Air cleaning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air handling systems face challenges in reducing the recirculation of contaminated air without compromising heating or cooling efficiency, leading to discomfort and potential corrosion issues, especially during winter months, and require an effective solution to minimize pathogen circulation.
Innovation Solution
An air cleaning system incorporating a ducting section with ultraviolet radiation sources and a reflective surface that emits and reflects UV radiation to kill pathogens, ensuring a high energy flux density within the ducting section, thereby reducing pathogen circulation without obstructing airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If existing air handling systems operate with 100% non-recycled air to eliminate pathogen recirculation, then pathogen circulation is reduced, but heating or cooling capacity becomes insufficient causing occupant discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pathogen elimination function from the air handling system by introducing a separate UV-C irradiation system within the ducting. This allows the main HVAC system to continue recirculating air for thermal comfort while the extracted UV-C component eliminates pathogens, resolving the contradiction between pathogen reduction and thermal comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UV-C radiation as an intermediary substance that mediates between the recirculated air and pathogens. The UV-C radiation acts as a intermediary agent that eliminates pathogens without requiring changes to the thermal processing of air, allowing simultaneous pathogen reduction and thermal comfort maintenance.
2Temperature
If existing air handling systems increase heating or cooling capacity to handle 100% non-recycled air, then heating or cooling capacity is sufficient, but running costs and modification costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pathogen elimination function from the thermal processing function, allowing the HVAC system to maintain its original heating and cooling capacity without over-sizing. This separation eliminates the need for increased energy consumption while achieving pathogen reduction through the added UV-C system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the air handling system multi-functional by adding UV-C irradiation capability to the existing thermal processing system. This allows the same air handling infrastructure to simultaneously perform both thermal comfort provision and pathogen elimination without requiring separate systems or increased capacity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If recirculated outdoor air is used during summer months, then pathogen recirculation is minimized, but indoor comfort is compromised due to warmer and lower humidity air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces UV-C radiation as an intermediary that enables the use of recirculated air for thermal comfort while eliminating pathogens. This intermediary allows the system to maintain indoor comfort by recirculating conditioned air rather than using warm outdoor air, while simultaneously achieving pathogen reduction.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If recirculated humid air is used during winter months, then pathogen recirculation occurs, but corrosion of internal components is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pathogen elimination function from the air recirculation process by adding UV-C irradiation. This allows the system to continue recirculating humid air for thermal comfort without the harmful effects of pathogen recirculation, while the UV-C component specifically targets and eliminates pathogens without affecting the humidity or causing corrosion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively kills 99.99% of pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 by maximizing UV radiation exposure and reflection, reducing the need for increased electrical power and maintaining indoor comfort by integrating seamlessly into existing HVAC systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least one source of ultraviolet radiation arranged to emit ultraviolet radiation into an interior volume of the ducting section
Implementation Method 2
The ultraviolet radiation emitted by the source of ultraviolet radiation provides an energy flux density within the interior volume, which kills any pathogens in the air flowing through the interior volume
Implementation Method 3
a reflective surface arranged to reflect ultraviolet radiation emitted by the source of ultraviolet radiation within the interior volume of the ducting section, wherein the reflective surface is capable of reflecting at least 60% of incident ultraviolet radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an air cleaning system comprising: a ducting section comprising an inlet and an outlet; at least one source of ultraviolet radiation arranged to emit ultraviolet radiation into an interior volume of the ducting section, the interior volume between the inlet and the outlet; and a reflective surface arranged to reflect ultraviolet radiation emitted by the source of ultraviolet radiation within the interior volume of the ducting section, wherein the reflective surface is capable of reflecting at least 60% of incident ultraviolet radiation.