Device and method for combined air and surface disinfection

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of disinfection. In particular, the invention relates to a device and a method for the combined disinfection of surfaces and indoor air in healthcare settings. The disinfection device (1) according to the invention for the combined disinfection of room air and surfaces comprises both a device for generating UV-C radiation (2) emitting into the environment, and a device for generating ozone (3), and is characterized in that the disinfection device (1) is configured to convey room air along the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and / or the device for generating ozone (3). The inventive method for operating a disinfection device (1) is characterized in that, during the operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and / or the device for generating ozone (3), room air is conveyed along the same.

Description

Introduction

[0001] The invention relates to the field of disinfection. In particular, the invention relates to a device and a method for the combined disinfection of surfaces and indoor air in healthcare settings. State of the art and disadvantages

[0002] It is well known that ambient air contains a multitude of different germs that can lead to infection upon contact with people. This bacterial contamination is particularly problematic in healthcare settings when it occurs in areas where physically weakened individuals are present, such as hospitals, doctor's offices, and the like. Surfaces contaminated with germs (e.g., walls, floors, ceilings, mattresses, equipment) also pose a risk to these groups of people.

[0003] It is therefore desirable to disinfect such places regularly, especially after the presence of an already infected person, in order to minimize the risk to both staff and other persons who will subsequently be treated.

[0004] In addition to simple wipe disinfection and room air disinfection with hydrogen, room air disinfection with ozone has also been known for a long time. Ozone-infused room air interacts with contaminated surfaces and, after a certain waiting period, reaches areas that are otherwise difficult or impossible to access. At the same time, the room air itself is also disinfected. After disinfection with ozone, the room air can be actively freed of ozone by decomposing it, e.g., by irradiation with UV light. Rapid and combined disinfection of room air and surfaces is achieved using devices that use UV radiation. The disinfecting effect of such radiation is known, for example, from document EP 2391421 A1.

[0005] Document DE 10 2015 102882 A1 discloses a device that combines the advantages of both technologies. Accordingly, this document shows a disinfection device for the combined disinfection of room air and surfaces, comprising both a device emitting UV-C radiation into the environment and a device for generating ozone. The disinfection device further comprises a controller coupled to the device for generating UV-C radiation and the device for generating ozone, and with which the timing of the operation of these devices can be controlled separately.

[0006] It has been found that it would be desirable to further reduce the time required to disinfect a room with devices of the latter type. An improvement in efficiency is also desirable.

[0007] Document WO 2020 / 151 919 A1 discloses a mobile, automatic unit for room air disinfection, comprising UV-C lamps for irradiating surfaces, but no device for generating ozone, which entails the aforementioned disadvantages. Devices are also known in which the room air is treated with UV-C radiation as it passes through a housing; such solutions are disclosed, for example, in documents DE 100 06 575 A1 for a stationary system, or DE 10 2020 117 143 A1, which relates to a mobile system. Document DE 20 2017 007 059 U1 discloses another stationary system, by means of which the room air flowing through the system is purified with ozone, which is removed from the room air before it leaves the housing. These systems also require corresponding periods for disinfection and do not disclose any suggestions for increasing efficiency. Task of the invention and solution

[0008] The invention is based on the object of providing a device and a method which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] Accordingly, the invention is intended to improve a device of the aforementioned type in such a way that the disinfection time is reduced and / or the efficiency is improved.

[0010] The object is achieved by a disinfection device according to claim 1 and a method according to independent claim 9. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the respective dependent claims, the following description and the figures. Description

[0011] A disinfection device for the combined disinfection of room air and surfaces which solves the problem underlying the invention comprises both a device emitting into the environment for generating UV-C radiation and a device for generating ozone which can be controlled separately from this device.

[0012] The ozone generation system partially converts the oxygen present in the room air into ozone. The gaseous ozone can penetrate even inaccessible places, such as the smallest cracks, where it remains for a certain time because it does not decompose immediately. It destroys microorganisms. This disinfects both surfaces that come into contact with the gas and the room air itself. Odor molecules are also destroyed, resulting in subjectively fresher indoor air.

[0013] The device emitting UV-C radiation into the environment produces light with a wavelength in the range of 100 nm to 280 nm. On any surface irradiated with this light, the DNA of microorganisms is altered, preventing their reproduction. This results in the deactivation of the germs within seconds. Another effect of UV lamps, which are typically low-pressure lamps, is the destruction of ozone, meaning that residual ozone is converted back into atmospheric oxygen.

[0014] Typically, the disinfection device also comprises a control system which is coupled to the device for generating UV-C radiation and the device for generating ozone, and with which the timing of the operation of these devices can be controlled separately.

