Complex sterilization system and operation method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a complex sterilization system and an operation method thereof and, more specifically, to a technology for measuring the contamination level of a space to be disinfected / sterilized, and performing disinfection / sterilization by selecting at least one of hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet disinfection on the basis of the measured contamination level. An operation method of a complex sterilization system, of the present invention, comprises the steps of: detecting, by a sensor unit, a chemical substance in a target space; analyzing, by a data unit, a contamination level of the target space on the basis of the detected chemical substance; selecting, by a control unit, a disinfection or sterilization method on the basis of the analyzed contamination level; and performing disinfection or sterilization of the target space on the basis of the selected disinfection or sterilization method.

Description

Complex sterilization system and method of operation thereof

[0001] The present invention relates to a composite sterilization system and a method of operating the same, and more specifically, to a technology for measuring the contamination level of a space to be disinfected / sterilized and selecting at least one of hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet disinfection according to the measured contamination level to perform disinfection / sterilization.

[0002] Since the beginning of the 20th century, the entire world has faced fatal threats to people due to harmful viruses, fine dust, and yellow dust. In particular, the recent COVID-19 virus has spread not only in China but globally, leading to an explosive increase in confirmed cases and deaths.

[0003] With the advent of the global era and the increased mobility of humanity, viruses that used to spread only within a single region are now rapidly spreading not only within one country but across the entire world through human intermediaries.

[0004] According to the World Health Organization (WHO), out of 3 million deaths caused by air pollution, 93% are attributed to indoor air pollution, and research indicates that indoor air is predominantly affected by air pollution. Consequently, the importance of air purification and sterilization systems in public places with high foot traffic, such as public institutions and hospitals, has recently been highlighted.

[0005] One method for air purification and sterilization is the sterilization method using hydrogen peroxide. It is known that the sterilization method using hydrogen peroxide performs sterilization and disinfection by generating hydroxyl radicals, which have strong oxidizing power, during the process in which hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen. However, the sterilization method using hydrogen peroxide has the disadvantage that the sterilization effect can only be expected in the places where the decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide occurs.

[0006] To complement this, a sterilization method using hydrogen peroxide vapor was introduced. The sterilization method using hydrogen peroxide vapor involves saturating the space to be sterilized with hydrogen peroxide vapor and carrying out sterilization through the process of natural decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.

[0007] Although the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the saturated space to be sterilized can be maintained relatively uniformly through natural diffusion or by using a forced circulation fan, it takes a long time to sterilize, cannot be carried out when people are present, and cannot be used immediately due to sealing issues with the space or hazards caused by residual substances after sterilization.

[0008] In addition, in hospitals / clinics for infection prevention or laboratory environments where biosafety is required, there are specific areas with high levels of contamination as well as areas with extremely low levels of contamination. Therefore, for effective sterilization in such spaces, it is necessary to vary the sterilization method according to the level of contamination and perform a stronger level of sterilization in areas with high levels of contamination.

[0009] The present invention aims to perform disinfection and sterilization in an efficient manner according to the degree of contamination of the object to be disinfected and sterilized.

[0010] In addition, the present invention aims to perform disinfection and sterilization of a highly contaminated space in a short period of time.

[0011] In addition, the present invention can improve the disinfection and sterilization efficiency of a sterilization system.

[0012] A composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a sensor unit for detecting a chemical substance in a target space, a data unit for analyzing the contamination level of the target space based on the detected chemical substance, a control unit for selecting at least one of a hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and an ultraviolet disinfection method based on the analyzed contamination level, and a disinfection treatment unit for performing disinfection and sterilization of the target space based on the selected disinfection and sterilization method.

[0013] The above chemical substance may be a first chemical substance released from a virus or bacteria, or a second chemical substance contained in the exhaled breath of a living organism with a disease.

[0014] The above data unit measures and stores time-series log data of the chemical substance, and can estimate the degree of contamination through the difference between the measured and stored time-series log data and a preset first threshold value.

[0015] If the above level of contamination is above the second threshold, the above hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and the above ultraviolet disinfection can be performed simultaneously.

