Reflective UV Shield Cells for HVAC Coil Irradiation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC units face issues with UV light degrading components and posing a hazard due to its exposure to microorganisms and human tissue, as it can condense water leading to a favorable environment for microorganisms and damage UV-sensitive components, and human exposure.
Innovation Solution
A light shield with a network of open-ended cells having UV light reflective walls is placed between the heat exchanger or drain pan and the light source in HVAC units to direct UV light towards these areas while minimizing exposure to access openings and UV-sensitive components, using materials with a reflection coefficient of 0.5 or greater, such as aluminum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV light is used to kill microorganisms on heat exchangers and drain pans, then microbial degradation is improved, but UV-sensitive components are damaged and operable lifetime is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
A light shield made of UV-transparent material is positioned between the UV light source and UV-sensitive components. This intermediary allows UV light to pass through to kill microorganisms on heat exchangers and drain pans while simultaneously blocking UV light from reaching and damaging UV-sensitive components, thus resolving the contradiction between microbial degradation effectiveness and component lifetime
Solution Approach 2:
The light shield creates different UV light transmission properties in different spatial zones: UV-transparent in the direction of heat exchangers and drain pans for effective microbial degradation, and UV-opaque in the direction of UV-sensitive components to protect them. This local differentiation of UV transmission quality resolves the contradiction by allowing UV light to have different effects in different locations
2Reliability
If UV light is used to degrade microorganisms, then air quality is improved, but human tissue is damaged presenting safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The light shield acts as a protective intermediary that blocks UV light from reaching access openings and surrounding areas where humans may be present, while still allowing UV light to reach heat exchangers and drain pans for microbial degradation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining air quality improvement while eliminating human exposure hazards
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a light shield is added to protect UV-sensitive components, then component degradation is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light shield serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects UV-sensitive components from UV damage, directs UV light to heat exchangers and drain pans for microbial degradation, and blocks UV light from reaching access openings to prevent human exposure. By combining multiple protective and functional roles into a single component, the invention reduces overall device complexity while achieving comprehensive protection
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 directs UV light to the heat exchanger or drain pan for microbial degradation while minimizing UV light exposure to access openings and sensitive components, reducing potential harm and component degradation.
Implementation Method 1
The light shield includes a network of open-ended cells, each cell having ultraviolet light reflective walls
Data Source
AI summary
A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. The unit comprises a heat exchanger or drain pan located inside a HVAC housing that has one or more access openings and ultraviolet light-sensitive components therein. The unit also comprises a light located inside of the HVAC housing and a light shield located between the heat exchanger or drain pan and the light source. The light source includes a network of open-ended cells, each cell having ultraviolet light reflective walls. The light shield is oriented to direct an ultraviolet light from the light source through the open-ended cells towards the heat exchanger or drain pan and away from the one or more access openings and ultraviolet light-sensitive components.