Decentralized Multi-Chamber Air Duct System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air decontamination systems in indoor spaces are ineffective in large areas due to centralized air cleaning devices that limit ventilation rates and require costly upgrades, especially in humid climates.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized multi-chamber air duct system that captures air from indoor spaces, decontaminates it using filters, UV-C lamps, and bipolar ionizers, and redistributes the clean air linearly along the duct, increasing ventilation rates without the need for HVAC system connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If centralized air cleaning devices are installed to decontaminate air passing through existing ductwork, then air decontamination is achieved, but the system is ineffective if ventilation rates are insufficient to turnover air at a high rate
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct system is divided into multiple separate chambers (first chamber for intake, second chamber for discharge, third chamber for decontamination) that are internally subdivided but functionally distinct. This segmentation allows air to be captured, decontaminated, and redistributed through separate pathways, enabling high ventilation rates without requiring complete HVAC system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from centralized vertical air handling to a horizontal linear airflow pattern along the length of the duct. Air is captured and redistributed in a linear manner along the duct length rather than through centralized up/down airflow, increasing the effective ventilation area and turnover rate.
2Productivity
If high ventilation rates are implemented to increase air turnover, then decontamination effectiveness improves, but costly equipment upgrades are required especially in humid climates
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the decontamination system and the ventilation distribution system. The same duct structure that would normally just transport air now performs capture, decontamination, and redistribution functions, eliminating the need for separate expensive ventilation upgrade equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing ductwork infrastructure to serve itself - the duct becomes both the intake and discharge pathway, and houses the decontamination equipment within its structure. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional external equipment and costly HVAC modifications.
3Ease of manufacture
If standalone air cleaning devices are installed to decontaminate air, then air cleaning is achieved, but the devices draw air from a single location and return it at the same location, significantly limiting effectiveness for large indoor spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The duct is divided into multiple functional chambers (intake, discharge, decontamination) that are spatially separated along the duct length. This segmentation allows air to be drawn from one location, decontaminated, and redistributed at multiple different locations along the duct, greatly expanding space coverage while maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from point-source air cleaning to linear distributed air cleaning along the duct length. Air is captured and redistributed in a linear manner along the entire length of the duct rather than at a single centralized location, effectively covering large indoor spaces with a single unit.
4Productivity
If multiple standalone air cleaning units are installed within an occupied space to improve decontamination coverage, then space coverage improves, but the cost becomes prohibitive and the space becomes cluttered
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple air cleaning functions (intake, decontamination, discharge) that would traditionally require separate units are merged into a single integrated duct structure with internally subdivided chambers. This consolidation achieves the same decontamination coverage as multiple units while eliminating clutter and reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The decontamination equipment is nested within the existing duct structure. The third chamber containing decontamination equipment is housed inside the ductwork, utilizing the same physical infrastructure for multiple functions and eliminating the need for separate standalone units.
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 reduces the transmission of airborne pathogens by directly neutralizing them and increasing ventilation rates, while being cost-effective and not cluttering the indoor space.
Implementation Method 1
The filter may be any type of air filter known in the art, including but not limited to HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters
Implementation Method 2
The UV-C lamp emits ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 254 nanometers, which is known to neutralize many types of airborne pathogens
Implementation Method 3
The bipolar ionizer may generate positive and/or negative ions that attach to airborne contaminants, causing the contaminants to clump together and fall out of the air
Data Source
AI summary
A decentralized multi-chamber air duct system for decontaminating air in indoor spaces is provided. The system includes an air duct having positive and negative pressure chambers each in fluid communication with a plenum chamber. A fan extracts air from an indoor space through the negative pressure chamber of the air duct into the plenum chamber, where the air is decontaminated before being discharged back into the same indoor space through the positive pressure chamber of the air duct.