[0016] When the above hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and the above ultraviolet disinfection are performed simultaneously, the generation of hydroxyl radicals can be induced by irradiating ultraviolet rays simultaneously with hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization.

[0017] The above data section includes empirical data regarding the above ultraviolet disinfection, and the disinfection and sterilization method can be selected based on the above empirical data.

[0018] The empirical data regarding the above ultraviolet disinfection may include ultraviolet energy dose data required for the log reduction of the bacteria or viruses.

[0019] A method of operation of a composite sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of detecting a chemical substance in a target space in a sensor unit, analyzing the contamination level of the target space based on the detected chemical substance in a data unit, selecting at least one of a hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and ultraviolet disinfection based on the analyzed contamination level in a control unit, and performing disinfection and sterilization of the target space based on the selected disinfection and sterilization method in a disinfection treatment unit, wherein the chemical substance is at least one of a first chemical substance released from a virus or bacteria or a second chemical substance contained in the exhaled breath of a living organism with a disease, and is characterized in that when the contamination level is greater than or equal to a reference value, the ultraviolet disinfection and the hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization are performed simultaneously.

[0020] If the above contamination level exceeds the standard value, the generation of hydroxyl radicals can be induced by simultaneous hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and concentrated irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

[0021] After the step of performing the above disinfection and sterilization, the step of removing the hydrogen peroxide vapor may be further included.

[0022] The above step of removing hydrogen peroxide vapor can be performed simultaneously using a scrubber and decomposing hydrogen peroxide through ultraviolet irradiation.

[0023] In the present invention, the level of contamination of a space to be disinfected and sterilized is estimated by comparing and analyzing time-series log data of chemical substances detected and measured by an olfactory sensor unit with a database stored in a data unit, and the disinfection / sterilization method and intensity can be adjusted according to the estimated level of contamination.

[0024] In the present invention, when the estimated contamination level exceeds a standard value, disinfection and sterilization using hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet irradiation are performed simultaneously to rapidly reduce the contamination level of the target space.

[0025] In the present invention, the efficiency of a sterilization system can be improved by rapidly removing hydrogen peroxide vapor remaining in a target space after disinfection and sterilization. More specifically, by using a scrubber method and an ultraviolet irradiation method in combination for removing hydrogen peroxide vapor, hydrogen peroxide vapor can be removed at a faster rate than when only the scrubber method is used.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 is a comprehensive flowchart of the steps for detecting chemical substances in the target space and analyzing the contamination level of the target space in the sensor unit.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the step of selecting a disinfection and sterilization method among the operation methods of a composite sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart showing the case where hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet irradiation are performed simultaneously.

[0030] Figure 5 shows a flowchart for the removal step of hydrogen peroxide vapor.

[0031] Figure 6 is a graph of the time series data of the experiments in Table 1 and Table 2.

[0032] Specific structural or functional descriptions of embodiments according to the concept of the present invention disclosed herein are provided merely for the purpose of explaining embodiments according to the concept of the present invention, and embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be implemented in various forms and are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0033] Embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be subject to various modifications and may take various forms; therefore, embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in this specification. However, this is not intended to limit the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention to specific disclosed forms, and includes modifications, equivalents, or substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0034] Terms such as "first" or "second" may be used to describe various components, but said components should not be limited by said terms. For the sole purpose of distinguishing one component from another, for example, without departing from the scope of rights according to the concept of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component.

[0035] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. Conversely, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between. Expressions describing the relationships between components, such as "between," "exactly between," or "directly adjacent to," should be interpreted in the same way.

[0036] The terms used herein are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to specify the existence of the described features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this specification.

[0038]

[0039] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the scope of the patent application is not limited or restricted by these embodiments. Identical reference numerals in each drawing indicate identical components.

[0040]

[0041] A composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention is characterized by measuring the contamination level of a target space requiring disinfection and sterilization, selecting a disinfection and sterilization method and intensity according to the measured contamination level, and performing disinfection and sterilization. Hereinafter, a composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, a composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a control unit (110), a sensor unit (120), a data unit (130), a disinfection treatment unit (140), and a movement unit (150).

