Air sterilisation unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air sterilization devices often fail to provide sufficient UV-C radiation to effectively destroy airborne pathogens, limiting their efficacy, especially in high-pathogen environments such as hospitals and public spaces during pandemics.
Innovation Solution
An air sterilization unit with a housing containing a filter module and a UV-C treatment chamber surrounded by expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) to enhance UV-C radiation reflection and fluence, combined with a ventilation system and multiple filter types, including HEPA and activated carbon filters, to achieve a high log reduction of pathogens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is passed through conventional filters and UV-C chamber configuration, then air filtering is achieved, but UV-C radiation fluence is insufficient to destroy adequate number of airborne pathogens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ePTFE liners as intermediary reflective surfaces within the UV-C treatment chamber. These liners mediate between the UV-C radiation source and the air path, reflecting and redirecting UV-C radiation to increase fluence exposure of pathogens without requiring additional radiation source power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the treatment chamber by lining it with ePTFE material having specific optical properties (high UV-C reflectivity). This parameter change transforms the chamber from a simple passage into a radiation-enhancing environment, increasing the effective UV-C fluence by multiple reflections.
2Reliability
If UV-C radiation source power is increased to destroy more pathogens, then pathogen destruction efficacy improves, but energy consumption and potential damage to other components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ePTFE liners create a feedback mechanism where UV-C radiation that would otherwise be lost or absorbed is reflected back into the chamber, continuously exposing pathogens to radiation until destroyed. This feedback loop maximizes the utilization of the original radiation energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts potentially harmful direct UV-C exposure to other components into a beneficial reflective process. By strategically placing ePTFE liners, radiation that might damage components is instead redirected to treat air, transforming a potential harm into enhanced pathogen destruction efficacy.
3Device complexity
If filters are placed within the UV-C treatment chamber, then compact design is achieved, but UV-C radiation is absorbed by filters reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device into distinct functional zones: a filtration section and a UV-C treatment section. The filter module is positioned upstream of the treatment chamber, separating the filtering function from the radiation treatment function to prevent UV-C absorption by filter media.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by arranging components in a sequential dimensional flow (air inlet → filter module → UV-C chamber → air outlet) rather than attempting to pack all components into the same spatial volume, maintaining both compactness and functional effectiveness.
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 achieves an 8 log reduction of pathogens, providing substantial complete kill in one pass, with ePTFE protecting internal components from UV-C radiation and reducing noise and airflow issues through a dispersion chamber.
Implementation Method 1
the wall is provided with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene liner, such that the UV-C radiation source is surrounded with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene for reflection of UV-C radiation within the chamber for destruction of pathogens in the air
Implementation Method 2
a UV-C treatment chamber located between the air inlet and the air outlet and containing at least one UV-C radiation source
Implementation Method 3
it is known to pass air through one or more filters and into a chamber having one or more UV-C radiation lamps. The filters act to remove air contaminants
Implementation Method 4
The first and second ePTFE filters and the ePTFE liner preferably substantially contain the UV-C radiation within the UV-C treatment chamber. This protects other components of the air sterilisation unit from damage by the UV-C radiation
Data Source
AI summary
An air sterilisation unit comprising a housing providing an air inlet and an air outlet and containing a filter module located between the air inlet and the air outlet, a UV-C treatment chamber located between the air inlet and the air outlet and containing at least one UV-C radiation source, and a ventilation system located between the air inlet, through the filter module and the UV-C treatment chamber and out of the housing through the air outlet, wherein the UV-C treatment chamber comprises an inlet end, an outlet end and a wall there between and the inlet end is closed with a first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene filter, the outlet end is closed with a second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and the wall is provided with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene liner, such that the UV-C radiation source is surrounded with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene for reflection of UV-C radiation within the chamber for destruction of pathogens in the air.