Air Sanitization Apparatus Filter Maintenance Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance technicians are at risk of contamination during filter replacement in air sanitization apparatuses due to retained and accumulated viruses and bacteria, which can spread to the environment and internal surfaces, as these microorganisms remain viable at ambient temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating non-thermal plasma generator ionizer devices to sanitize filters by generating a high quantity of reactive species, reducing the risk of contamination during maintenance and preventing the spread of microorganisms within the apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filters are used to remove viruses and bacteria from air, then air purification effectiveness is improved, but maintenance technicians are exposed to contamination risk during filter replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sanitization of the filter by the ionizer module before maintenance technicians need to replace it. The ionizer continuously or periodically treats the filter to inactivate viruses and bacteria, so when technicians perform maintenance, the filter is already sanitized, eliminating their exposure risk while maintaining purification effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The ionizer module acts as an intermediary between the contaminated filter and the maintenance technician. It introduces reactive species that mediate the sanitization process, inactivating pathogens on the filter surface without requiring direct contact between technicians and contaminated materials
2Reliability
If filters retain viruses and bacteria over time, then air purification performance is improved, but microorganisms can spread to internal surfaces and environment during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The ionizer module performs preliminary sanitization of the filter before pathogens can spread to internal surfaces or the environment. By continuously or periodically treating the filter with reactive species, the system inactivates viruses and bacteria while they are still contained on the filter, preventing their mechanical entrainment and spread during normal operation and maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful accumulated pathogens on the filter into a benefit by using the ionizer to sanitize the filter in place. The reactive species generated by the ionizer transform the contaminated filter surface into a sanitized state, turning the hazard of pathogen accumulation into an opportunity for automated sanitization without filter replacement
3Reliability
If thermal sanitization methods are used to sanitize filters, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces thermal sanitization (heating) with a chemical/electrical approach using the ionizer module. Instead of using high temperatures to sanitize the filter, the ionizer generates reactive species that chemically inactivate pathogens at ambient or near-ambient temperatures, dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining sanitization effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the sanitization parameter from thermal (temperature-based) to chemical/electrical (reactive species-based). This parameter change allows sanitization to occur at much lower energy levels, as the ionizer uses electrical energy to generate reactive species rather than requiring thermal energy to heat the filter to sanitization temperatures
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of contamination for maintenance personnel and internal apparatus surfaces by automatically sanitizing filters, minimizing the need for manual intervention and reducing the risk of spreading microorganisms, while being cost-effective compared to thermal sanitization methods.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating non-thermal plasma generator ionizer devices to sanitize filters by generating a high quantity of reactive species
Implementation Method 2
non-thermal plasma generator ionizer devices to sanitize filters
Implementation Method 3
generate a high quantity of reactive species, reducing the risk of contamination during maintenance
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A sanitization apparatus (1) for sanitizing the air in an environment is described as comprising a first filter (10) which is arranged in an internal chamber (4) upstream of a fan assembly (9), a second filter (11) which is arranged in the internal chamber (4) downstream of the fan assembly (9), a first ionizer device (12) which is arranged in the internal chamber (4) between the second filter (11) and the outlet (8), a second ionizer device (13) which is arranged in the internal chamber (4) between the first filter (10) and the second filter (11), an electronic control unit (14) which controls the second ionizer device (13) to sanitize the second filter (11).