[0044] More specifically, a composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a sensor unit (120) for detecting a chemical substance in a target space, a data unit (130) for analyzing the contamination level of the target space based on the detected chemical substance, a control unit (110) for selecting at least one disinfection and sterilization method among hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet disinfection based on the analyzed contamination level, and a disinfection treatment unit (140) for performing disinfection and sterilization of the target space based on the selected disinfection and sterilization method.

[0045] The sensor unit (120) can perform the function of detecting chemical substances in a target space that requires disinfection and sterilization and measuring the contamination level of the target space. In one embodiment, the chemical substance may be a first chemical substance released from a virus or bacteria, or a second chemical substance contained in the exhaled breath of a living organism with a disease.

[0046] More specifically, the first chemical can be classified into chemical released by viruses and chemical released by bacteria.

[0047] Since viruses are not living organisms, they do not perform metabolic activities; however, after infecting a host cell, they can alter the host cell's metabolism to produce and release various chemical substances.

[0048] Chemicals released from virus-infected host cells may include substances related to cellular stress and immune responses, such as cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS); some viral particles may be released bound to host proteins; and when host cells die, specific proteins, lipids, and / or DNA / RNA fragments may be released into the air.

[0049] In addition, respiratory viruses such as influenza or coronavirus can be released in the form of microaerosols during an infected person's cough, sneeze, or conversation. The released microaerosols may contain proteins and chemicals derived from host cells.

[0050] Since bacteria are living microorganisms, they can produce and release various chemicals on their own. Non-limiting examples of chemicals released by bacteria may include bacterial metabolites and biofilm-related substances.

[0051] More specifically, bacterial metabolites may diffuse into the air as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as methanol (CH3OH), acetone (CH3COCH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), ammonia (NH3), and acetic acid (CH3COOH), or as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and proteins derived from the bacterial cell membrane. Examples of lipids and proteins derived from bacteria may be endotoxins (released mainly by Gram-negative bacteria) or peptidoglycan fragments.

[0052] In addition, when bacteria proliferate on the surface of objects, they produce a biofilm composed of polysaccharides, proteins, and DNA, which can release chemicals as it grows.

[0053] In addition, the sensor unit (120) according to one embodiment of the present invention can detect a second chemical substance contained in the exhaled breath of a living organism with a disease. The second chemical substance contained in the exhaled breath of a living organism with a disease is known as an 'exhaled biomarker' and can be utilized for early diagnosis and monitoring of the disease.

[0054] More specifically, the exhaled breath of patients with diabetes contains an excess of acetone, the exhaled breath of patients with impaired liver function contains an excess of ammonia, and the exhaled breath of patients with asthma contains an excess of nitric oxide.

[0055] As such, a composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention can estimate the contamination level of a target space by detecting and measuring a first chemical substance released by viruses and bacteria and a second chemical substance contained in the exhalation of a living organism with a disease in the olfactory sensor unit (121) included in the sensor unit (120).

[0056] The olfactory sensor unit (121) can detect chemical substances in the air using an electronic nose. An electronic nose (E-Nose) is a technology that mimics the human olfactory system to detect and analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other gaseous substances in the air, and refers to a technology that identifies specific smells or components by analyzing them through artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms.

[0057] A composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention can detect and measure a first chemical substance and / or a second chemical substance in the air using an electronic nose of an olfactory sensor unit (121), and can estimate the contamination level of a target space by determining the concentration level by comparing it with a database stored in a data unit (130) using a machine learning or deep learning algorithm.

[0058] The database stored in the data unit (130) may include metadata about the space, log data about chemicals detected through the olfactory sensor unit, and empirical data about ultraviolet disinfection. More specifically, the empirical data about ultraviolet disinfection may include ultraviolet energy dose data required for log reduction of bacteria or viruses.

[0059] Metadata regarding a space is intended for analyzing the degree of contamination of objects or spaces and may include various data capable of estimating the increase or decrease in the possibility or degree of contamination of people or objects in a space subject to disinfection / sterilization by the external environment.

