Air sterilisation apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air sterilization methods are inadequate for continuous, safe, and effective protection against coronavirus and other viruses, as they pose health risks, are inefficient, or require frequent filter replacements and high maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An air sterilizer using a spiral plate heat exchanger that heats incoming air to 310-600 °C within a reaction chamber, immediately destroying viruses, and then cools the sterilized air to reintroduce it into the environment, maintaining external components at a safe temperature through continuous air flow and heat exchanger design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV germicidal lamps are used to sterilize air, then viruses are killed, but the radiation is dangerous to humans, animals and plants and requires several minutes of irradiation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of sterilization method from UV radiation to thermal treatment. By heating air to 160-200°C for 10-45 minutes, the system achieves virus destruction without using harmful radiation, thus eliminating the danger to living things while maintaining sterilization effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the UV radiation mechanism with a thermal mechanism. Instead of using electromagnetic UV radiation to kill viruses, the system uses heated air flow to thermally destroy pathogens, substituting a mechanical/thermal process for a radiative one
2Reliability
If fan-operated air purifiers with filters are used, then air is purified by filtering, but pathogens and viruses are collected in filters and remain active and infectious
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful accumulation of pathogens in filters into a beneficial thermal destruction process. By channeling air through a heated path, the system transforms the collection of pathogens into their destruction, turning the potential harm of pathogen accumulation into the benefit of complete pathogen elimination
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the state of pathogens from collected and active (in filters) to destroyed (through heat). By applying thermal energy to raise air temperature to 160-200°C, the system fundamentally alters the state of pathogens from infectious to non-infectious
3Reliability
If heat sterilizers (chambers) are used to sterilize medical devices, then complete sterilization is achieved, but the devices are not suitable for immediate control of airborne viruses
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from three-dimensional chamber sterilization to a linear air flow path sterilization method. By creating a heated air flow channel that moves continuously through the space, the system achieves sterilization in the dimension of air flow rather than requiring occupation of three-dimensional space, enabling immediate airborne virus control
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes from static chamber sterilization to dynamic air flow sterilization. The continuous movement of heated air through the treatment space provides ongoing sterilization capability, making the system responsive to airborne viruses in real-time rather than requiring batch processing in a closed chamber
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
Provides continuous, safe, and effective virus-free air without harming humans or animals, achieving efficient energy use and reducing the risk of re-infection, suitable for everyday use in various settings, including healthcare and agriculture.
Implementation Method 1
an electric heating unit (7) located within an inner central part of the spiral plate heat exchanger (2), which heats the air flowing in the spiral plate heat exchanger (2) to a temperature of 310-600 °C
Implementation Method 2
a spiral plate heat exchanger (2), which has an air inlet duct (31) running from the air supply unit (5) to the electric heating unit (7) and a counterflow air outlet duct (32) running from the electric heating unit (7) to the air outlet unit (6), said ducts (31, 32) running helically next to each other
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The air sterilizer comprises a housing (1), at one end of which there is an air inlet unit (5) in which a fan (3) is arranged in a fixed manner; a spiral plate heat exchanger (2) arranged in the housing (1), in the center of which an electric heating unit (7) is arranged; an air outlet unit (6) at the other end of the housing (1); wherein the spiral plate heat exchanger (2) has an air inlet duct (31) running from the air inlet unit (5) to the electric heater (7) and a counterflow air outlet duct (32) running from the electric heater (7) to the air outlet unit (6), which ducts (31, 32) run helically next to each other. At one end of the housing (1) of the air sterilizer, adjacent to the air inlet unit (5), an air outlet (18) is formed on each side of the housing (1). Each side of the spiral plate heat exchanger (2) is sealed by an end cover. An air inlet (19) is formed on the end covers, which opens into the air inlet duct (31) running to the electric heating unit (7). A guide hole is formed in the end cover for a temperature sensor in which a temperature sensor is accommodated. In the spiral plate heat exchanger (2), there is a constant distance between the plates forming the air inlet duct (31) and the air outlet duct (32). The end covers have a heat-insulated side cover on each side of the air sterilizer, which side covers are sealed to the housing (1) and define a respective chamber which establishes flow communication between the air outlet and the air inlet on the same side of the air sterilizer.