Aircraft Cabin Hydroxyl Cleaning for Air and Crevice Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UV light disinfection methods are inadequate for disinfecting the general volume of breathable air and crevices in aircraft cabins, as they fail to penetrate beyond visible surfaces and compromise seating fabrics.
Innovation Solution
A harmonic bio-mimicry nonchemical process using UV optics to generate atmospheric hydroxyl radicals, which are small enough to penetrate crevices and react with impurities in breathable air, utilizing ambient water vapor to produce hydroxyls at a rate comparable to nature, within a polygonal reaction chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If UV light is used for surface disinfection, then exposed surfaces are disinfected, but the general volume of breathable air and crevices between seats cannot be disinfected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (hydroxyl radical generator or photocatalytic material) that converts UV light into reactive oxygen species (hydroxyl radicals) which can diffuse throughout the air volume and penetrate into crevices, thereby extending the disinfection capability from merely surface-level to encompassing the entire cabin environment including air and hidden spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct mechanical action of UV light (which requires line-of-sight contact) with a chemical mechanism (photocatalytic generation of hydroxyl radicals) that can act throughout the air volume and penetrate obstacles, substituting the limitation of direct light exposure with a diffusable chemical agent
2Reliability
If UV light is directed at surfaces, then germicides and bactericides are achieved, but seating fabrics are compromised and line of sight is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydroxyl radicals as an intermediary that mediates the disinfection process, allowing the germicidal effect to be achieved without direct UV light exposure to fabrics. The radicals are generated by UV light acting on a photocatalytic material, then these radicals diffuse to kill pathogens while the UV source itself remains shielded from directly exposing fabrics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful direct UV exposure from the disinfection process by separating the UV light source from the target surfaces. Instead of directing UV light directly at fabrics, the system uses UV light to generate hydroxyl radicals in the air, which then perform the disinfection function without requiring direct UV-fabric contact
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
Effectively neutralizes pathogens and VOCs in aircraft cabins by generating and distributing hydroxyl radicals throughout the air volume, including hidden surfaces, without the limitations of UV light exposure.
Implementation Method 1
The optics are designed to emit/irradiate Ultraviolet irradiation in the nanometer wavelength/Ultraviolet spectrum of between 100 and 400 nanometers, thereby producing the hydroxyls
Implementation Method 2
Hydroxyl radicals are very reactive, which react quickly to hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide molecules and other air impurities, such as volatile organic compounds, (VOC), virus, bacteria and fungi
Data Source
AI summary
A method being an improvement over the cleanup of aircraft flight deck or cabin air and cabin surfaces at the site of the aircraft tarmac, which is usually done with inadequate delivery of UV light from a portable cart, which can only disinfect exposed surfaces, not the general volume of breathable air and the crevices between seats and other surfaces, as well as behind grab bars and other semi-hidden surfaces. A method/apparatus is provided for cleaning breathable air in an aircraft, preferably in separate flight deck and passenger compartments of the aircraft parked upon a tarmac, the apparatus including: a hydroxyl generator positioned at a distance away from the aircraft, when the aircraft may be connected by a passenger walkway corridor to a passenger terminal.