Contamination prevention in a building
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting and preventing microbiological contamination in buildings, such as those using VOC sensors, are not precise and can lead to false positives, potentially spreading contamination through forced air recirculation.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage detection approach using a VOC sensor for initial rapid detection, followed by a more precise measurement with an air filter as a culture medium, allowing for targeted preventive actions to minimize false positives and contain contamination effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a single VOC sensor is used for detection, then the detection speed is fast, but the measurement precision is insufficient leading to false positives
Solution Approach 1:
The detection process is segmented into two distinct stages: a first stage using a VOC sensor for rapid initial detection, and a second stage using a microbiological culture method for precise confirmation. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both the speed of VOC sensing and the accuracy of cultural methods, resolving the contradiction between detection speed and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The VOC sensor performs a preliminary detection action to identify potential contamination quickly. Based on this preliminary result, the system then initiates the more time-consuming but accurate microbiological culture process. This preliminary action approach ensures fast initial response while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy through subsequent confirmation.
2Reliability
If forced air recirculation is used to prevent contamination spread, then the prevention effectiveness is improved, but the risk of spreading contamination to other sub-parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system acts as an intermediary mechanism that can be dynamically controlled. When contamination is detected, the system switches from normal recirculation mode to a containment mode where ventilation is directed away from other sub-parts of the building. This intermediary control allows the system to maintain prevention effectiveness while avoiding the harmful effect of spreading contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system's operation is made dynamic based on detection results. Rather than maintaining a fixed recirculation pattern, the system adapts its air flow patterns in response to contamination detection, switching between prevention modes and containment modes to optimize both effectiveness and safety.
3Measurement precision
If a two-stage detection approach is implemented, then the measurement precision is improved, but the detection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The VOC sensor performs a preliminary detection that quickly identifies potential contamination events. This preliminary action filters out negative cases rapidly, allowing the system to invest more time in detailed analysis only when necessary, thereby reducing the average detection time while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial detection action (VOC sensing) for all air samples to quickly identify potential issues, and only applies the full detection action (microbiological culture) to samples that show positive preliminary results. This partial/excessive action strategy achieves high precision without the time penalty of performing complete analysis on every sample.
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
This method provides fast and accurate detection and prevention of microbiological contamination, reducing unnecessary actions and minimizing the spread of contamination while being easily integratable with existing ventilation systems.
Implementation Method 1
Micro-organisms may also be detected indirectly by Volatile Organic Component, VOC, sensors. VOCs are produced by micro-organisms and the presence of VOCs may thus indicate the presence of micro-organisms
Implementation Method 2
a more precise measurement with an air filter as a culture medium
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an embodiment, a method is disclosed for preventing microbiological contamination (120) in a building (100) comprising a ventilation system (131-133), the method comprising the steps of first detecting the contamination in a first ventilated sub-part (103) of the building by a VOC sensor (140) based on a first volume of air flowing through the ventilation system; and taking a first action in order to prevent further contamination; and performing a second measurement of the contamination based on a second larger volume of air from the sub-part supplied by the ventilation system upon the first detecting; and, when the measurement is positive, taking a second action in order to prevent further contamination; and, when the second measurement is negative, undoing the first action.