[0060] More specifically, it may include environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and air quality indicators of the space to be disinfected and sterilized, human activity data regarding space usage frequency and density, activity types and area of ​​the space, structure, and ventilation system, time-based data regarding activity patterns and cleaning and sterilization cycles, and data regarding external environmental factors due to external air quality or seasonal factors.

[0061] For example, since the temperature and humidity of a target space directly affect the survival and reproduction of microorganisms, the level of contamination in the target space may vary depending on the temperature and humidity.

[0062] In addition, if the target space is a hospital room, the level of contamination may vary depending on the frequency and density of entry and exit of people who have visited the space, and if there were people infected with a respiratory disease among those who visited the space, the level of contamination in that space may increase significantly.

[0063] In addition, if activity is concentrated during specific times of the day, the pollution level during those times may be higher compared to other times.

[0064] Thus, the data unit (130) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes various metadata regarding the space to be disinfected and sterilized, thereby more accurately estimating the possibility of contamination of the space and establishing an effective sterilization strategy.

[0065] In addition, the data unit (130) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include log data for chemical substances. The log data for chemical substances may be time-series log data that can be tracked and observed by continuously measuring and storing to detect changes in chemical substances measured in the space to be disinfected and sterilized.

[0066] A data unit (130) according to one embodiment of the present invention measures and stores time series log data of a chemical substance, and can estimate the degree of contamination through the difference between the measured and stored time series log data and a preset first threshold value.

[0067] Time-series log data is log-format data that records data changing over time; it stores both when a specific event or measurement occurred and the value at that point in time. It is characterized by data being stored in chronological order and can be measured at pre-set time intervals.

[0068] More specifically, for real-time monitoring, measurements can be taken in seconds at intervals of 1 to 5 seconds, and for long-term pattern analysis, measurements can be taken in minutes at intervals of 1 to 5 minutes.

[0069] A composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention can estimate the degree of contamination through the difference between time-series log data of a chemical substance detected in a target space and a preset first threshold value.

[0070] More specifically, a composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention determines that the chemical substance detected in the target space is in a contaminated state when the time series log data exceeds a preset first threshold value, collects vision data through a vision sensor unit (122) included in the sensor unit (120), and finally determines the contamination level by applying a relative weighting factor based on metadata.

[0071] The vision sensor unit (122) includes a device for recognizing the surrounding environment, such as a Lidar sensor and an RGB camera, and can recognize various objects in the space to be sterilized and collect metadata about the space to be disinfected and sterilized.

[0072] At this time, since chemical substances have the characteristic of diffusing within the space, all objects within the target space have the same absolute contamination value, and each individual object infers a relative contamination value by applying a relative weight based on metadata, and based on this, the degree of contamination can be estimated only for objects that exceed a first threshold.

[0073] The data unit (130) included in the composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes evidence data for ultraviolet disinfection, so at least one of the hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and ultraviolet disinfection can be selected based on the stored evidence data for ultraviolet disinfection.

[0074] For example, if the estimated contamination level is that of spores, referring to empirical data on UV disinfection such as that from the National Ultraviolet Association, it is impossible to achieve an effective level of disinfection with UV light, i.e., a log reduction of 4 log or more; therefore, in this case, hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization can be used. On the other hand, if the estimated contamination level is that of E. coli, sterilization at the 6 log level is possible through UV irradiation, so sterilization can be performed using UV irradiation.

[0075] In addition, a composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention can simultaneously perform hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet disinfection when the estimated contamination level is greater than or equal to a second threshold value.

[0076] The second threshold is a preset value that can be judged as severe contamination. If the estimated contamination level exceeds the second threshold, ultraviolet light can be intensively irradiated simultaneously with hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization to promote the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and strongly induce the generation of hydroxyl radicals for disinfection and sterilization, thereby increasing the sterilization effect.

[0077] In this process, the hydrogen peroxide-temperature / humidity sensor unit (123) included in the olfactory sensor unit (120) can determine whether a sufficient amount of hydrogen peroxide vapor necessary for disinfection and sterilization has been decomposed by monitoring the concentration of hydrogen peroxide being consumed and the concentration of water in the air generated as a decomposition byproduct, i.e., humidity.

