Far UV-C Disinfection Controller for Building Infection Risk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building disinfection systems often fail to maintain effective disinfection in occupied areas due to safety concerns related to UV exposure and high costs, leaving these spaces at elevated infection risk.

Innovation Solution

A controller system that monitors building conditions and selectively activates/deactivates Far UV-C disinfection devices based on energy budgets, operating costs, and emissions targets, ensuring effective disinfection while minimizing expenses and ensuring occupant safety by using Far UV-C light sources emitting between 200 nm and 230 nm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional UV disinfection devices are used in occupied areas, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but occupant safety deteriorates due to UV exposure risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection effectivenessVSAvoidoccupant safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the wavelength parameter of UV light from traditional UV-C (200-280 nm) to Far UV-C (200-230 nm), which has different biological effects. This parameter change allows disinfection of occupied spaces without the harmful effects of conventional UV-C, as the Far UV-C spectrum is less harmful to human skin and eyes while maintaining pathogen inactivation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable or replaceable light sources that can be easily replaced when depleted. The Far UV-C light sources are designed to be consumable components that maintain safety and effectiveness throughout their operational life, then can be replaced without significant cost or disruption, ensuring continuous safe disinfection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If disinfection devices operate continuously to maintain effective disinfection, then infection risk mitigation is improved, but operational cost deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection risk mitigationVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic or intermittent operation of the Far UV-C disinfection devices rather than continuous operation. The system can activate devices during high-risk periods (such as occupancy detection, adverse weather conditions, or known pathogen presence) and deactivate during low-risk periods, maintaining infection mitigation effectiveness while significantly reducing operational costs and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor environmental conditions, occupancy levels, and pathogen presence to dynamically adjust device operation. Sensors detect conditions such as temperature, humidity, occupancy detection, and weather patterns, providing feedback to the control system to optimize when disinfection devices should operate, ensuring cost-effective operation aligned with actual infection risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Area of stationary object

If Far UV-C disinfection devices are activated in occupied spaces, then disinfection coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection coverageVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing disinfection coverage only where and when needed rather than uniform continuous coverage throughout the entire building. The system activates Far UV-C devices in specific zones based on occupancy detection, risk assessment, and environmental conditions, optimizing energy consumption by limiting operation to areas with actual infection risk rather than maintaining constant coverage everywhere

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 maintains disinfection levels in occupied areas, reducing infection risk and costs by optimizing the use of Far UV-C disinfection devices, ensuring safety and efficiency through controlled activation and deactivation based on real-time conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the Far UV-C disinfection device comprises at least one Far UV-C light source structured to output disinfecting light at a wavelength between 200 nm and 230 nm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFar UV-C radiation: Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS20240207468A1Systems and methods to mitigate infection risk using far UV-c

Publication Date: 2024.06.27 TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH

AI summary

A disinfection device system of a building comprising: a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, are configured to cause the at least one processor to: monitor one or more conditions of a space in the building; and selectively activate and deactivate at least one Far UV-C disinfection device installed in the space using the conditions of the space and one or more of an energy budget, a target total operating cost, or a net emissions target, wherein the Far UV-C disinfection device comprises at least one Far UV-C light source structured to output disinfecting light at a wavelength between 200 nm and 230 nm.