[0015] Such a controller therefore serves to control the chronological sequence of operation of the individual devices separately. In particular, it is possible to operate the two devices sequentially with the controller. Particularly preferably, the controller allows the device for generating ozone to operate first, followed by the device for generating UV-C radiation.

[0016] It is clear that such a control system can also perform other tasks, as will be explained below.

[0017] Furthermore, the disinfection device is designed to convey room air along the device for generating UV-C radiation and / or the device for generating ozone. This means that fresh air is circulated – preferably continuously – in such a way that the air in the immediate vicinity of the components of the two aforementioned devices that emit UV-C radiation is constantly exchanged.

[0018] According to the invention, a plurality of outlets leading into the environment are provided both along the length of the device for generating UV-C radiation and along the length of the device for generating ozone, through which the room air can be conveyed toward the device for generating UV-C radiation and / or the device for generating ozone. These outlets are preferably oriented so that they point toward the radiation-emitting components, thereby achieving the best possible air exchange at the relevant locations.

[0019] Instead of the outlets, individual fans or the like can also be provided, which ensure the movement of the air according to the invention.

[0020] The outlets can also be optionally closed during operation. This can be advantageous if only one of the two aforementioned types of radiation-emitting components (UV-C or ozone-generating unit) is in operation, so that only this one needs to be supplied with fresh air. This further improves effectiveness. This exchange brings several benefits:

[0021] On the one hand, the radiation-emitting components are cooled, which results in better UV performance.

[0022] Furthermore, the ozone-enriched air moved by the ozone generation device distributes the ozone more effectively throughout the room, which increases process reliability and shortens treatment time.

[0023] Finally, the air moving past the ozone generation facility increases the oxygen content at that facility, making ozone production more efficient.

[0024] The invention thus avoids the disadvantages known from the prior art.

[0025] Various embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the device for generating UV-C radiation and / or the device for generating ozone comprises UV-C lamps whose sides facing the disinfection device are arranged opposite the outlets. "Facing" here means "toward a center of the device." "Facing away" would therefore mean "into the room." By placing them opposite each other, the shortest possible path is chosen, so that the room air reaches the lamps as directly as possible and flows through them as efficiently as possible.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the disinfection device, both the device for generating UV-C radiation and the device for generating ozone comprise a plurality of vertically aligned and radially emitting UV-C light emitting lamps, which are arranged alternately and / or opposite one another along a circumference of the device. This ensures a largely even distribution of the lamps, which leads to an advantageously uniform generation / distribution of disinfecting UV radiation and the provision of ozone-containing room air. Furthermore, this embodiment requires very little space.

[0028] Instead of linear spotlights, these can also be designed in the form of a longitudinal spiral or a longitudinal screw. Such a longitudinal spiral winds around a center. Tests have shown that this shape can achieve particularly good room illumination.

[0029] Preferably, the outlets are arranged in a central column into which the room air can be conveyed. In other words, the room air is drawn in from below by a fan, for example, and forced into the column. From there, it exits again through the outlets. The linear or helical radiators are arranged around the column. It is clear that the outlets should be positioned according to the position of the radiators to keep the flow paths short and minimize flow losses.

[0030] According to a further embodiment, the disinfection device is mounted for rotation and driven by a motor. In other words, the device can rotate about a preferably vertical axis by means of a drive. This makes the illumination of the room and the surfaces to be disinfected more uniform, since the necessarily discrete distribution of the radiator(s) along the circumference of the device allows certain areas to be illuminated better and those in between less well. Furthermore, the rotation blurs the edges of the shadow areas, so that a larger surface area is exposed to the radiation overall.

[0031] The rotational mounting can be achieved, for example, in that the device comprises a base frame and an upper frame rotatably connected thereto, on which at least the device for generating UV-C radiation and preferably also the device for generating ozone are arranged.

[0032] Rotating mounting can be advantageous when, for cost or space reasons, only a few lamps are available, preventing uniform illumination without mobility. If treatment time is of secondary importance, a device with a reduced number of lamps can achieve virtually the same disinfection effect as a device with a larger number of lamps.

[0033] Particularly preferably, the component which comprises the outlets (for example the column) is also rotatable, so that the flow paths from the outlet to the radiator always remain as short as possible, even when the radiators rotate.

[0034] The disinfection device is preferably mounted on a rolling base. This allows it to be transported particularly easily and safely from one room to another.

[0035] Optionally, the rollers can also be driven. The driven rollers can also be used, similar to the rotation mentioned above, to enable better illumination of, for example, an elongated room by rotating the device around an axis or moving it along a predetermined path.