[0078] Below, the operation method of a composite sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0079] A method of operation of a composite sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of detecting a chemical substance in a target space in a sensor unit, analyzing the contamination level of the target space based on the detected chemical substance in a data unit, selecting at least one of a hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and ultraviolet disinfection based on the analyzed contamination level in a control unit, and performing disinfection and sterilization of the target space based on the selected disinfection and sterilization method in a disinfection treatment unit, wherein the chemical substance is at least one of a first chemical substance released from a virus or bacteria or a second chemical substance contained in the exhaled breath of a living organism with a disease, and is characterized in that ultraviolet disinfection and hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization are performed simultaneously when the contamination level is greater than or equal to a reference value.

[0080] More specifically, a comprehensive flowchart of the steps for detecting chemical substances in the target space and analyzing the contamination level of the target space in the sensor unit is shown in FIG. 2.

[0081]

[0082] FIG. 2 is a comprehensive flowchart of the steps for detecting chemical substances in a target space by a sensor unit and analyzing the contamination level of the target space. Referring to FIG. 2, in the step of detecting chemical substances in a target space (S210), the process of collecting olfactory data regarding chemical substances by an olfactory sensor unit and storing it as time-series log data to convert it into log data may be performed.

[0083] The olfactory data for the chemical substance collected in the step (S210) of detecting the chemical substance in the target space may be data for a first chemical substance that occurs directly from bacteria or viruses, or data for a second chemical substance contained in the exhaled breath of a living organism with a disease.

[0084] More specifically, the first chemical substance may be a chemical substance produced by the metabolic activity of bacteria, such as cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and viral proteins generated in virus-infected host cells, VOCs, and biofilm components.

[0085] In addition, the second chemical is a substance known as an aerobic biomarker that can be used for the early diagnosis of disease, and may be substances such as acetone, ammonia, and nitric oxide.

[0086] A detailed description of the first chemical and the second chemical is omitted as it has been described in detail in the section describing the composite sterilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0087] The step of analyzing the contamination level of the target space (S220) may include a step of determining the contamination state by comparing the absolute value of the contamination level with the time series log data collected in the step of detecting chemical substances in the target space (S210).

[0088] The absolute value of the contamination level may be a preset first threshold. If the collected time-series log data is higher than the first threshold, it is determined to be in a contaminated state, and additional data can be collected for estimating the contamination level.

[0089] For additional contamination estimation, relative contamination weights can be applied based on metadata regarding the space to be disinfected and sterilized. The metadata regarding the space can utilize vision data collected from the vision sensor unit included in the sensor unit.

[0090] The vision sensor unit includes a device for recognizing the surrounding environment, such as a Lidar sensor and an RGB camera, and can recognize various objects in the space to be sterilized and collect metadata about the space to be disinfected and sterilized.

[0091] Metadata regarding a space is intended for analyzing the degree of contamination of objects or spaces and may include various data capable of estimating the increase or decrease in the possibility or degree of contamination of people or objects in a space subject to disinfection / sterilization by the external environment.

[0092] More specifically, it may include environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and air quality indicators of the space to be disinfected and sterilized, human activity data regarding space usage frequency and density, activity types and area of ​​the space, structure, and ventilation system, time-based data regarding activity patterns and cleaning and sterilization cycles, and data regarding external environmental factors due to external air quality or seasonal factors.

[0093] For example, if the target space has a high frequency of human entry or density, the relative weighting of pollution may be high. Conversely, if the target space is equipped with ventilation systems and devices with high efficiency in removing airborne pollutants, the relative weighting of pollution may be low.

[0094] As such, in the method of operation of a composite sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention, not only log data of chemicals for the space to be disinfected and sterilized but also various metadata about the space can be included to more accurately estimate the possibility of contamination of the space and establish an effective sterilization strategy.

[0095]

[0096] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the step of selecting a disinfection and sterilization method among the operation methods of a composite sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 3, in the step of selecting a disinfection and sterilization method, at least one of the hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and the ultraviolet irradiation method can be selected using ultraviolet energy dose data required for log reduction of the chemical detected in the target space.

