Pulsed Electrode Air Sterilization Without Electrical Breakdown

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air disinfection methods are inefficient in reducing airborne pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, as they either require high energy, produce ozone, or struggle to apply sufficient electric fields to deactivate viruses in aerosol droplets without causing air breakdown.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing high-voltage pulses with a set of electrodes arranged in a specified geometry and a switch to establish a pulsed electric field, allowing for low-energy operation and effective deactivation of pathogens by shedding water surrounding the virus, enabling the application of intense electric fields without air breakdown.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high voltage pulses are applied to deactivate pathogens in airborne droplets, then pathogen deactivation effectiveness is improved, but air breakdown occurs preventing sufficient electric field application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen deactivation effectivenessVSAvoidair breakdown

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic pulsed electric fields rather than continuous fields. The pulses are timed to occur during specific phases of the AC cycle when the air is less prone to breakdown, allowing sufficient voltage to be applied to deactivate pathogens without causing air ionization. This periodic application enables the system to achieve the necessary electric field strength for pathogen deactivation while avoiding the harmful effect of air breakdown.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If conventional air disinfection methods are used to reduce airborne pathogens, then pathogen reduction is achieved, but energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen reduction effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic pulsed electric fields applied during specific phases of the AC cycle, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption compared to continuous high-voltage application or conventional disinfection methods. The pulsed nature allows pathogen deactivation while minimizing power requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temporal parameters of electric field application by using short-duration pulses at specific frequencies rather than continuous fields. This parameter change enables effective pathogen deactivation with significantly reduced energy consumption, as the high voltage is applied only during brief intervals when needed for deactivation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If continuous electric fields are applied to deactivate pathogens, then deactivation effectiveness is improved, but power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeactivation effectivenessVSAvoidpower requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces continuous electric field application with periodic pulses synchronized to the AC cycle. This periodic action maintains deactivation effectiveness by applying high voltage only during necessary intervals, thereby dramatically reducing the average power requirements while achieving the same pathogen deactivation goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Achieves a high-confidence reduction of infectious units by a factor of 10^4 with minimal energy consumption and reduced ozone production, making it suitable for integration with existing building air handling systems and personal devices.

Implementation Method 1

The switch is configured to operate to establish a pulsed electric field on the set of electrodes. When the switch is in a closed position, the energy storage is configured to supply the electric charges to the set of electrodes such that the electric field applied on the set of electrodes is higher than a threshold.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulsed electric field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

the set of electrodes is configured to return the electric charges to the energy storage according to the fixed characteristic impedance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCharacteristic impedance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentUS11913675B2Disinfection system with high throughput and low power requirements

Publication Date: 2024.02.27 LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NAT SECURITY LLC

AI summary

Devices, methods and techniques are disclosed to perform high confidence sterilization of indoor air with low power requirements. In one example aspect, a sterilization device includes a power source, an energy storage coupled to the power source and configured to store electric charges, a set of electrodes arranged in a specified geometry to have a fixed characteristic impedance, and a switch positioned between the energy storage and the set of electrodes. The switch is configured to operate to establish a pulsed electric field on the set of electrodes.