[0036] The disinfection device preferably comprises an activated carbon filter through which the room air can be drawn in. The filter is particularly preferably an activated carbon filter. This filter serves to reduce the ozone content in the room more quickly in a (second) "ozone reduction" operating phase.

[0037] It should be noted that it is preferable if the airflow through the radiators according to the invention can be controlled independently of the airflow through the filter. Otherwise, the ozone that is currently desired in a (first) operating phase, "ozone generation," would be immediately eliminated again. For this purpose, either two independent fans (airflow fan and flow-through fan) can be provided, or switchable flow channels can be provided so that the room air can be used selectively for airflow through the radiators and / or for airflow through the filter.

[0038] According to a further embodiment, the disinfection device comprises a device for contactless detection of a room, as well as a device for logging its operation. The device for contactless detection, for example based on RFID, serves to automatically identify the room in which the disinfection device is to be used. A program suitable for this room is stored in a memory, which is sent to a controller and processed by it. The logging device stores the time and type of the program, making the use of the disinfection device traceable.

[0039] The invention also relates to a method for operating a disinfection device as described above. It is characterized in that, during operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation and / or the device for generating ozone, room air is conveyed along this device(s), and more precisely, along its radiation-emitting components (emitters). The associated advantages have already been explained above and therefore require no repetition.

[0040] The room air is drawn through outlets toward the UV-C radiation generation device and / or the ozone generation device. Reference can also be made to the above explanations here.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the air is conveyed by means of a forced-air fan, which draws in the room air and blows it into a column, in whose walls the outlets are arranged. As already mentioned, the outlets should be positioned as close as possible to the radiators to keep airflow losses as low as possible. The use of a single, central forced-air fan is more advantageous than using numerous separate fans.

[0042] According to a further embodiment, during operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation and / or the device for generating ozone, these devices are rotated at least temporarily while being exposed to ambient air. This rotation makes the room more evenly illuminated; by exposing the lamps to ambient air, efficiency is improved and treatment time is shortened.

[0043] According to another embodiment, prior to operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation and / or the device for generating ozone, contactless detection of the room in which disinfection is to take place takes place. Here, too, reference is made to the above explanations in this context.

[0044] Based on the identified room, a program suitable for disinfecting it is then retrieved from a memory and sent to a controller. This controller controls the operation of the UV-C radiation generation device, the ozone generation device, and the air supply, and logs the operation.

[0045] Preferably, during operation of the device for generating ozone and / or the device for generating UV-C radiation, flow through this device(s) takes place, whereas only during operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation - alternatively or additionally - does flow through the filter take place.

[0046] In other words: Typically, the ozone generation device is initially operated for a first time interval, followed by operation of the UV-C radiation generation device for a second time interval. During the first time interval, the inventive flow to the lamps takes place; only during the second time interval does the flow through the filters (at least also) take place. However, it is possible that the correspondingly active lamps, or all lamps, continue to be flowed during the second interval. Character description

[0047] The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to figures. Fig. 1 a view of an embodiment of the disinfection device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic flow diagram of the method according to the invention.

[0048] In the Fig. 1 shows a view of an embodiment of the disinfection device 1 according to the invention.

[0049] This comprises a device for generating UV-C radiation 2 and a device for generating ozone 3. More precisely, the device for generating UV-C radiation 2 shown comprises vertically aligned and radially emitting UV-C emitters, for example, with a wavelength of 254 nm, and the device for generating ozone 3 comprises similarly arranged and oriented UV-C emitters, for example, with a wavelength of 187 nm. The two emitter types are arranged alternately. Accordingly, the emitters of the two devices 2 and 3 are arranged alternately and adjacent to one another along the circumference of the disinfection device 1, and are evenly distributed around the circumference.

[0050] The device 1 comprises a base frame 4 equipped with casters and an upper frame 5 mounted thereon. The control unit 6 arranged in the base frame 4 is only indicated. Also shown are preferably present presence sensors 7 (only one is provided with a reference numeral), with which the presence of persons and / or the ozone content of the room air and / or its germ load can be measured.

[0051] In the column 8 of the upper frame 5, there are a plurality of slot-like, vertical outlets 9 (only one is provided with a reference numeral), through which the room air can be conveyed toward the device for generating UV-C radiation 2 and the device for generating ozone 3. The sides of the radiators facing the disinfection device 1 are arranged opposite the outlets 9 in order to keep the flow paths as short as possible.

