UV Return Vent Air Filter for HVAC Pathogen Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air filters in HVAC systems are ineffective in removing airborne viruses, mold spores, and other contaminants that can cause illness, leaving these pathogens to be recirculated in the air.
Innovation Solution
An ultraviolet (UV) air filter device is integrated into HVAC systems, featuring UV lights that emit UVA, UVB, and UVC light to provide antimicrobial filtration, powered by a micro-generator or battery, and optionally embedded in or attached to the filtration media, enhancing air purification by sterilizing bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional air filters are used in HVAC systems, then common household particles such as dust, dander, and pollen are removed effectively, but airborne viruses, mold spores, and other contaminants that can cause illness are not removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces UV-C lights as an intermediary component within the air filter device. These lights emit ultraviolet radiation that acts as a mediator to inactivate airborne pathogens (viruses and mold spores) that pass through the mechanical filtration media, thereby addressing the limitation of conventional filters without compromising their particle removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple filtration mechanisms into a single composite air filter device: mechanical filtration media (such as HEPA filters) for capturing particles, and UV-C light sources for sterilization. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously address both particle removal and pathogen inactivation, resolving the contradiction between filtering common particles and eliminating airborne viruses
2Object-affected harmful factors
If UV lights are added to the air filter device, then antimicrobial air filtration is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air filter device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical particle filtration through the filter media, UV-C sterilization of airborne pathogens, and optional indicator lighting to show filter status. By consolidating these functions into a single universal device installed at the return air vent, the patent avoids increasing overall system complexity while providing comprehensive air purification
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates LED lights that serve dual purposes: providing UV-C sterilization and acting as visual indicators of system status (such as filter replacement needs or operational state). This self-service approach allows the same component to perform multiple roles, reducing the need for additional separate indicators and thereby minimizing the increase in device 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 UV air filter effectively reduces airborne pathogens, including COVID-19 and other viruses, providing a cost-effective and simple solution for improving indoor air quality by sterilizing contaminants that standard filters miss, thereby enhancing respiratory health.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lights is provided in the filtration media itself and/or mounted to the support structure... The UV lights output at least one of UVA light, UVB light, UVC light... to provide antimicrobial air filtration
Data Source
AI summary
An ultraviolet (UV) air filter device for an HVAC system is disclosed. An example UV air filter device may include a body having a support structure and a filtration media. The example UV air filter device may also include a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lights provided in the filtration media itself and/or mounted to the support structure. The example UV air filter device may also include a power source to provide electrical energy to the plurality of UV lights. The example UV air filter device may also include a fan or fan device, fan prop or rotor blade to circulate air across the UV lights.