Air-Borne Chlorine Dioxide Spray for Enclosed Surface Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to effectively reduce microbial and viral contamination on surfaces within enclosed spaces, such as vehicle cabins, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and eliminate malodors, which is challenging due to the persistence of contaminants in textured and inaccessible areas.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for air-borne dispersal of a gaseous cleaning agent, comprising a container with water and a solid or gel pack that releases chlorine dioxide upon contact with water, agitated by an impeller to generate a gaseous cleaning agent that is released into the environment to reduce contamination and malodors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cleaning methods (wiping surfaces) are used, then smooth surfaces can be cleaned, but textured and inaccessible areas with microbial and viral loads cannot be effectively cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from surface-level cleaning (2D contact) to air-borne dispersal (3D volume coverage). The cleaning agent is dispersed through the air as a fine mist or aerosol, allowing it to reach and deposit on surfaces in textured and inaccessible areas that cannot be accessed by conventional wiping methods, thereby achieving reliable cleaning of all surfaces including those previously inaccessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic dispersion to generate an air-borne mist or aerosol of the cleaning agent. By introducing the cleaning agent into an air stream and dispersing it through the enclosed space, the system achieves uniform distribution and deposition on all surfaces, including textured and hard-to-reach areas, overcoming the limitations of manual wiping.
2Reliability
If air-borne dispersal of cleaning agent is used, then all surfaces including textured areas can be cleaned, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning agent serves multiple functions: it acts as both a disinfectant to kill microbes and viruses, and a deodorizing agent to eliminate malodors. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate treatment systems and simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining high cleaning effectiveness across all surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the air-borne cleaning agent to self-distribute and self-deposit throughout the enclosed space without requiring manual intervention for each surface. The aerosolized agent naturally settles and adheres to surfaces, providing automatic cleaning coverage that reduces operational complexity.
3Reliability
If strong cleaning agents are used to eliminate malodors and kill microbes, then contamination is reduced, but the dwell time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state and delivery parameters of the cleaning agent by dispersing it as a fine aerosol or mist through the air. This increases the surface area and contact efficiency of the agent with contaminated surfaces, accelerating the disinfection and deodorizing processes and reducing the required dwell time compared to conventional liquid or gas-phase applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs strong oxidizing agents that rapidly decompose organic contaminants, kill microorganisms, and neutralize odors through oxidation reactions. These potent agents work quickly and effectively, significantly reducing the dwell time needed to achieve thorough contamination reduction and malodor elimination.
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 method achieves a significant reduction of at least 80% in microbial and viral contamination on surfaces, effectively eliminating malodors and ensuring a safe environment after a dwell time of approximately 10 to 30 minutes.
Implementation Method 1
a solid or gel pack that releases a gaseous cleaning agent, which may be chlorine dioxide, upon contact with water
Implementation Method 2
The water within the container of the apparatus is agitated with an impeller to accelerate generating a gaseous cleaning agent
Implementation Method 3
The gaseous cleaning agent is allowed to dwell in the environment for an effective time
Implementation Method 4
air-borne dispersal of a gaseous cleaning agent onto contaminated surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system and method of cleaning surfaces of an enclosable environment of a contamination comprising a malodor, or a microbial and viral load. The method includes the steps of placing water and a solid or gel pack into a container and generating a gaseous cleaning agent by agitating the water in the container. The agitation accelerates the release of the gaseous cleaning agent from the solid or gel pack. The gaseous cleaning agent, exemplified by Chlorine Dioxide, exiting from the container spreads throughout the environment. The gaseous cleaning agent treats the malodor, or microbial or viral load, in the environment.