Antimicrobial filter adopting optical fibers and air cleaner comprising same

The present invention relates to an antimicrobial filter adopting optical fibers and to an air cleaner comprising the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers and to an air cleaner comprising the same, in which ultraviolet rays, visible light or natural light is emitted directly through the surface of optical fibers contained in a filtering material, thus effectively killing, in a short time, microorganisms collected in the filtering material, such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses, which are harmful to the human body. Furthermore, a photocatalyst may be coated on the surface of the filtering material to achieve an improved sterilization effect. Thus, the deterioration of the sterilization effect caused by dust particles being continuously collected at the surface of filter fiber, which are disadvantages of existing antimicrobial filters, can be overcome.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers and an air cleaner comprising the same, and more particularly, to a technique for killing harmful microorganisms which are collected by a filter when purifying air using the filter. Among antimicrobial and disinfecting techniques including treatment using heat, UV light, radiation, chemicals, etc., the present invention pertains to an antimicrobial technology using UV light.

BACKGROUND ART

Useful in air purification, a high-efficiency filter is capable of effectively collecting almost all harmful microorganisms. However, microorganisms collected by the filter may live for a long period of time, and may even proliferate. To solve such problems, a variety of antimicrobial filters have been developed.

As such, antimicrobial techniques for coating the surface of a filter with an antimicrobial material have been employed, especially antimicrobial techniques for a filter for air purification wherein ion clusters are generated at the front of the filter and ions are thus attached to microorganisms collected by the filter to thereby kill the microorganisms. However, dust may function as a protection barrier for microorganisms due to continuous accumulation thereof on the filter, making it impossible to effectively kill the harmful microorganisms by the conventional techniques.

Also, as illustrated inFIG. 1, attempts have been made to irradiate a UV light source3onto the surface of a filter1so as to kill microorganisms2, but the UV light3is irradiated only onto the surface of the filter1and cannot kill the collected microorganisms2in the filter1.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems encountered in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric and an air cleaner comprising the same, wherein to kill harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc., UV light, visible light or natural light is irradiated to the inside of the filter through the surface of optical fibers of the filter, so that harmful microorganisms collected onto the surface of the fibers of the filter are killed, thereby overcoming drawbacks of conventional antimicrobial filters including deterioration of antimicrobial functions and low antimicrobial performance, as caused by continuously collecting dust particles by the filter.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers, comprising a filtration material including one or more optical fibers in which a portion of a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emitted through the surface of the optical fibers, the filtration material having a porous structure with air permeability in a thickness direction and filtering particulate matter in air; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fibers of the filtration material; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source, and also provides an air cleaner comprising the antimicrobial filter using optical fibers as above.

In addition, the present invention provides an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers, comprising a filtration material including an optical fiber layer composed exclusively of optical fibers in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers, and a filtration layer for filtering particulate matter in air without including the optical fibers; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fibers of the optical fiber layer; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source.

In addition, the present invention provides an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers, comprising a filtration material including an optical fiber layer composed exclusively of optical fibers in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers, and a filtration layer for filtering particulate matter in air without including the optical fibers; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fibers of the optical fiber layer; a connector for connecting one end of the optical fibers of the optical fiber layer and the light source unit; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source.

In addition, the present invention provides an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers, comprising an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric formed by irregularly mixing general fibers with optical fibers in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source.

In addition, the present invention provides an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers, comprising a filtration material including an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric formed by mixing general fibers with optical fibers in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers, and a filtration layer formed so as to be stacked on the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric and for filtering particulate matter in air without including the optical fibers; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the present invention, an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers and an air cleaner comprising the same can be advantageous because UV light, visible light or natural light is directly irradiated to the inside of the filter through surface emission of the optical fibers, and thereby collected microorganisms in the filter, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc., which are harmful to human bodies, can be effectively killed within a short period of time; and also, the filtration material can be coated with a photocatalyst to thus increase disinfecting effects. Therefore, the antimicrobial filter is effective at overcoming problems of conventional antimicrobial filters including deterioration of disinfecting effects as caused by continuously collecting dust particles to the fiber surface of the filter.

MODE FOR INVENTION

The present invention has the following features to achieve the above purpose.

