Modular Air Treatment Unit with UV-C Sanitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air quality systems fail to effectively filter and sanitize air from pathogens and carcinogens, particularly in mass transit and specialty vehicles, where contamination can spread diseases and pose health risks to occupants.
Innovation Solution
A modular air treatment unit that can be retrofitted as an aftermarket solution, independent of the climate control system, utilizing a housing with a fan, air filters, and UV-C ultraviolet light sources to sanitize air within the passenger compartment, with reflective aluminum housing and light barriers to contain the ultraviolet light and power it using 12-volt DC from vehicle batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If air is filtered and sanitized using UV-C light in the climate control system, then air quality is improved, but the system complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air treatment function is segmented from the climate control system into a separate modular air treatment unit. This unit includes its own housing, fan, filter, and UV-C light source, allowing it to operate independently while still treating air in the passenger compartment. The segmentation enables easier installation and maintenance without affecting the entire climate control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The air sanitization functionality is extracted from the climate control system and placed in a standalone unit. This extraction allows the air treatment components (UV-C lights, filters, fan) to be independently controlled and maintained, reducing the complexity of the integrated system while achieving the same air quality improvement goals.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a circuitous passageway is used to extend air travel distance, then UV-C light interaction time is increased, but housing volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The passageway uses a circuitous, serpentine path that extends the travel distance of air through the housing without requiring a proportional increase in housing volume. By utilizing three-dimensional space efficiently with multiple turns and layers, the design maximizes the interaction path length within a compact footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuitous passageway employs curved and serpentine paths rather than straight lines, allowing the air to travel a longer distance through the housing while maintaining a compact overall shape. The curved paths enable the air stream to follow an extended trajectory that increases UV-C light exposure time without requiring a larger housing volume.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If reflective housing material is used to increase UV light interaction, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing material is selected or treated to have high reflectivity properties for UV-C light. This parameter change in the material properties allows the housing to act as a passive reflector, increasing the effective UV-C light exposure of air passing through without requiring additional active lighting components or complex optical systems.
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 filters and sanitizes air by increasing the interaction time of air with germicidal UV-C light, reducing the risk of pathogens and carcinogens while being safe for vehicle occupants and easy to integrate with minimal impact on vehicle efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The ultraviolet light source is configured to discharge germicidal, UV-C ultraviolet light inside the housing to eliminate pathogens in the housing
Implementation Method 2
the exemplary housing is made from an aluminum or other suitable material with reflectivity that reflects the germicidal ultraviolet light to increase interaction with air in the housing
Implementation Method 3
a fan configured to move air through the filter and housing
Data Source
AI summary
A modular air treatment unit for an over the road vehicle is independent of an associated climate control system. The air treatment unit is configured to filter and sanitize air within the passenger compartment as air moves along a flow path separate from a flow path through the climate control system. The modular air treatment unit includes a housing defining a circuitous passageway, an air filter mounted to the housing, a fan configured to move air along passageway, and an ultraviolet light source arranged in the housing. The ultraviolet light source is configured to discharge germicidal ultraviolet light inside the housing to eliminate pathogens in the housing.