Modular, high-throughput air treatment system

Abstract

Air treatment modules, systems and methods for removing contaminants from indoor air are provided. Device embodiments may include one or more air inlets, one or more air outlets and a plurality of inserts which each include at least one adsorbent material. The inserts may be arranged separate from each other to form a plurality of substantially parallel air flow paths between the one or more air inlets and one or more air outlets. The adsorbent material may be arranged for regeneration within the air treatment module using thermal swing desorption and/or pressure swing desorption. Related systems, methods and articles of manufacture are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air treatment system for removing contaminants from indoor air, the system comprising:
 an air treatment module having one or more first air ports, one or more second air ports, and at least one insert including an adsorbent material;   controls configured to cause the system to operate in at least three operational modes including:
 an active adsorption mode in which the adsorbent material of the at least one insert adsorbs one or more contaminants from an indoor airflow, 
 a regeneration mode for releasing contaminants from the adsorbent material of the at least one insert when exposed to a purging airflow, and 
 a disconnect mode where substantially no air flows through the module, 
   one or more valves arranged and configured to direct, during one or another operational mode, at least one of the indoor airflow and the purging airflow to flow to and from the treatment module via the first air ports and the second air ports; and   wherein:
 during the active adsorption mode, one of either the first air ports or the second ports is configured to receive the indoor air flow and the remaining one of the first air ports or the second air ports not receiving the indoor airflow is configured to expel the indoor airflow such that the indoor airflow flows over and/or through adsorbent material of the at least one insert, and 
 during the regeneration mode, one of the first air ports or the second air ports is configured to receive the purging airflow and the remaining one of the first air ports or the second air ports is configured to expel the purging airflow such that the purging airflow flows over and/or through the adsorbent material of the plurality of inserts. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one insert comprises a plurality of inserts. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a support frame having one or more structural support members for supporting the at least one insert, wherein the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are formed by the support frame and the at least one insert. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a support frame, the at least one insert positioned within the support frame at an angle of less than about 30 degrees relative to air flow paths between the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a support frame including an inlet side and an outlet side, wherein the one or more first air ports are formed in the inlet side and the one or more second air ports are formed in the outlet side. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are formed adjacent to each other along one side of a support frame. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air treatment module is configured to be incorporated within an HVAC system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are offset from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of molecular sieves, zeolite, activated charcoal, silica gel, porous alumina and metal-organic-framework materials. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent material removes at least one of carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds from the indoor air. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent material is heated during the regeneration mode so as to facilitate regeneration of the adsorbent material. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the purging airflow received during the regeneration mode is heated prior to flowing over and/or through the adsorbent material. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating source configured to heat the adsorbent material and/or the purging airflow. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the heating source includes one or more of solar energy, electric energy, gas, oil, hot water and waste heat. 
     
     
         15 . A method for removing contaminants from indoor air, comprising:
 providing a system comprising:
 a source of indoor air providing an indoor airflow containing one or more contaminates; 
 a source of purging air configured to provide a purging airflow to release contaminants adsorbed by an adsorbent; 
 an air treatment module having one or more first air ports, one or more second air ports, and at least one insert including an adsorbent material; 
 controls configured to cause the system to operate in at least three operational modes including:
 an active adsorption mode in which the adsorbent material of the at least one insert adsorbs one or more contaminants from an indoor airflow, 
 a regeneration mode for releasing contaminants from the adsorbent material of the at least one insert when exposed to an purging airflow, and 
 a disconnect mode where substantially no air flows through the module; 
 
 and 
 one or more valves arranged and configured to direct, during one or another operational mode, at least one of the indoor airflow and the purging air flow to flow to and from the module via the first air ports and the second air ports; and 
 upon selection of the active adsorption mode, directing the indoor airflow to one of either the first air ports or the second ports of each module; 
 flowing the indoor airflow over and/or through the adsorption material of the at least one insert so as to adsorb contaminants thereon, the resulting airflow comprising a scrubbed indoor airflow; 
 directing the scrubbed indoor airflow to the remaining one of the first air ports or the second air ports not receiving the indoor airflow to expel such airflow from each module; 
 upon selection of the regeneration mode, directing the purging airflow to one of the first air ports or the second air ports of the module; 
 flowing the purging airflow over and/or through the adsorption material of the at least one insert so as to release adsorbed contaminants, the resulting purging airflow containing the released contaminants being thereafter directed to the remaining one of the first air ports or the second air ports to expel such airflow from each module; and 
 upon selection of the disconnect mode, ceasing the flow of an airflow through the module. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises a support frame having one or more structural support members for supporting the at least one insert, wherein the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports are formed by the support frame and the at least one insert. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises a support frame, the at least one insert positioned within the support frame at an angle of less than about 30 degrees relative to air flow paths between the one or more first air ports and the one or more second air ports. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises support frame including an inlet side and an outlet side, wherein the one or more first air ports are formed in the inlet side and the one or more second air ports are formed in the outlet side. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising heating the adsorbent material during the regeneration mode so as to facilitate regeneration of the adsorbent material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising heating the purging airflow received during the regeneration mode prior to flowing over and/or through the adsorbent material.