According to the present invention, an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers comprises a filtration material including one or more optical fibers wherein a portion of a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emitted through the surface of the optical fibers, the filtration material having a porous structure with air permeability in a thickness direction and filtering particulate matter in air; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fibers of the filtration material; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source. In addition, the present invention addresses an air cleaner including the antimicrobial filter using optical fibers as above.

According to the present invention, an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber layer comprises a filtration material including an optical fiber layer composed exclusively of optical fibers in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers, and a filtration layer for filtering particulate matter in air without including the optical fibers; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fibers of the optical fiber layer; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source. In addition, an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber layer according to the present invention comprises a filtration material including an optical fiber layer composed exclusively of optical fibers in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers, and a filtration layer for filtering particulate matter in air without including the optical fibers; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fibers of the optical fiber layer; a connector for connecting one end of the optical fibers of the optical fiber layer and the light source unit; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source.

According to the present invention, an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric comprises an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric formed by irregularly mixing general fibers with optical fibers in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source. In addition, an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to the present invention comprises a filtration material including an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric formed by mixing general fibers with optical fibers in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers, and a filtration layer formed so as to be stacked on the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric and for filtering particulate matter in air without including the optical fibers; a light source unit for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric; and a power supply connected to the light source unit to apply power so as to operate the light source.

The present invention having the above features will be able to be more clearly explained through preferred embodiments thereof.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the appended drawings. Prior thereto, the terminologies or words used in the description and the claims of the present invention are not construed limitedly as typical or dictionary meanings and should be interpreted as the meanings and concepts of the invention in keeping with the scope of the invention based on the principle that the inventors can appropriately define the terms in order to describe the invention in the best way.

Therefore, the examples described in the present specification and the constructions illustrated in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, and thus, it is to be understood that a variety of equivalents and modifications being able to be substituted therefor may be provided at the point of time of the present invention being filed.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 3is a side view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 4is a schematic view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using optical fibers according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 5is a side cross-sectional view illustrating optical fibers according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 5, the antimicrobial filter100using optical fibers according to the present invention comprises a filtration material10including one or more optical fibers in which a portion of a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emitted through the surface of the optical fibers, the filtration material having a porous structure with air permeability in a thickness direction and filtering particulate matter in air, a light source unit30for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fibers of the filtration material10, and a power supply40connected to the light source unit30to apply power so as to operate the light source.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the filtration material10functions to filter particulate matter (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) in air and has a porous structure, and is typically provided in the form of woven fabric or nonwoven fabric.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 5, the optical fibers20are formed so as to be contained in the filtration material10. When the light source of the light source unit30is irradiated to one end of the optical fibers20, it is transferred in a longitudinal direction of the optical fibers20, and light transferred through the core part21of the optical fibers20is emitted through the surface of the clad part22, thus effectively killing harmful microorganisms2collected by the filtration material10or the optical fibers20.

The optical fibers20include a core part21extending in a longitudinal direction and having a refractive index higher than that of air, a clad part22having a refractive index lower than that of the core part and formed around the core part21, and a light emission part23formed by partially removing the clad part.

Also, when forming the core part21and the clad part22of the optical fibers20, light may be emitted through the surface of the clad part22by combining materials having various refractive index values or by adjusting the thickness of the clad part22.

The optical fibers20may be formed of a plastic material, and the light emission part23is uniformly distributed on the surface of the optical fibers20.

The optical fibers20have a cross-sectional diameter of 2 mm or less to ensure flexibility, and the diameter thereof is illustratively set to 1 mm in the present invention.

The filtration material10including the optical fibers20is coated with a photocatalyst to enhance disinfecting effects.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the light source unit30is a device for producing a light source which is to be irradiated to one end of the optical fibers20of the filtration material10. Although a variety of devices may be provided, in the present invention, the light source unit30is connected to PCB (Printed Circuit Board)31so as to control the light source. The light source irradiation by the light source unit30is typically known and functions and structures thereof are not additionally described.

Herein, the light source may be any one selected from among visible light, UV light and natural light, and one or more of them may be simultaneously used.

Even when the irradiation time of the light source is set to within 1 hr per day to prevent breakage of the polymer of the filtration material due to the long-term use of the light source, sufficient disinfecting effects may be obtained.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the power supply40is connected to the light source unit30to apply power so as to operate the light source, and is connected to the PCB31so that the produced power is supplied to the PCB31.

