Method and apparatus for cleaning an air flow from particles

1. An apparatus for cleaning an air flow from particles comprising:

a centrifugal separator ( 22 );

a mixing chamber ( 40 ) communicating with a suction inlet ( 24 ) of the centrifugal separator ( 22 );

a plurality of spaced-apart surfaces ( 34 ) in the centrifugal separator ( 22 ) for trapping and agglomerating liquid droplets and particles separated from the air flow;

an aerosol generator at a bottom portion of the mixing chamber for generating an aerosol of liquid droplets in contact with air flow therein;

an inlet ( 42 ) for unclean air ( 82 ) to the mixing chamber ( 40 ) between the centrifugal separator ( 22 ) and said bottom portion;

an inlet chamber ( 46 ) at the inlet ( 42 ) for dividing the mixing chamber ( 40 ) into a lower premix chamber ( 44 ) and an upper postmix chamber ( 52 ),

said inlet chamber ( 46 ) being annular with a central passage ( 50 ) for fluid communication between the premix chamber ( 44 ) and the postmix chamber ( 52 );

an outlet ( 26 ) for clean air ( 86 ) from the centrifugal separator ( 22 ); and

wherein said aerosol generator comprises a vibration generator ( 60 ) for generating the aerosol of droplets from a liquid volume ( 70 ) occupied in said bottom portion.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said aerosol generator comprises an aerosol-forming spray nozzle ( 64 ).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a centrally disposed screen ( 54 ) between the central passage ( 50 ) and the suction inlet ( 24 ) of the centrifugal separator ( 22 ).

4. A method of use of the apparatus of claim 1 , for cleaning an air flow from particles, comprising the steps of:

generating an aerosol of liquid droplets in contact with the air flow;

mixing the aerosol and the air flow;

separating centrifugally the droplets and particles from the air flow; and

supplying the cleaned air flow to an uncleaned area of use.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the mixing comprises creation of turbulence.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the particles and the liquid droplets are caused to hit oblique surface elements during the centrifugal separation.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the particles are attracted to the liquid droplets by electrostatic charge.

8. The method of claim 4 , comprising selecting the liquid in the droplets from a group comprising medically approved water and oil.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising adding agents toxic to bacteria or virus in the liquid.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the aerosol is generated by one or more nozzles.