HVAC Duct Ozone Plate Control for Safe Scalable Sanitization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ozone systems for HVAC systems face challenges in retrofitting existing systems due to variability in enclosed airspace volumes and inability to maintain safe ozone levels, leading to high failure rates and ineffective pathogen control.

Innovation Solution

A scalable HVAC duct ozone generator system with two ozone generator plate stacks, each with independently addressable plate groupings, allowing for adjustable ozone production to maintain safe concentrations in occupied and unoccupied spaces, utilizing multiple control channels for redundancy and extended system life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional ozone systems are installed in HVAC ducts to reduce contamination, then pathogen control improves, but ozone concentration cannot be maintained at safe levels due to variability in enclosed airspace volumes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen control effectivenessVSAvoidadaptability to variable enclosed airspace volumes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamically adjustable ozone generation capacity through multiple independently controllable plate stacks. The number of active plates can be varied to match the specific volume of the enclosed airspace, allowing the system to adapt to different installation environments while maintaining safe ozone concentrations and effective pathogen control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The ozone generator is divided into multiple separate plate stacks, each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows the system to be configured with different numbers of active plates based on the specific enclosed airspace volume, providing adaptability across various installation scenarios while maintaining reliable pathogen control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If high ozone production is used to effectively sanitize HVAC ducts, then contaminant reduction improves, but ozone exposure risks to occupants increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant reduction effectivenessVSAvoidozone exposure risk to occupants

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dynamic control over ozone production levels through independent adjustment of plate stack operation. High ozone production can be activated when the HVAC system is off and occupants are absent, while low or zero production is used during occupied periods, thereby achieving effective contaminant reduction without exposing occupants to harmful ozone levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The ozone generation operates periodically rather than continuously, with high-level sanitization cycles executed during unoccupied periods and minimal or no operation during occupied periods. This periodic action pattern allows effective contaminant reduction while protecting occupants from harmful ozone exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple ozone generator plate stacks with independent control are used, then adaptability to different spaces improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different enclosed airspace volumesVSAvoidsystem control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into multiple independently controllable plate stacks, where each stack can be individually activated or deactivated. This modular segmentation provides adaptability to different enclosed airspace volumes while keeping control complexity manageable through simple on/off control of discrete units rather than continuous adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Effectively reduces contamination in HVAC ducts and living spaces by maintaining optimal ozone levels, reducing pathogen growth and improving air quality, while minimizing ozone exposure risks to occupants.

Implementation Method 1

at least two ozone generator plate stacks comprising a first ozone generator plate stack and a second ozone generator plate stack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOzone generation through electrical discharge: Electric Arc

Data Source

PatentUS12018859B2Scalable ozone generator systems and methods for retrofit of ducted HVAC systems

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 TENNESSEE INNOVATIVE PROD LLC

AI summary

An HVAC duct ozone generator includes at least two ozone generation plate stacks, where each plate stack includes at least two independently electrically addressable plate groupings, where a primary plate grouping includes fewer ozone generation plates than a secondary plate grouping. Thus, the generator includes at least four independent ozone generation control channels to energize the primary and secondary plate groupings of each of the at least two plate stacks. The number of plates in a plate grouping may optionally be altered to reduce the ozone generation capacity of the primary plate grouping in relation to the secondary plate grouping through the movement of insulators between the stacked ozone generation plates.