Hydrogen Peroxide Decontamination Control via Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing decontamination methods using hydrogen peroxide vapor face challenges in accurately monitoring and maintaining desired condensation conditions, leading to potential errors in dry and wet type decontaminations due to temperature and humidity changes, and difficulties in preventing unintended condensation or non-condensation within the decontamination target room.

Innovation Solution

A decontamination management method that uses vapor-liquid equilibrium equations to determine whether hydrogen peroxide vapor condensation will occur based on indoor temperature and humidity, allowing for precise adjustment of conditions to avoid errors, and incorporates a computation model to account for water vapor generation from hydrogen peroxide solutions and self-decomposition, ensuring accurate determination of condensation status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If dry type decontamination is used to avoid adverse effects on indoor substances, then harm to indoor substances is reduced, but decontamination effect is lowered and decontamination period is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadverse effect on indoor substanceVSAvoiddecontamination effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention dynamically adjusts the hydrogen peroxide vapor concentration based on real-time condensation monitoring. By changing the concentration parameter in response to detected condensation conditions, the system maintains the optimal balance between avoiding adverse effects on indoor substances and achieving effective decontamination, resolving the contradiction between harm reduction and decontamination effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements a feedback control mechanism where condensation sensors continuously monitor indoor conditions and the control unit adjusts hydrogen peroxide vapor supply accordingly. This closed-loop feedback allows the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions, maintaining both low harm to indoor substances and high decontamination effect throughout the process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If wet type decontamination is used to achieve high decontamination effect in shorter period, then decontamination effect is improved and period is shortened, but condensate may cause chemical or physical alternation to indoor substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecontamination effectVSAvoidchemical or physical alternation to indoor substance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from static decontamination methods to a dynamic control system that continuously adjusts hydrogen peroxide vapor concentration based on real-time condensation monitoring. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve wet-type decontamination effectiveness when conditions permit while automatically switching to safer dry-type operation when condensation risks are detected, thus resolving the contradiction between decontamination efficiency and safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the operational parameters (concentration, supply rate) based on detected condensation conditions. When condensation is detected, the system reduces or stops vapor supply to prevent harmful condensate formation, while maintaining high decontamination effectiveness during safe operating windows

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If condensation sensor monitoring is used to control hydrogen peroxide vapor supply, then condensation control is improved, but monitoring accuracy is insufficient and monitoring errors occur due to local condensation points being overlooked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondensation controlVSAvoidmonitoring accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the decontamination target space into multiple monitoring zones by deploying condensation sensors at different locations. This segmentation allows the system to detect local condensation points that would otherwise be overlooked, significantly improving monitoring accuracy while maintaining ease of operation through automated multi-point detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If fixed concentration specification is used for decontamination, then decontamination process is simplified, but adaptability to temperature and humidity condition changes is poor leading to inadvertent condensation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecontamination process complexityVSAvoidadaptability to condition changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces fixed concentration specifications with a dynamic control system that continuously adjusts hydrogen peroxide vapor concentration based on real-time temperature and humidity monitoring. This dynamic adaptation to changing environmental conditions prevents inadvertent condensation while maintaining process simplicity through automated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control where temperature and humidity sensors continuously monitor environmental conditions, and the control unit adjusts hydrogen peroxide vapor supply in response. This feedback mechanism provides automatic adaptability to condition changes without increasing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This method enables reliable and stable decontamination by accurately determining condensation conditions, preventing inadvertent condensation or non-condensation, thus ensuring effective decontamination in both dry and wet types, with enhanced accuracy through continuous monitoring and adjustment.

Implementation Method 1

a wet type decontamination (wet method) in which hydrogen peroxide vapor supplied to a decontamination target room is caused to be condensed inside the room

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

incorporates a computation model to account for water vapor generation from hydrogen peroxide solutions and self-decomposition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-decomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP2578239B1Method for controlling decontamination and decontamination controller for use in the method for controlling decontamination
Publication Date: 2017.09.06 TAIKISHA LTD
  • EP2578239B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2578239B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2578239B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

It is determined that indoor condensation of hydrogen peroxide vapor is to occur, if there is a solution with which both (Equation 1): PT • y1 = P01 • x1 • γ1 and (Equation 2): PT • y2 = P02 • x2 • γ2, which indicate vapor-liquid equilibrium, hold. With this, it is possible to accurately determine whether indoor condensation of hydrogen peroxide vapor is to occur or not in decontamination.