US 11,986,768 B2
System for removing ammonia, dust and pathogens from air within an animal rearing/sheltering facility
Philip A Moore, Jr., Fayetteville, AR (US)
Assigned to The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/715,666.
Prior Publication US 2023/0321587 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B01D 53/14 (2006.01); A01K 1/00 (2006.01); B01D 47/06 (2006.01); B01D 53/18 (2006.01); B01D 53/32 (2006.01); C02F 1/00 (2023.01); B01D 53/58 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 53/1406 (2013.01) [A01K 1/0082 (2013.01); B01D 47/06 (2013.01); B01D 53/1412 (2013.01); B01D 53/1425 (2013.01); B01D 53/1456 (2013.01); B01D 53/1493 (2013.01); B01D 53/185 (2013.01); B01D 53/323 (2013.01); C02F 1/001 (2013.01); B01D 53/58 (2013.01); B01D 2252/103 (2013.01); B01D 2257/406 (2013.01); B01D 2258/0266 (2013.01)] 43 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air purification and recirculation system positioned within an animal rearing/sheltering facility, the system comprising:
a dust scrubbing section for scrubbing dust from air that is drawn into the system, the dust scrubbing section comprising at least one dust scrubbing section sprayer configured to spray a water mist droplet solution so that airborne dust collides with the water mist droplets to remove the airborne dust from the air by absorption, the combined water droplet solution with entrained dust particles falling to a bottom of the dust scrubbing section and flowing to a dust scrubbing section drain;
an ammonia scrubbing section for scrubbing airborne ammonia and fugitive dust from the air, the ammonia scrubbing section being positioned in tandem with the dust scrubbing section so that air flowing out of the dust scrubbing section flows into the ammonia scrubbing section, the ammonia scrubbing section comprising at least one ammonia scrubbing section sprayer spraying acid treatment solution mist droplets, the acid treatment solution mist droplets collide with the airborne ammonia and fugitive dust so that the airborne ammonia and fugitive dust are removed from the air by absorption, the combined airborne ammonia and the acid treatment solution with entrained fugitive dust comprising an acidic solution, the acidic solution falling to a bottom of the ammonia scrubbing section and flowing to an ammonia scrubbing section drain;
an acid scrubbing section for scrubbing acid fumes and fugitive dust from the air, the acid scrubbing section being positioned in tandem with the ammonia scrubbing section so that air leaving the ammonia scrubbing section flows into the acid scrubbing section, the acid scrubbing section comprising at least one acid scrubbing section sprayer configured to spray a water mist droplet solution so that the water mist droplets combines with airborne acid droplets, acid fumes and fugitive dust to create a water solution with entrained fugitive dust particles, the water solution with entrained fugitive dust particles falling to a bottom of the acid scrubbing section and flowing to an acid scrubbing section drain;
wherein the system is structured so that, as the air is drawn into the system, the dust scrubbing section removes airborne dust from the air, the ammonia scrubbing section removes airborne ammonia and fugitive dust from the air, and the acid scrubbing section removes any remaining airborne acid droplets, acid fumes and fugitive dust from the air, so that treated air is recirculated back into an interior of the animal rearing/sheltering facility; and
wherein the water solution with entrained dust particles from the dust scrubbing section and the acid scrubbing section, flow into a fast sand water filter system so that the fast sand water filter system separates the dust particles from the water solution.