FIG. 6is a schematic view illustrating an air cleaner including the antimicrobial filter using optical fibers according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 7is an enlarged view of Portion A ofFIG. 6.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the air cleaner200according to the present invention is an air cleaner200including the antimicrobial filter100using the optical fibers20as described above, wherein the antimicrobial filter100is inserted into the duct case160of the air cleaner200, and the light source unit30and the power supply40are provided at one end of the antimicrobial filter100, that is, the lateral side of the duct case160of the air cleaner200.

The antimicrobial filter100of the air cleaner200is provided in the form of a pleated filter having a “” shape in order to increase the filtration area. This is merely illustrative, and various design modifications thereof are possible.

FIG. 8is a cross-sectional view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber layer according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 9is a side view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber layer according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 10is a side view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using a multilayered optical fiber layer according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 11is a schematic view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber layer according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 12is a plan view illustrating an antimicrobial filter having an optical fiber layer in an optical fiber fabric form according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 13is a schematic view illustrating the cross-section ofFIG. 12.

As illustrated inFIGS. 8 to 13, the antimicrobial filter100A using an optical fiber layer according to the present invention comprises a filtration material10including an optical fiber layer50composed exclusively of optical fibers20in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers, and a filtration layer60for filtering particulate matter in air without including the optical fibers20; a light source unit30for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fibers20of the optical fiber layer50; and a power supply40connected to the light source unit30to apply power so as to operate the light source.

As illustrated inFIGS. 8 to 12, the filtration material10includes an optical fiber layer(s)50and a filtration layer(s)60, and the optical fiber layer50is a layer composed exclusively of a plurality of optical fibers20. The optical fibers20remain the same as those described in reference toFIG. 5.

FIGS. 11 and 12illustrate the antimicrobial filter using the optical fiber layer, wherein the depiction of the filtration layer60is omitted to efficiently show features of the optical fiber layer50. As illustrated inFIGS. 12 and 13, the optical fiber layer50in an optical fiber fabric form may comprise a plurality of optical fibers20which are provided in the form of a fabric made with warp and weft. In this case, the optical fibers20are bent at positions where the weft optical fibers and the warp optical fibers cross each other, and thus light which is incident from the light source and travels through the inside of the optical fibers20may be emitted in a larger amount to the outside.

On the other hand, the filtration layer60is a porous layer without including the optical fibers, and may be a layer in the form of a woven fabric or nonwoven fabric composed of fibers11. As such, the filtration layer60or the filtration material10composed of the optical fiber layer50and the filtration layer60may be coated with a photocatalyst. The photocatalyst may be synthesized using a variety of processes including a sol-gel process, etc., and may be applied on the filtration layer60and the filtration material10by spraying or coating. The photocatalyst may be exemplified by titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), tungsten oxide (WO3), etc., and may include any material which is activated by UV light, visible light or mixed light thereof so as to kill harmful microorganisms.

As illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10, the light source unit30is a device for producing a light source which is to be irradiated to one end of the optical fibers20of the filtration material10. Although a variety of devices may be provided, in the present invention, the light source unit30is connected to PCB (Printed Circuit Board) to thus control the light source. The light source irradiation by the light source unit30is typically known and thus an additional description for functions and structures thereof is omitted.

The light source may be any one selected from among visible light, UV light and natural light, and also one or more of them may be simultaneously applied.

Even when the irradiation time of the light source is set to within 1 hr per day to prevent breakage of the polymer of the filtration material10due to the long-term use of the light source, sufficient disinfecting effects may be attained.

As illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10, the power supply40is connected to the light source unit30to apply power so as to operate the light source, and is connected to the PCB41to supply the produced power to the PCB41.

FIG. 14schematically illustrates an antimicrobial filter having an optical fiber layer using optical fibers connected over the entire surface thereof according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIG. 14, the antimicrobial filter using the optical fiber layer according to the present invention is formed to have the same structure, construction and configuration as in the antimicrobial filter using the optical fiber layer described in the above embodiment. As such, the antimicrobial filter according to another embodiment further includes a connector70which is connected to the light source unit30so as to connect one end of the optical fibers20of the optical fiber layer50and the light source unit, as inFIG. 11.

