the non-reflective portion of the lamp to also absorb onto the photocatalytic coating. The reflective portion reflects light towards the honeycomb that would otherwise be misdirected away from the honeycomb, increasing efficiency of the fluid purification system.