UV-Enabled Air Filter Encapsulation System for Pathogen Deactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The recent outbreaks of severe airborne viral infectious diseases, such as SARS COV-2, pose a significant challenge in preventing the spread of pathogens through air circulation systems, as existing methods lack effective means to eliminate airborne pathogens before they enter or recirculate within these systems.
Innovation Solution
An air filter encapsulation system with uniquely designed ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED) arrays and a power module that provides controlled UVC light irradiation to deactivate pathogens on the surface of conventional filters and in air intake and outlet areas, ensuring maximum exposure and preventing shadowing effects, while also integrating sensors for air quality monitoring and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional air filters are used without UV sterilization, then the system structure remains simple and cost-effective, but airborne pathogens cannot be effectively eliminated before entering or recirculating through the air circulation system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conventional air filtration with UV-C LED sterilization into a single integrated system. The UV-C LEDs are positioned to illuminate the filter media and surrounding air, creating a dual-function device that both captures particles and deactivates pathogens, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The air circulation system is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical filtration of particles and UV-C sterilization of airborne pathogens. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to address both filtration and disinfection needs, improving pathogen elimination effectiveness while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
2Reliability
If UV-C LED arrays are added to the air filter system, then pathogen deactivation capability is improved, but energy consumption and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-C LED arrays can be operated periodically rather than continuously, activating during high-risk periods or when pathogen presence is detected by sensors. This periodic operation maintains pathogen deactivation capability while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that monitor air quality and pathogen presence, providing feedback that controls UV-C LED activation. When pathogens are detected or air quality deteriorates, the UV-C LEDs activate to deactivate pathogens; when air quality is good, the LEDs remain inactive, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If UV-C LEDs are positioned to maximize pathogen exposure, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but shadowing effects and uneven illumination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-C illumination system is divided into multiple segmented LED arrays positioned at different locations and angles around the filter media. This segmentation ensures that UV light is distributed uniformly across all surfaces, eliminating shadowing effects while maintaining high sterilization effectiveness through cumulative exposure from multiple directions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different UV-C LED arrays are positioned to target specific local areas of the filter media and air flow paths. Each LED array is optimized for its specific location, with adjustable angles and intensities to ensure uniform illumination across the entire system, thereby achieving both high sterilization effectiveness and uniform light distribution.
4Loss of information
If air quality sensors and control systems are integrated, then user awareness and system control are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Air quality sensors continuously monitor the environment and provide feedback to the control system. When pathogens or poor air quality are detected, the system automatically activates UV-C LEDs and adjusts fan operation. This feedback mechanism improves air quality monitoring capability while keeping control system complexity manageable through automated responses rather than complex user interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-control through integrated sensors and automated control logic. The sensors detect air quality conditions and automatically trigger appropriate responses (UV-C activation, fan speed adjustment) without requiring complex user intervention or external control systems, thereby improving monitoring capability while minimizing added complexity.
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 effectively eliminates pathogens like bacteria, mold, mildew, and viruses, including SARS CoV-2, by providing a novel frame design that encapsulates any size air filter, utilizing UVC light radiation in intake and return air ducts, and maintaining user awareness of air quality and system effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
uniquely designed ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED) arrays
Implementation Method 2
provides controlled UVC light irradiation to deactivate pathogens
Data Source
AI summary
A general-purpose air sterilizing system destroys activation of air-borne pathogens, designed with different embodiments. The methods used to build the apparatus allows destroying airborne pathogens like bacteria, mold, mildew, allergens and deactivates viruses such as SARS CoV-2. The apparatus supports air circulation system that contains filter which comprising array of Ultraviolet (UV) Light Emitting Diode (LEDs) of 262-nm wavelength, AKA UVC, are used.