[0098] More specifically, when the estimated contamination level is of the spore type, it is impossible to achieve an effective disinfection level, i.e., a log reduction of 4 log or more, using ultraviolet irradiation, so in this case, hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization can be used.

[0099] On the other hand, in the case where the estimated contamination level is E. coli, sterilization can be performed using the UV irradiation method because sterilization at the 6 log level is possible through UV irradiation.

[0100]

[0101] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart showing the case where hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet irradiation are performed simultaneously.

[0102] In the step of analyzing the contamination level, if the estimated contamination level is higher than the threshold value, a higher level of disinfection and sterilization can be performed by simultaneously using hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet irradiation. Here, the threshold value may be a preset second threshold value.

[0103] More specifically, if the estimated contamination level of a specific zone within the target space exceeds a second threshold, hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization may be performed, and at the same time, the composite sterilization system of the present invention may be moved to that zone and concentrated ultraviolet light may be irradiated to induce the generation of hydroxyl radicals. The movement of the composite sterilization system is handled by the moving unit, and it may be moved to a specific location upon the request of the control unit.

[0104] Hydroxyl radicals are one of the powerful oxidizing agents produced during the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. They attack microorganisms and tissues and can rapidly damage bacterial membrane lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and DNA, thereby enabling a higher level of disinfection and sterilization.

[0105] When performing hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet irradiation simultaneously, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide disappearing from the hydrogen peroxide-temperature / humidity sensor included in the sensor unit and the concentration of water in the air generated as a decomposition byproduct, i.e., humidity, can be monitored to determine whether sufficient disinfection and sterilization have been performed.

[0106] In the method of operation of a composite sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention, a step of removing hydrogen peroxide vapor may be further included after the step of performing disinfection and sterilization.

[0107] Disinfection and sterilization methods using hydrogen peroxide vapor use high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide vapor, but since high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide vapor can be harmful to the human body, existing sterilization methods using high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide vapor had a problem in that the disinfected space could not be used for more than a certain period of time.

[0108] A method of operation of a composite sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention performs a step of removing hydrogen peroxide vapor after disinfection and sterilization, thereby decomposing hydrogen peroxide vapor remaining in the air so that the disinfected space can be used more quickly.

[0109]

[0110] Figure 5 shows a flowchart for the removal step of hydrogen peroxide vapor.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 5, in the step of removing hydrogen peroxide vapor according to another embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the corresponding space is measured by a hydrogen peroxide-temperature / humidity sensor unit included in the sensor unit, and the composite sterilization system of the present invention is moved to a zone showing a relatively high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, and then ultraviolet irradiation is performed, thereby maintaining a small concentration deviation in the entire space. The movement of the composite sterilization system is handled by the movement unit, and it can be moved to a specific location according to the request of the control unit.

[0112] More specifically, the step of removing hydrogen peroxide vapor according to another embodiment of the present invention may be performed simultaneously by using a scrubber and decomposing hydrogen peroxide through ultraviolet irradiation.

[0113] A scrubber is a device that decomposes hydrogen peroxide in the air and may include a filter and a fan, and the filter included in the scrubber may be a catalytic filter or a chemical reaction filter.

[0114] Catalytic filters can remove hydrogen peroxide primarily using activated carbon or metal catalysts. These catalytic filters can interact with specific compounds to convert hydrogen peroxide into safe substances. As a more specific example, catalytic filters mainly use activated carbon, which reacts with oxygen to convert into water.

[0115] Chemical reaction filters can be used to decompose hydrogen peroxide into safe compounds through chemical reactions. These chemical reaction filters contain various chemicals that react with hydrogen peroxide as air passes through them, converting it into safe substances; these reactions often involve oxidation or reduction.

[0116] The fan included in the scrubber can draw in outside air into the module and allow it to flow through an internal filter. By doing so, the air treated by the filter is released back into the environment to remove hydrogen peroxide and supply cleaner air.

[0117] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the step of removing hydrogen peroxide vapor can be performed not only by using a scrubber but also simultaneously by decomposing hydrogen peroxide through ultraviolet irradiation.