[0052] Column 8 is hollow and is supplied with room air from below by a fan 10 (shown only in outline), which then exits through outlets 9. A part of the device for contactless room detection 13 is arranged on top of column 8 in the form of an antenna. Surrounding column 8 is a handle 14, which also serves as protection for the radiators.

[0053] The disinfection device 1 further comprises an activated carbon filter 11 (shown only in outline) with a downstream flow-through fan 12 (shown only in outline), through which room air can also be drawn in. The room air drawn in through the activated carbon filter 11 is also conveyed into the column 8, from where it can flow out through the outlets 9. The activated carbon filter 11 serves to more quickly reduce the ozone content of the room air in the second operating phase, in which UV surface disinfection takes place. The associated flow-through fan 12 should only be in operation during this operating phase, if necessary.

[0054] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic flow diagram of the method according to the invention. After operation has started, the room is first identified using RFID or another method, and the appropriate program for treating it is retrieved from a memory.

[0055] This is followed by the first operating phase, in which ozone is generated by the ozone generation device 3. This ozone is actively released into the room by the operation of the airflow fan 10. At the same time, the efficiency of the corresponding radiators is improved due to their cooling. The active distribution of the ozone-containing room air shortens operating time and improves process reliability. The increased oxygen content at the radiators also increases the efficiency of ozone production.

[0056] In the second operating phase, the ozone generation device 3 is switched off and the UV-C radiation generation device 2 is switched on. The airflow fan 10 can, but does not have to, be switched off. In any case, the flow fan 12 is switched on, so that the ozone is filtered from the room air and its concentration is quickly reduced. This also provides an advantage, as the operating time is reduced due to the active ozone reduction.

[0057] After the room treatment program has been completed, the entire operation is logged and stored in a memory so that it can be traced at a later date. List of reference symbols 1 disinfection device 2 Device for generating UV-C radiation 3 Ozone generation facility 4 Base frame 5 Upper frame 6 Control 7 Presence sensor 8th pillar 9 Outlet 10 fans, airflow fans 11 activated carbon filters 12 fans, flow-through fans 13 Device for contactless detection of a room 14 Handle

Claims

[1] Disinfection device (1) for the combined disinfection of room air and surfaces, comprising both a device for generating UV-C radiation (2) emitting into the environment and a device for generating ozone (3) that can be controlled separately therefrom, wherein the disinfection device (1) is designed to convey room air along the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and / or the device for generating ozone (3), characterized bythat both along the length of the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and along the length of the device for generating ozone (3) there are a plurality of outlets (9) leading into the environment, through which the room air can be conveyed in the direction of the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and / or the device for generating ozone (3) in such a way that ozone can be actively released and distributed into the room, the efficiency can be improved by cooling, and the efficiency of ozone production can be increased due to the ability to increase the oxygen content. [2] Disinfection device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and / or the device for generating ozone (3) comprises UV-C emitters, the sides of which facing the disinfection device (1) are arranged opposite the outlets (9). [3] Disinfection device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the UV-C emitters are vertically aligned and radially emitting, or are in the form of a longitudinal spiral. [4] Disinfection device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outlets (9) are arranged in a central column (8) into which the room air can be conveyed. [5] Disinfection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the same is rotatably mounted and motor-driven. [6] Disinfection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the same comprises rollers on which it is movable. [7] Disinfection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an activated carbon filter (11) through which the room air can be sucked in. [8] Disinfection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a device for contactless detection of a room (13), and a device for logging the operation. [9] Method for operating a disinfection device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that during operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and / or the device for generating ozone (3), room air is conveyed along this device(s), wherein the room air is conveyed through outlets (9) in the direction of the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and / or the device for generating ozone (3). [10] Method according to claim 9, wherein the conveying is carried out by means of a fan (10) which sucks in the room air and blows it into a column (8) in the wall of which the outlets (9) are arranged. [11] Method according to one of claims 9 to 10, wherein during operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and / or the device for generating ozone (3), these devices (2, 3) are rotated at least temporarily while being subjected to a flow of ambient air. [12] Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein prior to the operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) and / or the device for generating ozone (3), a contactless detection of the room in which the disinfection is to take place takes place. [13] Method according to claim 12, wherein, on the basis of the detected room, a program suitable for disinfecting the same is retrieved from a memory and sent to a controller which controls and records the operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation (2), the device for generating ozone (3), and the conveyance of the room air. [14] Method according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein during operation of the device for generating ozone (3) and / or the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) a flow takes place therethrough, whereas only during operation of the device for generating UV-C radiation (2) alternatively or additionally a flow through the filter (11) takes place.

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