Vehicle Cabin Air Isolation With UV Sterilization and CO2 Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle occupants are exposed to unfavorable air conditions, including contaminants and low oxygen concentrations, which necessitate an effective system for air filtration and isolation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a plenum with a source of ultraviolet radiation, sensors for detecting carbon dioxide, air quality, and particulates, and a controller to manage airflow and UV exposure, ensuring the air is sterilized and filtered before being recirculated into the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If air is recirculated within the vehicle to maintain oxygen levels, then oxygen availability is improved, but contaminant accumulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes contaminants from the recirculated air using HEPA filters that capture particulate matter and activated carbon filters that adsorb gaseous contaminants. This allows the system to recirculate air for oxygen availability while continuously removing accumulated contaminants, resolving the contradiction between maintaining oxygen levels and preventing contaminant buildup.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration system acts as an intermediary between the recirculated air and the occupants. The multi-stage filters (HEPA and activated carbon) serve as mediators that allow beneficial oxygen to pass through while blocking harmful contaminants, enabling safe air recirculation without direct exposure to pollutants.
2Reliability
If ultraviolet radiation is used to sterilize air, then pathogen elimination is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultraviolet radiation source is integrated into the existing air recirculation system, merging sterilization functionality with the airflow management system. The UV source is positioned within the plenum chamber where air naturally circulates, combining multiple functions (air movement, filtration, and sterilization) into a unified system that reduces overall complexity compared to separate standalone systems.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed to detect air quality parameters, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multiple sensors (CO2 sensor, particulate matter sensor, and temperature sensor) that serve universal monitoring functions for overall air quality assessment. Each sensor targets a specific parameter, but collectively they provide comprehensive air quality evaluation, allowing the system to maintain high detection accuracy while managing complexity through specialized rather than generalized sensor design.
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 effectively isolates and sterilizes the occupant's respiration by detecting and alerting to air contaminants, improving air quality and maintaining a healthy environment within the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
A source of ultraviolet radiation is located in the interior... to sterilize in air
Data Source
AI summary
A method of isolating vehicle occupant respiration includes energizing a source of ultraviolet radiation to sterilize in air. A first sensor detects carbon dioxide content of that air. A second sensor detects quality of that air. A third sensor detects particulate in that air. Result from the first sensor is compared to baseline carbon dioxide reading recorded in a controller connected with the sensors. Fan speed increases temporal duration of air exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Result from the second sensor is compared with baseline air quality recorded in the controller. A signal is sent to a display comprising the filtration system to identify contaminate in the air. Result from the third sensor is compared with baseline particulate recorded in controller. An alert is sent to an interested party indicating particulate presence in the air.