[0118] The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide through ultraviolet irradiation is performed by simultaneously processing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using ultraviolet irradiation installed in the composite sterilization system of the present invention, and can decompose hydrogen peroxide vapor remaining in the air more quickly than when using only a scrubber.

[0119] The sterilization process using hydrogen peroxide vapor is divided into a spraying stage that generates hydrogen peroxide vapor, a resting stage in which microorganisms are removed through the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, and an aeration stage that removes residual hydrogen peroxide in the space.

[0120] While there is not much variation in the time required for the spraying or resting stages depending on the method, the aeration stage takes a relatively long time and can vary significantly depending on the technique used, so effectively decomposing hydrogen peroxide during the aeration stage can serve as a determining factor in the efficiency of the sterilization system.

[0121] In the method of operation of a composite sterilization system through another embodiment of the present invention, unlike the conventional method using only a scrubber, hydrogen peroxide decomposition through ultraviolet irradiation is processed simultaneously, thereby significantly reducing the time required for the aeration step, and thus a sterilization system with high efficiency can be provided.

[0122] Table 1 below shows the results of tests using the scrubber alone and using the scrubber and UV irradiation twice each. Each measurement represents the peak, 150 ppm, and end point (approx. 0 ppm) of the average hydrogen peroxide concentration collected from two sensors.

[0123] Peak decomposition end point concentration point concentration point concentration Scrubber+UV0:13:50438.480330:59:10150.068851:32:250.6281840:13:25450.8162250:57:25150.2428551:36:100.815881 Scrubber0:14:00437.9825450:59:15150.9389751:38:350.4367850:14:15433.332370:56:25150.9179151:44:200.467979

[0124] In addition, Table 2 shows the calculated decomposition rate from the point of maximum concentration to the point of decomposition initiation, that is, during the resting period and the abandonment period.

[0125] Time required for paper disposal time decomposition speed time required decomposition speed scrubber+UV 0:45:202720-2.3647%0:33:151995-16.4466%0:44:002640-2.4968%0:38:452325-13.4449% scrubber 0:45:152715-2.3538%0:39:202360-14.8423%0:42:102530-2.5009%0:47:552875-12.0423%

[0126] Referring to Tables 1 and 2, it can be seen that the decomposition rate of hydrogen peroxide during the resting phase is at a similar level of about 2.3–2.5% per minute.

[0127] However, it can be confirmed that the decomposition rate of hydrogen oxide during the aeration phase is relatively faster when using a scrubber and UV simultaneously.

[0128]

[0129] Also, Figure 6 is a graph of the time series data of the experiments in Table 1 and Table 2.

[0130] Referring to Figure 6, it can be seen that the hydrogen peroxide concentration increased from 400 ppm to 450 ppm in a total of four experiments, with two experiments for each experimental condition. That is, since a total of 200 cc was sprayed at 13 cc intervals, the hydrogen peroxide concentration continuously increased for about 15 minutes, and then, as it entered a resting phase, the hydrogen peroxide concentration gradually decreased due to the natural decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.

[0131] From the 150 ppm point, the aeration phase began, and a scrubber or scrubber+UV decomposition system was operated to rapidly decompose hydrogen peroxide.

[0132] In Figure 6, the dotted line represents time series data of the method using only a scrubber, and the solid line represents time series data of the combined method.

[0133] When comparing the hydrogen peroxide concentrations of the scrubber-only method and the combined method, it can be seen that in the combined method experiment, the maximum hydrogen peroxide concentration was higher than in the scrubber-only method, but in all experiments, the hydrogen peroxide concentration decreased to 1 ppm or less earlier than in the scrubber-only method.

[0134] As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the operation method of the composite sterilization system of the present invention, hydrogen peroxide remaining in the air can be rapidly decomposed by using a composite method that combines a scrubber and ultraviolet irradiation in the aeration step.

