Far UV-C Air Treatment for Surface Disinfection and Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for treating containers and surfaces fail to effectively disinfect and dry them while avoiding the use of harmful chemicals and ensuring safety for personnel.
Innovation Solution
An air delivery system combined with a Far ultraviolet (UV) light source and/or a gaseous hydrogen peroxide generator is used to treat ambient air, which is then applied to surfaces to disinfect and dry them concurrently, utilizing Far UV light to degrade contaminants and hydrogen peroxide to enhance disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional chemical disinfectants are used, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but health risks and residue issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical disinfectants with a physical system combining Far UV-C light (207-222 nm) and air flow. The UV-C light inactivates microorganisms through photodamage to DNA/RNA, while air flow removes debris and enhances disinfection by delivering oxygen for hydrogen peroxide generation. This mechanical/physical substitution eliminates chemical residues and health risks associated with traditional chemical disinfectants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes specific wavelength parameters of UV light (207-222 nm Far UV-C range) that provide optimal disinfection effectiveness while ensuring safety by not penetrating skin or eyes. This precise parameter selection resolves the contradiction by maintaining high disinfection efficacy while eliminating the harmful effects of broader-spectrum UV or chemical agents.
2Reliability
If traditional UV light is used for disinfection, then disinfection capability is improved, but safety for personnel deteriorates due to skin and eye penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs Far UV-C light with wavelengths of 207-222 nm, which has been specifically selected to provide effective microbial inactivation while being absorbed by the outer dead layer of human skin and the cornea of the eye, preventing penetration to living tissues. This parameter change from traditional UV-C (254 nm) resolves the safety issue while maintaining disinfection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful property of UV light penetration into a beneficial safety feature by selecting wavelengths that are absorbed by the outer non-living layers of skin and eye, effectively using the absorption characteristic to protect living tissues while still achieving microbial inactivation.
3Productivity
If air delivery systems are used for drying, then drying efficiency is improved, but disinfection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air delivery system with Far UV-C light sources and hydrogen peroxide generation capabilities into an integrated treatment system. The air flow performs drying and debris removal functions while simultaneously delivering UV-C radiation for disinfection and carrying hydrogen peroxide vapor for enhanced microbial inactivation. This merging resolves the contradiction by making the drying system also perform disinfection functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The air delivery system is designed to perform multiple functions: drying surfaces, removing debris, delivering UV-C radiation for disinfection, and transporting hydrogen peroxide vapor. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by transforming a single-function drying system into a comprehensive treatment system that achieves both drying efficiency and disinfection capability.
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 disinfects and dries surfaces without the need for chemical disinfectants, ensuring safety by using Far UV light that does not penetrate skin or eyes, thus minimizing health risks and residue issues.
Implementation Method 1
a Far ultraviolet (UV) light source to degrade one or more contaminants on a surface of the object
Implementation Method 2
a gaseous hydrogen peroxide generator... utilizing Far UV light to degrade contaminants and hydrogen peroxide to enhance disinfection
Implementation Method 3
an air delivery system... configured to... apply the treated air to dry and blow debris from the surface of the object
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for treating an object, in particular, for disinfecting and/or drying objects and/or surfaces are provided. One or more of an air delivery system, an electromagnetic emitter (e.g., a Far ultraviolet (UV) light source), and/or an air treatment device (e.g., a gaseous hydrogen-peroxide generator) may be used to condition ambient air to treat a surface or container for use (e.g., prior to filling the container, applying a surfactant, etc.). An ionizer may be employed with one or more of the emitter or air treatment device to additionally remove static from air within or provided to a treatment area.