In-Zone Plume Control System to Reduce Airborne Pathogen Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building HVAC systems struggle to effectively mitigate the risk of infectious disease transmission among occupants due to the close proximity of individuals, as central air filtration systems may not adequately address the localized spread of airborne pathogens.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an in-zone plume control system within building zones, which includes return air inlets, exhaust outlets, filters, and fans to capture and filter air plumes generated by occupants, preventing the spread of infectious diseases by drawing in and disinfecting exhaled air before returning it to the zone, and can be integrated into furniture or installed in ceilings, floors, or walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central air filtration system is used, then air filtering is provided for the building, but localized air plumes from occupants in close proximity can still transmit infectious diseases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the building air treatment into two levels: central air handling for general building air and localized in-zone plume control units for specific occupant areas. This segmentation allows the central system to handle bulk air filtration while the distributed plume control systems address localized infectious particle removal, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive protection and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by placing dedicated plume control systems in specific zones where occupants are in close proximity. These localized units provide targeted filtration and plume redirection specifically where infection risk is highest, rather than relying solely on uniform central air distribution, thereby improving infection prevention in critical areas.
2Productivity
If occupants are positioned in close proximity for space efficiency, then building space utilization is improved, but the risk of airborne pathogen transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful effect of close occupant proximity into a benefit by using the natural plume rise and movement patterns to guide infectious particle-laden air toward localized return air inlets. The plume control systems position inlets to capture rising plumes and redirect them through filtration, transforming the unavoidable close-proximity condition into an opportunity for targeted particle capture and removal.
3Use of energy by moving object
If central air systems recirculate air throughout the building, then energy efficiency is improved, but exhaled air from one occupant may be drawn across another occupant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the plume management function from the central air system by implementing separate, localized plume control units in zones with close occupant proximity. These units independently capture and filter plumes at their source before they can be redistributed by the central system, removing the harmful cross-contamination pathway while allowing the central system to continue its energy-efficient recirculation function.
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of infectious disease transmission by actively filtering and redirecting air plumes, providing localized disinfection and reducing the likelihood of airborne pathogen spread among occupants, while being separate from central air systems and adaptable to various building layouts.
Implementation Method 1
a fan configured to draw the one or more air plumes in through the one or more return air inlets, through the filter, and out through the one or more exhaust outlets
Implementation Method 2
the filter is configured to filter or disinfect the one or more air plumes to remove or deactivate particles from the one or more air plumes
Implementation Method 3
the filter is configured to filter or disinfect the one or more air plumes to remove or deactivate particles
Data Source
AI summary
A building system of a building includes an in-zone plume control system located within a zone of the building, the in-zone plume control system including one or more return air inlets comprising openings to receive one or more air plumes generated by one or more users. The in-zone plume control system includes one or more exhaust outlets configured to exhaust the one or more air plumes, a filter, and a fan configured to draw the one or more air plumes in through the one or more return air inlets, through the filter, and out through the one or more exhaust outlets back into the zone, wherein the filter is configured to filter the one or more air plumes to remove particles from the one or more air plumes before returning the one or more air plumes to the zone.