Also,FIG. 14shows an optical fiber layer50in another configuration. To efficiently show the features of the optical fiber layer50, the depiction of the filtration layer60is omitted in the drawing. The optical fiber layer50according to the present embodiment may include at least one optical fiber20continuously connected over the entire area of the optical fiber layer50, more preferably a plurality of optical fibers20one end of which is connected to the connector70.

Like this,FIG. 14exemplarily illustrates the optical fiber layer50wherein optical fibers20spirally extend toward the center of the optical fiber layer50while being provided in the form of continuously smaller rectangles, but the optical fiber layer50need not be limited thereto and may be configured such that continuously extending optical fibers20are arranged in a zigzag pattern or are arranged so as to partially cross each other. Although the connector70is not specifically depicted herein, it may have a variety of forms which enable a light source emitted from the light source unit30to be effectively incident.

The other constructions are the same as in the above embodiment and an additional description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 15is a schematic view illustrating an air cleaner including the antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber layer according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 16is an enlarged view of Portion A ofFIG. 15,FIG. 17is a schematic view illustrating an air cleaner including an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber layer according to a first embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 18is a schematic view illustrating an air cleaner including an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber layer according to a second embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 19is a schematic view illustrating an air cleaner including an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber layer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIGS. 17 to 19, the air cleaner200A according to the present invention is an air cleaner200A including the antimicrobial filter100A using the optical fiber layer as described above, wherein the antimicrobial filter100A is inserted into the duct case160of the air cleaner200A, and the light source unit30and the power supply40are provided at one end of the antimicrobial filter100A, that is, the lateral side of the duct case160of the air cleaner200A.

The antimicrobial filter100A of the air cleaner200A is provided in the form of a pleated filter having a “” shape in order to increase the filtration area. This is merely illustrative, and various design modifications thereof are possible.

As illustrated inFIG. 17, the air cleaner200A includes a duct case160comprising an inlet161through which polluted air is introduced to the inside and an outlet162through which the filtered clean air is discharged, a pretreatment filter110disposed near the inlet161of the duct case160so as to primarily filter the polluted air, the antimicrobial filter100A according to the present invention disposed after the pretreatment filter110so as to filter fine dust in the polluted air, an adsorption filter120disposed after the antimicrobial filter100A so as to adsorb and filter volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and offensive odors from the air, and an air blower130disposed after the adsorption filter120so as to transport the filtered clean air.

As such, as illustrated inFIG. 18, the air cleaner200A according to the second embodiment may further include a charging device140between the pretreatment filter110and the antimicrobial filter100A so as to electrically charge impurities in the air.

The charging device140may be subjected to corona discharge or electrospraying. The charging device140subjected to corona discharge includes ground electrodes141and discharge electrodes142so that corona discharge is generated by power supplied from an external power supply. The ground electrodes141which are in a flat plate form are spaced apart from each other, and the discharge electrodes142are disposed in the form of metal wires, metal needles, carbon fibers, etc. between the ground electrodes141.

As illustrated inFIG. 19, the air cleaner200A further includes a high-performance filter150such as a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter or a ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air) filter between the antimicrobial filter100A according to the first embodiment and the adsorption filter120.

The high-performance filter150plays a role in further filtering impurities such as very fine dust, etc., which are not filtered by the antimicrobial filter100A, and the resulting air cleaner200A may be applied to air conditioners for buildings, industrial sites or clean rooms of hospitals.

FIG. 20is a plan view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 21is an exploded plan view illustrating the antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to the embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 22is a side view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 23is a side view illustrating an antimicrobial filter using a multilayered optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIGS. 20 to 23, the antimicrobial filter100B using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to the present invention includes an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric50formed by irregularly mixing general fibers11with optical fibers20in which a light source, which is received from one end of the optical fibers and travels in a longitudinal direction, is emittable through the surface of the optical fibers; a light source unit30for irradiating a light source to one end of the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric50; and a power supply40connected to the light source unit30to apply power so as to operate the light source.

As illustrated inFIGS. 20 to 23, the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric50is a nonwoven fabric configured such that a plurality of fibers11and a plurality of optical fibers20for emitting light from the surface thereof therebetween are irregularly arranged. The plurality of fibers11may be typical synthetic fibers.

