Screen-Shaped UV Sterilizer for Compact Air Conditioning Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultraviolet sterilizers have poor sterilizing efficiency per unit volume and require a larger size due to the need for multiple ultraviolet ray emitting diodes and a wide sterilizing chamber to achieve effective irradiance, leading to inefficiencies in compact space applications.
Innovation Solution
The ultraviolet sterilizer employs a sterilizing light screen forming unit that uses a screen-shaped configuration with ultraviolet ray emitting elements and reflectors to enhance irradiance within a compact space, ensuring efficient sterilization by reflecting ultraviolet rays multiple times across the area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple ultraviolet ray emitting diodes and a wide sterilizing chamber are used, then the sterilizing efficiency is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional wide chamber design to a compact design by utilizing multiple reflection surfaces that redirect ultraviolet rays through multiple paths. This dimensional approach to light propagation allows the sterilizing light to cover a larger effective volume within a physically smaller device, resolving the contradiction between sterilizing efficiency and device size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reflectors as intermediary elements between the ultraviolet ray emitting diodes and the air flow path. These reflectors mediate the delivery of ultraviolet radiation by redirecting it multiple times through the sterilizing chamber, enabling compact device dimensions while maintaining high sterilizing efficiency through enhanced light utilization
2Illumination intensity
If ultraviolet ray is reflected multiple times by emitting obliquely to reflectors, then the irradiance of ultraviolet ray is increased, but the sterilizing chamber width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs oblique emission of ultraviolet rays toward reflector surfaces at specific angles, creating multiple reflection paths that extend the irradiation coverage in three-dimensional space. This angular dimensionality allows high irradiance to be achieved within a narrower chamber width by utilizing the depth and height dimensions for light propagation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the emission angle of ultraviolet rays relative to the reflector surfaces, changing the angular parameter to achieve maximum reflection efficiency. By controlling the oblique angle of emission, the system increases ultraviolet ray irradiance through multiple reflections while maintaining a compact chamber width
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 configuration significantly increases the irradiance of ultraviolet rays within the sterilizer, achieving high sterilizing efficiency while maintaining a compact design, effectively deactivating airborne pathogens like influenza virus without increasing pressure loss or device size.
Implementation Method 1
ultraviolet ray having a wavelength of 200 nm to 360 nm not only takes a proliferating ability by acting on nucleic acid that is the protoplasm of bacteria to inhibit replication of DNA but also kills bacteria by destroying proteins
Implementation Method 2
ultraviolet ray having a wavelength of 200 nm to 360 nm not only takes a proliferating ability by acting on nucleic acid that is the protoplasm of bacteria to inhibit replication of DNA but also kills bacteria by destroying proteins
Implementation Method 3
reflectors are installed on wall surfaces inside a flow passage through which fluid flows, and ultraviolet ray is reflected multiple times by emitting ultraviolet ray obliquely to the reflectors
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus that conditions introduced air includes an ultraviolet sterilizer that emits ultraviolet ray to the air. The ultraviolet sterilizer includes a sterilizing light screen forming unit that forms a screen-shaped sterilizing light screen based on the emitted ultraviolet ray.