Air treatment unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air disinfection systems using UV-C light face challenges in effectively deactivating molds, spores, and germs in all areas of a space, particularly in spaces with taller ceilings where germicidal light may not reach the occupied lower areas, and they can cause inconvenience or pose health hazards if not designed properly.
Innovation Solution
An air treatment unit with a frame and UV light source that directs air through a primary treatment volume with UV rays, utilizing an air guidance assembly with louvers and a fan to ensure air movement and disinfection across the space, including the lower areas, by mounting the unit on a ceiling with a duct system to mix and distribute treated air effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If UV-C fixtures are mounted in upper walls or ceilings to disinfect air in tall spaces, then the germicidal light can reach higher areas, but the light cannot penetrate to lower occupied areas and may cause health hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective surface (intermediary) to redirect UV-C light from upper-mounted fixtures down to lower occupied areas. This allows the UV-C light to reach areas that would otherwise be shadowed, expanding disinfection coverage without requiring fixtures to be mounted in positions that expose occupants to direct UV radiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by mounting UV-C fixtures in upper walls or ceilings and using reflective surfaces to bounce light downward. This dimensional approach allows the system to disinfect both upper and lower areas of tall spaces while keeping fixtures out of direct line-of-sight from occupants, reducing UV exposure hazards.
2Productivity
If fans are used to accelerate convection and move air through UV-C kill zones, then air turn rates increase and disinfection efficiency improves, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the system to exploit natural convection currents created by heat sources already present in the space (lighting, equipment, occupants). By strategically positioning UV-C fixtures and reflective surfaces to intercept these naturally rising air currents, the system achieves effective air turnover and disinfection without requiring additional mechanical fans or complex control systems.
3Reliability
If UV-C fixtures are installed in ductwork to disinfect air, then pathogens are neutralized as air is circulated, but the system cannot effectively disinfect air in spaces with taller ceilings or areas outside the duct distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal duct-based disinfection approach to a vertical wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted fixture configuration. This dimensional change allows UV-C light to directly illuminate and disinfect air in the occupied zone of tall spaces, including areas that would not be reached by duct-based systems.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If shelf or lip structures are used in upper-air fixtures to prevent germicidal light from dispersing into lower occupied space, then UV exposure to occupants is reduced, but disinfection coverage in lower areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical barriers (shelves or lips) with reflective surfaces as intermediaries. These reflective surfaces redirect UV-C light downward into occupied areas without requiring structures that would block or limit light dispersion. This allows comprehensive disinfection coverage while maintaining occupant safety through controlled reflection patterns.
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 system ensures comprehensive air disinfection across the space, including lower occupied areas, without user inconvenience or health hazards, by using a UV light source and fan assembly to direct and mix air, creating a uniform disinfection zone.
Implementation Method 1
UV-C, also known as 'germicidal ultraviolet' light, is known to deactivate molds, spores, and germs contained in tiny airborne droplet nuclei that transmit diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and influenza from animal or human to animal or human. With significant intensity, UV-C can penetrate the cell wall of a microorganism and destroy it
Implementation Method 2
A system fan moves contaminated air through ductwork, as an incident of which airborne pathogens are forced to pass proximate to and through a germicidal energy field generated by one or more UV-C lamps located in the air path/supply vent
Implementation Method 3
Light baffles or louvers cause the germicidal energy to be dispersed into the space in a tightly defined, narrow, energy band, known as an airborne pathogen 'kill zone' of UV-C light energy
Implementation Method 4
These fixtures are commonly mounted to upper walls or ceilings and project germicidal light outwardly in a generally horizontal path. This 'upper-air' disinfection technology exploits the natural, passive movement of air within a space through the physical law of convection—hot air rising and cool air falling
Data Source
AI summary
An air treatment unit has: a) a frame; b) a source of UV light that is configured to disinfect air, the frame configured to be mounted in an operative position within a space in which air is to be disinfected, the frame configured to allow air from a duct through which air is forced into the space to be directed in a manner that expelled air from the duct is caused to be disinfected by UV light from the source of UV light with the frame and source of UV light each operatively positioned; and c) an air moving assembly that causes air within the space to be directed into a volume that has UV light rays from the source of UV light therein capable of disinfecting air.