Dynamic UV Disinfection System with Sensor Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UV disinfection devices are inefficient due to fixed power levels and static emitter placement, leading to prolonged disinfection cycle times and uneven UV energy distribution, as they must wait for the sensor with the lowest irradiance to reach the target dose, wasting energy and time.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic UV disinfection system that adjusts power levels of emitters based on sensor measurements and automatically optimizes emitter placement to ensure even irradiance, using a flux accelerator for faster warm-up and a mobile control unit for remote operation, allowing for real-time adjustment of UV output to minimize cycle time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all UV emitters operate at fixed maximum power levels, then the disinfection process can be completed quickly, but energy is wasted in areas that receive excessive UV irradiance and the system may exceed available power capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power level of each UV emitter based on real-time feedback from UV sensors. The controller continuously monitors the accumulated UV dose at multiple locations and modulates emitter power levels to maintain optimal disinfection speed while preventing energy waste in over-irradiated areas.
Solution Approach 2:
UV sensors measure the reflected UV irradiance at various locations in the room, providing feedback to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to adjust emitter power levels, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes energy distribution and reduces waste while maintaining fast disinfection cycles.
2Productivity
If all UV emitters operate at fixed maximum power levels, then the disinfection process can be completed quickly, but the system may exceed available power capacity from standard electrical circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power level of each UV emitter based on real-time feedback from UV sensors. The controller continuously monitors the accumulated UV dose at multiple locations and modulates emitter power levels to maintain optimal disinfection speed while preventing energy waste in over-irradiated areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of UV emitters by adjusting power levels dynamically. This allows the system to operate within available power capacity constraints while maintaining fast disinfection cycle times through optimized power distribution across multiple emitters.
3Device complexity
If UV emitters are positioned in a fixed static arrangement, then the device structure is simple, but some areas of the room receive insufficient UV irradiance requiring longer disinfection times
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses movable or adjustable emitter positions that can be dynamically reconfigured based on room geometry and surface characteristics. This dynamic positioning allows comprehensive coverage of all areas including shadows and hard-to-reach spots, reducing disinfection cycle time without requiring overly complex fixed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides localized UV irradiance optimization by adjusting emitter positions and power levels to address specific areas that require more treatment. This ensures uniform disinfection across the entire room, including areas with lower reflected irradiance, while maintaining overall system efficiency.
4Reliability
If the system waits for the sensor with lowest irradiance to reach target dose, then all areas receive adequate UV treatment, but other areas receive excessive UV energy wasting time and energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts emitter power levels based on real-time sensor feedback from multiple locations. Areas that have already received sufficient UV dose have their corresponding emitter power reduced, while areas still needing treatment maintain or increase power levels. This eliminates the bottleneck effect where the system must wait for the lowest-irradiance sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different power levels to different emitters based on local conditions at each sensor location. This localized control ensures that each area receives exactly the UV energy it needs, preventing both under-treatment and over-treatment, thereby reducing total disinfection time while maintaining reliability.
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 significantly reduces disinfection cycle time by dynamically adjusting UV output and optimizing emitter placement, ensuring all areas receive the required dose efficiently, even under limited power conditions, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the disinfection process.
Implementation Method 1
ultraviolet (UV) sterilization devices have been developed and are being temporarily deployed to sterilize and disinfect entire rooms using UV-C radiant energy
Implementation Method 2
an array (e.g., a 360 degree array) of UV sensors which measure the reflected UV irradiance from the extents of an area being disinfected
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to UV disinfection devices, systems, and methods for dynamically adjusting a power-level of each of a plurality of UV emitters of the UV disinfection device based on corresponding UV sensor measurements to minimize the total disinfection cycle time. In certain optional embodiments, the present disclosure relates to UV disinfection devices, systems, and methods for optimizing alignment of each of a plurality of UV emitters within a room to minimize the total disinfection cycle time. In other optional embodiments, the present disclosure relates to UV disinfection devices, systems, and methods for automatically preheating the plurality of UV emitters in response to the UV disinfection device being coupled to a power source, independent of a ballast (or power supply) of the plurality of UV emitters in order to minimize the total disinfection cycle time.