UV-C Microbicidal Air Filter for PPE and Ventilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional filters used for microbial pathogen protection become saturated and require cleaning or disposal, leading to pollution and maintenance issues, and existing personal protective equipment (PPE) filters are expendable and contribute to environmental contamination.

Innovation Solution

An electronic microbicidal air filter utilizing shortwave Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light for pathogen and chemical destruction, integrated with scalable structures for various applications, including air conditioning and PPE masks, which eliminates the need for maintenance and residue generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional filters are used to neutralize microbial pathogens, then pathogen protection is achieved, but the filters become saturated and require cleaning or disposal, causing pollution and maintenance issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen protectionVSAvoidpollution from saturated filters

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical filtration system (physical barriers that trap particles) with a photochemical system (UV-C irradiation that inactivates pathogens). This substitution eliminates the need for filter media that becomes saturated, as UV-C light continuously inactivates pathogens without being consumed or degraded by the filtering process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of pathogen neutralization from physical trapping (mechanical filtration) to chemical inactivation (photochemical decomposition). By using UV-C radiation at specific wavelengths (200-280nm), the system alters the chemical structure of microbial DNA/RNA, rendering pathogens inactive without requiring material that can become saturated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If expendable filters are used for personal protective equipment, then pathogen protection is achieved, but environmental contamination increases due to disposal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen protectionVSAvoidenvironmental contamination from discarded filters

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces disposable mechanical filters with a reusable photochemical system. UV-C irradiation devices can be repeatedly used without degradation, eliminating the need for continuous disposal of filter materials and reducing environmental contamination from discarded protective equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The UV-C system provides continuous self-regenerating pathogen inactivation. The light source repeatedly inactivates pathogens without being consumed, unlike disposable filters that lose effectiveness and must be replaced. This self-service capability eliminates the loss of substance associated with disposing of expendable filters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If filters require cleaning or replacement, then pathogen protection is maintained, but maintenance expenses and operational downtime increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen protectionVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces maintenance-requiring mechanical filters with a maintenance-free photochemical system. UV-C lamps have long operational lifetimes and do not become saturated like mechanical filters, eliminating cleaning and replacement operations and the associated downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The UV-C irradiation system provides continuous pathogen inactivation without interruption for maintenance. Unlike mechanical filters that require periodic cleaning or replacement, the photochemical system maintains continuous effectiveness throughout the lamp's operational life, ensuring uninterrupted protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful 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

The UV-C filter effectively sterilizes air without producing residues, providing long-lasting protection with a 50,000-hour lifespan and enabling recycling, while reducing environmental and economic impacts associated with filter disposal.

Implementation Method 1

works by applying UV-C light (shortwave) for sterilization of air that passes through it, destroying in this way the harmful substance without producing residues

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUV-C light irradiation: Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS11801467B2Electronic microbicidal air filter

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 SANCHEZ GIL JUAN ENRIQUE

AI summary

An electronic microbicidal air filter is provided as an ambient air filter in aeration supports or ventilation grids and as an air filter for PPE protection masks. The filter includes an UVC luminaire (2), a power module (3), activation sensors (4), internal structure (5) with walls defining filtering chambers (6) with exposure membranes (7) sandwiched between the chambers (6) under the luminaire (2), so that the chambers (6) determine a winding zigzag path for the air that passes therethrough, while the particles carried by the air are irradiated by the luminaire (2) directly. The functional elements in the internal structure (5) of chambers (6) are integrated in an encapsulation (9) that surrounds the external part of the assembly and defines a sealed space for the functional and support elements at the ends of the structure (5).