Cleaning Device Ozone Decontamination Periodic Action
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firefighters and first-responders are at a higher risk of health ailments due to exposure to carcinogens and pathogens from burning materials and enclosed spaces, which contaminate vehicles and buildings, posing health risks to occupants.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device that uses ozone, moist/humidified air, and ultraviolet light, along with catalysts to break down carcinogens and pathogens into harmless byproducts, neutralizing contaminants within vehicles and enclosed spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ozone is generated and introduced into enclosed spaces to neutralize contaminants, then decontamination effectiveness is improved, but safety risks increase due to ozone toxicity to occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in periodic cycles: ozone generation phase (doors locked, ozone produced to neutralize contaminants), followed by ventilation phase (doors unlocked, fresh air introduced to remove excess ozone). This periodic operation allows effective decontamination while managing ozone exposure risks through timed intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The catalyst acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the conversion of ozone back to oxygen, and the ventilation system serves as an intermediary mechanism to introduce fresh air and remove excess ozone. These intermediaries enable the system to achieve decontamination while mitigating ozone toxicity through chemical conversion and physical removal.
2Reliability
If the cleaning device processes large volumes of air to improve decontamination coverage, then decontamination effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air driver operates periodically rather than continuously, cycling between high-power operation during ozone generation phases and reduced operation during ventilation phases. This periodic operation pattern enables adequate air processing for decontamination coverage while reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous high-volume processing.
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 decontaminates vehicles and spaces by converting carcinogens and pathogens into carbon dioxide, water, and chloride salts, improving safety for occupants by removing harmful pollutants and pathogens.
Implementation Method 1
an ozone generator configured to generate ozone
Implementation Method 2
an air driver configured to drive the ozone into the interior space to interact with contaminates within the interior space to neutralize the contaminates
Implementation Method 3
a catalyst positioned within the second chamber
Implementation Method 4
break down carcinogens and pathogens into harmless byproducts... converting carcinogens and pathogens into carbon dioxide, water, and chloride salts
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device includes a housing having a first end defining an inlet and an opposing second end defining an outlet. The housing defines an internal cavity. The housing has a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion. The first portion defines a first chamber of the internal cavity that is connected to the inlet. The first portion has a first width. The second portion defines a second chamber of the internal cavity that is connected to the outlet. The second portion has a second width greater than the first width. The intermediate portion extends between the first portion and the second portion. The intermediate portion defines an intermediate chamber. The intermediate portion has a linear profile or a non-linear profile. The cleaning device further includes an air driver positioned within the first chamber, an ozone generator positioned within the intermediate portion, and a catalyst positioned within the second chamber.