HVAC Duct Sanitizing Atomizing Ball and Venturi Mist System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for sanitizing HVAC ducts often result in sanitizing mist being blown into living spaces due to the need to operate fans, leading to off-odors and health issues, as the registers must be left open to distribute the mist throughout the duct system.
Innovation Solution
A canister with a liquid sanitizing solution, a compressor, and an atomizing ball system that creates a fine mist without activating the HVAC fan, using a flexible delivery tube and an atomizing ball with oriented orifices to deliver the sanitizing solution directly to the duct surfaces, preventing mist from entering living spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fan is operated to distribute sanitizing mist through the duct system, then the sanitizing solution is deposited on the interior surfaces of the ducts, but the sanitizing mist is pushed into the living space where it collects on surfaces causing off-odors and health issues
Solution Approach 1:
The duct system is segmented into the duct interior (to be sanitized) and the living space (to be protected). The atomizing ball with oriented orifices directs the sanitizing mist exclusively into the duct interior, creating a segmented application zone that prevents mist from entering the living space while maintaining sanitizing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The atomizing ball creates a localized high-concentration mist zone within the duct interior. The oriented orifices are specifically angled to direct mist onto duct surfaces rather than allowing it to flow back into the living space, providing local quality control where sanitizing occurs only where needed.
2Productivity
If the registers are left open to allow mist distribution through the duct system, then the fan can push the sanitizing solution through the ducts, but most of the sanitizing mist is pushed into the living space
Solution Approach 1:
The atomizing ball is positioned inside the duct system before mist application begins. The oriented orifices are pre-configured to direct mist onto duct surfaces, ensuring that the mist is deposited where needed before any potential backflow into the living space can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The orifices are specifically oriented to create a localized deposition pattern on duct surfaces. This local quality control ensures high productivity of sanitizing application while minimizing loss to the living space, as the mist is directed precisely where it is needed.
3Reliability
If conventional misting methods are used through open registers, then the sanitizing solution can reach the duct surfaces, but the mist collects on living space surfaces causing health and odor concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The application system is segmented to separate the sanitizing function (inside ducts) from the living space environment. The atomizing ball with oriented orifices creates a segmented mist distribution pattern that confines the sanitizing mist to the duct interior, preventing contamination of the living space while maintaining reliable duct sanitization.
Solution Approach 2:
The oriented orifices provide local quality control by directing mist specifically onto duct surfaces. This creates a high-concentration sanitizing zone localized to the duct interior, ensuring effective sanitization while eliminating the harmful effects of mist deposition in the living space.
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 sanitizes ducts without releasing the sanitizing solution into living spaces, ensuring thorough coverage and reducing health and odor concerns by delivering the mist directly to interior duct surfaces without fan operation.
Implementation Method 1
a venturi tube above the level of the liquid that connects with the internal passageway in the straw. When the trigger is actuated, the headspace above the liquid in the canister is pressurized, causing fluid to flow upwardly in the straw, drawing upwardly in part by the venturi.
Implementation Method 2
As the liquid passes the venturi the pressurized air that is flowing into the venturi causes the fluid to form a fine mist.
Implementation Method 3
The terminal end of the tube has an atomizing ball, also called a misting ball, attached thereto and the atomizing ball has a series of purposefully and specifically oriented orifices through which the misted, atomized fluid is delivered. As fogged or misted sanitizing solution flows through the orifices it is deposited on the interior surfaces of the duct.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and system that efficiently and effectively delivers a sanitizing fluid to ducts in the form of a fog or mist is described. A canister that contains a liquid sanitizing solution is attached to a compressor and includes a straw that has an internal passageway that extends into the liquid and a venturi tube above the level of the liquid that connects with the internal passageway in the straw. The headspace above the liquid in the canister is pressurized, causing fluid to flow upwardly in the straw when a trigger is depressed, drawing fluid upwardly in part by the venturi. As the liquid passes the venturi the pressurized air that is flowing into the venturi causes the fluid to form a fine mist. The mist, under pressure from the compressor, is routed into a flexible delivery tube that has been previously positioned in a duct system. The terminal end of the tube has an atomizing ball attached thereto and the atomizing ball has a series of orifices through which the misted, atomized fluid is delivered. As fogged sanitizing solution flows through the orifices it is deposited on the interior surfaces of the duct. The delivery tube and the attached atomizing ball are withdrawn from the duct as the sanitizing fog is emitted from the ball. The fan in the HVAC system is not activated so there is no deliver of the sanitizer through registers and into the living space. The apparatus and method may be used to apply other fluids to other surfaces.