Air Decontamination Humidity Control to Prevent Corrosive Deposits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial decontamination devices face challenges such as high costs, frequent maintenance, large footprint, and inefficiencies in controlling relative humidity and treating small volume enclosures, particularly due to limitations in dehumidification methods and microbicidal product distribution.
Innovation Solution
A mobile aerial decontamination device with a constant flow positive displacement compressor, forced convection condenser, and water separator filter to dehumidify air, combined with an evaporator for microbicidal product vaporization, and a system for precise microbicidal product injection, allowing for controlled humidity and efficient decontamination without refrigeration machines or hygroscopic products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If closed circuit vaporization of concentrated microbicidal product is used, then decontamination efficiency is improved, but relative humidity increases leading to corrosive liquid deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes excess water vapor from the closed circuit system using a dehumidification unit. This prevents the accumulation of moisture that would otherwise condense into corrosive liquid deposits on surfaces, while maintaining the concentrated vapor phase microbicidal product for effective decontamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the humidity parameter of the air in the closed circuit by actively removing water vapor through compression and condensation. This parameter control allows the system to maintain concentrated microbicidal vapor without reaching the dew point that would cause corrosive liquid formation.
2Volume of stationary object
If peristaltic pumps are used to distribute microbicidal product, then decontamination of large enclosures is achieved, but flow rate control is poor and pulsation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical peristaltic pump system with a vaporization-based distribution system. The microbicidal product is vaporized and distributed through air circulation rather than mechanical pumping, eliminating pulsation and improving flow control precision while maintaining effectiveness in large enclosures.
3Quantity of substance
If refrigeration units with ice formation are used for dehumidification, then water separation is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase transition of water vapor to liquid water through compression-induced condensation rather than refrigeration-induced freezing. The compressor raises the dew point of water vapor, causing it to condense on cooling surfaces without requiring ice formation, thereby simplifying the system while achieving effective water separation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If hygroscopic gel columns are used for air drying, then humidity control is achieved, but absorption capacity is limited and replacement is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-regenerating dehumidification system where condensed water is automatically collected and removed by gravity through a drainage system. The system continuously operates without requiring manual intervention or replacement of consumable materials, eliminating maintenance downtime associated with gel column replacement.
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 device effectively dehumidifies and decontaminates closed enclosures with reduced operational and maintenance costs, enabling precise control of humidity and efficient treatment of small volumes, while minimizing corrosive product deposition.
Implementation Method 1
a constant flow positive displacement compressor connected to the inlet orifice and intended for compressing the air entering the device, the compressor being adapted to compress the air entering the device up to a predetermined pressure
Implementation Method 2
a forced convection condenser placed downstream of the compressor, the condenser being adapted to cool the air leaving the compressor and obtain condensation at a temperature of around 20°C of the excess water contained in the previously compressed air
Implementation Method 3
means for evaporating a microbicidal product, upstream of the outlet orifice and downstream of the dehumidification means, making it possible to vaporize the microbicidal product in the air circulating in the device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an air decontamination device. The mobile air decontamination device (1) includes: (i) an inlet port and an outlet port; (ii) a dehumidifying means downstream from the inlet port for dehumidifying the air entering the device (1) via said inlet port; and (iii) a means for evaporating a microbicidal material, which is arranged upstream from the outlet port and downstream from the dehumidifying means, and which is intended for vaporizing the microbicidal material in the air flowing inside the device (1). Furthermore, the dehumidifying means includes a compressor (4) connected to the inlet port for compressing the air entering the device (1), a forced-convection condenser (5) arranged downstream from the compressor (4), and a water-separating filter (6) arranged downstream from the forced-convection condenser (5), the device (1) including a means for adjusting the discharge pressure of the compressor (4).