Moreover, the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric50may be coated with a photocatalyst. The photocatalyst may be synthesized using a variety of processes including a sol-gel process, etc., and may be applied on the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric50by spraying or coating. The photocatalyst may be exemplified by titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), tungsten oxide (WO3), etc., and may include any material which is activated by UV light, visible light or mixed light thereof so as to kill harmful microorganisms.

As illustrated inFIGS. 21 to 23, a filtration layer(s)60for filtering particulate matter in air and composed of a plurality of fibers11without including the optical fibers20is stacked on the top or bottom of an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric(s)50, thus constituting a filtration material10.

The filtration material10may be configured such that a plurality of optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabrics50and a plurality of filtration layers60are alternately stacked, as inFIG. 23.

Also, a connector (not shown) is further provided so as to connect one end of the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric50and the light source unit30.

Furthermore, the optical fibers20according to the present embodiment remain the same as those described in reference toFIG. 5.

As illustrated inFIGS. 20 to 23, the light source unit30is a device for producing a light source which is to be irradiated to one end of the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric50. Although a variety of devices may be provided, in the present invention, the light source unit30is connected to PCB (Printed Circuit Board)41to thus control the light source. The light source irradiation by the light source unit30is typically known and functions and structures thereof are not additionally described.

The light source may be any one selected from among visible light, UV light and natural light, and one or more of them may be simultaneously used.

Even when the irradiation time of the light source is set to within 1 hr per day to prevent breakage of the polymer of the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric50due to the long-term use of the light source, sufficient disinfecting effects may be obtained.

As illustrated inFIGS. 20 to 23, the power supply40is connected to the light source unit30to apply power so as to operate the light source, and is connected to the PCB41so that the produced power is supplied to the PCB41.

FIG. 24is a schematic view illustrating an air cleaner including the antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 25is an enlarged view of Portion A ofFIG. 24,FIG. 26is a schematic view illustrating an air cleaner including an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to a first embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 27is a schematic view illustrating an air cleaner including an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to a second embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 28is a schematic view illustrating an air cleaner including an antimicrobial filter using an optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIGS. 24 to 28, the air cleaner including the antimicrobial filter using the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric according to the present invention is an air cleaner200B including the antimicrobial filter100B using the optical fiber-mixed nonwoven fabric as described above, wherein the antimicrobial filter100B is inserted into the duct case160of the air cleaner200B, and the light source unit30and the power supply40are provided at one end of the antimicrobial filter100B, namely, the lateral side of the duct case160of the air cleaner200B.

As such, the antimicrobial filter100B in the air cleaner200B is provided in the form of a pleated filter having a “” shape in order to increase the filtration area. This is merely illustrative, and various design modifications thereof are possible.

As illustrated inFIG. 26, the air cleaner200B includes a duct case160comprising an inlet161through which polluted air is introduced to the inside and an outlet162through which the filtered clean air is discharged, a pretreatment filter110disposed near the inlet161of the duct case160so as to primarily filter the polluted air, the antimicrobial filter100B according to the present invention disposed after the pretreatment filter110so as to filter fine dust in the polluted air, an adsorption filter120disposed after the antimicrobial filter100B so as to adsorb and filter volatile organic compounds (VOC) and offensive odors from the air, and an air blower130disposed after the adsorption filter120so as to transport the filtered clean air.

As such, as illustrated inFIG. 27, the air cleaner200B according to the second embodiment further includes a charging device140between the pretreatment filter110and the antimicrobial filter100B so as to electrically charge impurities in air.

The charging device140may be subjected to corona discharge or electrospraying. The charging device140subjected to corona discharge includes ground electrodes141and discharge electrodes142so that corona discharge is generated by power supplied from an external power supply. The ground electrodes141, which are in a flat plate form, are spaced apart from each other, and the discharge electrodes142are disposed in the form of metal wires, metal needles, carbon fibers, etc. between the ground electrodes141.

As illustrated inFIG. 28, the air cleaner200B further includes a high-performance filter150such as a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter or a ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air) filter between the antimicrobial filter100B according to the first embodiment and the adsorption filter120.

The high-performance filter150functions to further filter impurities such as very fine dust, etc., which are not filtered by the antimicrobial filter100B, and the resulting air cleaner200B may be applied to air conditioners for buildings, industrial sites or clean rooms of hospitals.