Compressor Filter Unit With UV Air Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inactivating viruses in compressed gases, such as breathing air, are inefficient, costly, or impractical due to temperature and pressure limitations, and cannot reliably achieve the necessary decontamination before bottling, especially considering the EN 12021:2014-07 standard.
Innovation Solution
A filter unit comprising a particle pre-filter and an ultraviolet irradiation unit, controlled by a ballast, which inactivates viruses by emitting UV light, with a housing made of anodized aluminum to enhance efficiency and a monitoring system to ensure reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat is used to inactivate viruses, then virus inactivation is achieved, but the gas must be cooled again in a complex manner and the residence time is too long (8 minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal inactivation system with an ultraviolet irradiation system. Instead of heating the gas to high temperatures and requiring complex cooling systems, the invention uses UV light to inactivate viruses, eliminating the need for thermal management equipment while achieving the same disinfection goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the inactivation parameter from temperature-based (thermal) to radiation-based (ultraviolet). This parameter change allows virus inactivation to occur at ambient temperatures with a much shorter exposure time, avoiding the need for complex heating and cooling systems.
2Ease of manufacture
If the temperature in the compressor is used to inactivate viruses, then no additional heating equipment is needed, but the residence time is only a few seconds which is insufficient for reliable inactivation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal inactivation with ultraviolet irradiation. The UV system provides reliable virus inactivation without depending on the compressor's operating temperature and residence time, achieving both equipment simplicity and inactivation reliability.
3Reliability
If heat is applied before container filling, then virus inactivation is achieved, but the pressure in the container drops significantly after cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes from thermal inactivation to ultraviolet irradiation. This allows virus inactivation to occur at ambient temperature, eliminating the pressure drop issue that would result from heating and subsequent cooling of the stored gas.
4Reliability
If particle pre-filter is added to protect UV irradiation unit, then UV unit efficiency is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a particle pre-filter before the UV irradiation unit to remove particles that could contaminate or damage the UV lamp. This preliminary filtration action protects the UV system, maintaining its efficiency and extending its service life while adding minimal complexity.
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 filter unit effectively inactivates viruses and bacteria in gases before compression, ensuring compliance with EN 12021:2014-07 standards by providing a reliable and efficient decontamination process suitable for both mobile and stationary systems.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet irradiation unit which is configured to emit ultraviolet light and is arranged downstream of the particle pre-filter in the flow direction of the gas to be compressed
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a filter unit (10) for a compressor, comprising a housing (12) with an inlet (14) and an outlet (28) for gas to be compressed, a particle pre-filter (16) arranged downstream of the inlet (14) in the flow direction of the gas to be compressed, an ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) which is configured to emit ultraviolet light and is arranged downstream of the particle pre-filter (16) in the flow direction of the gas to be compressed, and a ballast (40) which is configured and arranged to control the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22). The filter unit (10) is designed in such a way that the gas to be compressed which is fed in at the inlet (14) first passes through the particle pre-filter (16), is then irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) and can finally be fed to the compressor through the outlet (28). The invention also relates to a compressor comprising such a filter unit (10) and to a method for compressing breathing air using such a compressor.