Air Sterilisation Unit With Peroxide Scrubbing and Safe Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air cleaning techniques, such as standard filtration systems, fail to effectively kill micro-organisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as they often capture these organisms in filters where they can multiply and re-enter the air, and hydrogen peroxide fogging systems require evacuation and have environmental and health hazards.
Innovation Solution
A portable air sterilisation unit with a housing, air intake and outlet, and a means for sterilising air using hydrogen peroxide, which entraps and removes particulate matter and carbon dioxide via counter-current fluid flow, utilizing a scrubbing tower and packing material to enhance contact time and reduce hydrogen peroxide exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen peroxide fogging is used to sterilise air, then micro-organisms are effectively deactivated, but the vapour is extremely reactive and hazardous to human health requiring complete evacuation and 24 hour unused period
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the hydrogen peroxide sterilisation process into two separate chambers: a first chamber where hydrogen peroxide vapour contacts and deactivates micro-organisms, and a second chamber where the contaminated vapour is diluted and neutralised before discharge. This segmentation allows the hazardous sterilisation process to be isolated from the occupied space, eliminating the need for complete evacuation while maintaining sterilisation efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The second chamber acts as an intermediary between the hydrogen peroxide sterilisation process and the occupied environment. It receives the hazardous hydrogen peroxide vapour from the first chamber, dilutes it with fresh air, and neutralises the remaining peroxide through catalytic decomposition before the air is discharged. This intermediary chamber eliminates the direct hazard to humans while preserving the sterilisation benefit.
2Reliability
If existing fogging systems are used, then disinfection is achieved, but large amounts of hydrogen peroxide are consumed requiring repeated transport having negative environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The invention recovers and reuses the hydrogen peroxide solution in the reservoir. After the hydrogen peroxide vapour passes through the first chamber and deactivates micro-organisms, the remaining vapour enters the second chamber where it is diluted and neutralised. The system then recovers the hydrogen peroxide from the used solution and returns it to the reservoir for reuse, significantly reducing consumption and the need for repeated transport.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard air filtration systems are used, then particulate matter is captured, but micro-organisms are not killed and may multiply in the filter material potentially being released back into the air
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses hydrogen peroxide vapour as a strong oxidant to sterilise the air passing through the first chamber. The hydrogen peroxide chemically deactivates micro-organisms through oxidation of their cellular structures, effectively killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This chemical sterilisation method is superior to physical filtration alone, as it destroys micro-organisms rather than merely capturing them, eliminating the risk of re-release.
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 unit effectively deactivates airborne micro-organisms within the unit, preventing their re-release into the environment, reduces hydrogen peroxide usage, and minimizes health and environmental risks, allowing continuous operation without evacuating the space.
Implementation Method 1
Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidising agent which oxidises the cells or spores of micro-organisms on contact, thus deactivating them
Implementation Method 2
the fluid and/or droplets are configured to absorb and/or entrap particulate matter from the air within the housing
Implementation Method 3
the flow of fluid is counter current to the flow of air within the housing
Implementation Method 4
the air sterilisation unit removes carbon dioxide from air via water absorption
Data Source
AI summary
An air sterilisation unit comprising: a housing having an air intake arranged to allow contaminated air to enter the housing, and an air outlet arranged to allow sterilised air to exit the housing; and air sterilisation assembly arranged to sterilise air within the housing by entrapping or removing particulate matter from the air flowing from the air intake to the air outlet.