Oxidant-Based Scent Control System for Pathogen and Odor Elimination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Unpleasant odors in environments, such as hotel rooms and rental cars, persist due to residual pathogens and contaminants, which existing air fresheners cannot fully eliminate, causing discomfort and indicating unsanitary conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising scent control material sources and a controller that dehumidifies the environment, outputs oxidants like ozone, and adjusts humidity to effectively eliminate pathogens and odors, using a combination of dehumidifiers, scent control material sources, and humidifiers to create a controlled environment for odor reduction and sanitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If air fresheners are used to mask unpleasant odors, then the odor perception is temporarily reduced, but the source of the odor (pathogens and contaminants) remains untreated and persists
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies oxidation chemistry to convert harmful odor-causing substances into beneficial or neutral products. Oxidants such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and chlorine dioxide chemically react with organic compounds responsible for unpleasant odors, transforming them into carbon dioxide, water, and other non-odorous substances. This eliminates the root cause rather than merely masking the symptom.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs strong oxidizing agents including ozone (O3), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and chlorine dioxide (ClO2) to rapidly decompose odor-causing organic matter. These oxidants generate highly reactive oxygen species that break down complex organic molecules into simpler, odorless compounds through accelerated oxidation reactions, providing effective and rapid odor elimination.
2Reliability
If multiple scent control material sources are deployed to improve odor elimination, then the treatment effectiveness increases, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a scent control device that can perform multiple functions: generating multiple types of oxidants (ozone, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide), controlling humidity levels, and eliminating various types of odors and pathogens. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into a single unified system, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive odor elimination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple scent control material sources distributed throughout the environment, each generating oxidants locally. This segmented approach ensures comprehensive coverage of large or complex spaces by placing oxidation sources in multiple locations, allowing the odor elimination function to be achieved through distributed rather than centralized means, thereby improving effectiveness without requiring excessive complexity in any single component.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If oxidants are continuously output to maintain low odor levels, then the odor control effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption and potential harm to occupants increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or cyclic operation of oxidant generation and humidity control functions. The system alternates between phases of oxidant release for odor elimination and phases of humidity adjustment for oxidant decomposition. This periodic action allows the environment to be treated effectively during oxidation phases while providing recovery periods during which oxidant levels naturally decrease and humidity increases to break down residual oxidants, thereby protecting occupants from continuous exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses humidity as an intermediary substance to mediate between oxidant generation and occupant safety. By controlling humidity levels, the system promotes the decomposition of residual oxidants through reaction with water molecules. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to achieve effective odor elimination through oxidation while simultaneously managing oxidant concentrations to safe levels through humidity-controlled decomposition, thereby protecting occupants from harmful exposure.
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 efficiently reduces or eliminates unpleasant odors and pathogens, improving environmental desirability by sanitizing and deodorizing spaces, ensuring occupant comfort and safety.
Implementation Method 1
dehumidifying, using a dehumidifier, the environment to a predetermined relative humidity level
Implementation Method 2
outputs oxidants like ozone
Implementation Method 3
outputs oxidants like ozone
Implementation Method 4
humidifiers to create a controlled environment for odor reduction and sanitation
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to treat an environment. The system includes a plurality of scent control material sources configured to output a scent control material (e.g., an oxidant) into the environment to reduce pathogens, dispose of scent molecules and their sources, and otherwise treat the environment. The system can include a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of scent control material sources and cause one or more subsets of the plurality of scent control material sources to individually or collectively output scent control material into the environment.