Electrostatic Nebulizer with Adaptive Nozzle and Voltage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrostatic disinfection methods are not effective for various surface types and environmental conditions, particularly in public and indoor settings, leading to inadequate disinfection of frequently touched surfaces that can harbor contagious viruses like COVID-19, due to standard system settings being unsuitable for all materials and conditions.
Innovation Solution
An electrostatic nebulizer system with a nano-engineered disinfectant solution, featuring a charge dispenser, adjustable nozzle size, and variable charge voltage, optimized for different surface characteristics, ensuring uniform and effective disinfection by varying system parameters such as spraying distance, nozzle size, and charge voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard electrostatic disinfection system settings are used, then the system is simple to operate, but disinfection effectiveness varies and is inadequate for different surface types and environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts electrostatic spray parameters including charge voltage, nozzle size, and spray distance based on real-time detection of surface characteristics. The controller modifies operational parameters on-the-fly to optimize disinfection effectiveness for different surface types and environmental conditions, transforming a static system into an adaptive one.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors to detect surface characteristics such as material type, porosity, and geometry. This feedback information is processed by the controller which then adjusts spray parameters accordingly. The closed-loop control ensures that disinfection effectiveness is continuously optimized based on actual surface conditions.
2Manufacturing precision
If fixed nozzle size and charge voltage are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but uniform droplet distribution cannot be achieved on all surface characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle size and charge voltage are made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system automatically selects appropriate nozzle diameters and voltage levels based on detected surface characteristics, enabling uniform droplet distribution across diverse surfaces while avoiding the need for manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters including charge voltage, flow rate, and nozzle size to match different surface characteristics. By varying these parameters adaptively, the system achieves optimal droplet distribution and coverage for each specific surface type without requiring multiple fixed configurations.
3Area of stationary object
If standard spray distance is used, then the operation is simplified, but insufficient coverage is achieved on vertical surfaces and hard-to-reach areas
Solution Approach 1:
The spray distance is dynamically adjusted based on the geometry and accessibility of the target surface. The system detects surface characteristics and automatically modifies the nozzle-to-surface distance to optimize coverage, particularly for vertical surfaces and hard-to-reach areas, eliminating the need for manual distance adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of spray parameters including distance based on detected surface characteristics. This autonomous operation eliminates the need for user intervention in distance control while maximizing surface coverage effectiveness, particularly for challenging geometries.
4Manufacturing precision
If high charge voltage is applied, then droplet distribution is improved, but energy consumption increases and risk of discharge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charge voltage is dynamically adjusted to match surface characteristics and disinfection requirements. The system applies higher voltages only when necessary for specific surface types and reduces voltage for others, optimizing droplet distribution while minimizing energy consumption and discharge risk compared to continuously operating at high voltage.
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 achieves superior disinfection results by providing a flexible and intelligent cleaning solution that is autonomous, ensuring maximum coverage and persistence of disinfection on surfaces, outperforming standard methods by optimizing droplet distribution and charge application.
Implementation Method 1
a charge dispenser capable of ionizing the disinfectant solution prior to the disinfectant solution reaching the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
electrostatic spray deposition... a potential difference is applied over disinfectant solution exiting a sprayer nozzle, so as to build electric charge near the surface of the nascent droplets
Implementation Method 3
electrostatic spray deposition has been a well-known method of coating and spraying... In electrostatic deposition technique, a potential difference is applied over disinfectant solution exiting a sprayer nozzle, so as to build electric charge near the surface of the nascent droplets
Data Source
AI summary
A disinfectant sprayer assembly, including a tank defining a volume, a disinfectant suspension contained within the volume, a nozzle having a size variable spray opening, a pump operationally connected to the volume and to the nozzle for pumping disinfectant from the volume through the spray opening to apply disinfecting to a predetermine surface having a predetermined set of physical characteristics for a period of time, an ion generator operationally connected to the volume for ionizing the disinfectant suspension, and a microprocessor operationally connected to the size variable spray opening. The ion generator voltage, spray opening size, and distance between the predetermined surface and the spray opening are predetermined based on the predetermined set of physical characteristics of the surface.