[0135]

[0136] The device described above may be implemented as a hardware component, a software component, and / or a combination of a hardware component and a software component. For example, the device and components described in the embodiments may be implemented using one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers, such as, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable array (FPA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing and responding to instructions. The processing unit may execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications executed on said operating system. Additionally, the processing unit may access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to the execution of the software. For ease of understanding, the processing unit may be described as being used as a single unit, but those skilled in the art will understand that the processing unit may include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing unit may include multiple processors or one processor and one controller. In addition, other processing configurations, such as parallel processors, are also possible.

[0137] Software may include computer programs, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of these, and may configure a processing unit to operate as desired or command the processing unit independently or collectively. Software and / or data may be permanently or temporarily embodied in any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage medium or device, or transmitted signal wave so as to be interpreted by the processing unit or to provide instructions or data to the processing unit. Software may be distributed over networked computer systems and may be stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be stored on one or more computer-readable recording media.

[0138] The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc., either alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be those specifically designed and configured for the embodiment, or they may be those known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes; optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory. Examples of program instructions include machine code, such as that generated by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operation of the embodiment, and vice versa.

[0139] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to the limited drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations from the description above. For example, suitable results can be achieved even if the described techniques are performed in a different order than described, and / or the components of the described system, structure, device, circuit, etc. are combined or assembled in a form different from described, or replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents.

[0140] Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims also fall within the scope of the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. A sensor unit that detects chemical substances in the target space; A data unit that analyzes the contamination level of the target space based on the detected chemical substance; A control unit that selects at least one disinfection and sterilization method among hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and ultraviolet disinfection based on the above-mentioned analyzed contamination level; and A disinfection treatment unit that performs disinfection and sterilization of the target space based on the selected disinfection and sterilization method; A composite sterilization system characterized by including 2. In Paragraph 1, A composite sterilization system characterized in that the above chemical substance is a first chemical substance released from a virus or bacteria, or a second chemical substance contained in the exhaled breath of a living organism with a disease.

3. In Paragraph 1, A composite sterilization system characterized by the above data unit measuring and storing time-series log data of the chemical substance, and estimating the degree of contamination through the difference between the measured and stored time-series log data and a preset first threshold value.

4. In Paragraph 3, A combined sterilization system characterized by simultaneously performing the hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and the ultraviolet disinfection when the degree of contamination is above a second threshold.

5. In Paragraph 4, A composite sterilization system characterized by inducing the generation of hydroxyl radicals by irradiating ultraviolet rays simultaneously with hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization when the above hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and the above ultraviolet disinfection are performed simultaneously.

6. In Paragraph 1, A composite sterilization system characterized in that the data section includes empirical data regarding the ultraviolet disinfection, and the disinfection and sterilization method is selected based on the empirical data.

7. In Paragraph 6, A composite sterilization system characterized by the fact that the empirical data for the above-mentioned ultraviolet disinfection includes ultraviolet energy dose data required for log reduction of the bacteria or the virus.

8. A step of detecting a chemical substance in the target space in the sensor unit; In the data section, a step of analyzing the contamination level of the target space based on the detected chemical substance; A step in which, in a control unit, at least one of a hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method and an ultraviolet disinfection method is selected based on the analyzed contamination level; and A step of performing disinfection and sterilization of the target space based on the selected disinfection and sterilization method in the disinfection treatment unit; Includes, The above chemical is at least one of a first chemical released from a virus or bacteria or a second chemical contained in the exhaled breath of a living organism with a disease, and A method of operation of a combined sterilization system characterized by performing ultraviolet disinfection and hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization simultaneously when the above contamination level is above a standard.

9. In Paragraph 8, A method of operation of a composite sterilization system characterized by inducing the generation of hydroxyl radicals by simultaneous hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization and concentrated ultraviolet irradiation when the above contamination level exceeds a standard.

10. In Paragraph 8, A method of operating a composite sterilization system characterized by further including a step of removing hydrogen peroxide vapor after the step of performing the above disinfection and sterilization.

11. In Paragraph 10, A method of operation of a composite sterilization system characterized in that the above-mentioned hydrogen peroxide vapor removal step is performed simultaneously using a scrubber and decomposing hydrogen peroxide through ultraviolet irradiation.

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