VHP Decontamination with Steam for Aircraft Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern aircraft materials are sensitive to high temperatures and humidities required for conventional vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) decontamination processes, leading to long decontamination times and compatibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A method combining Bio Thermal Decontamination (BTD) with VHP at lower temperatures and humidities, using steam and VHP to achieve rapid microbial inactivation, with target temperatures between 40°C and 60°C and humidity levels around 50-60% relative humidity, and VHP concentrations between 25-50 ppm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional VHP decontamination is used with high temperature and high humidity, then microbial inactivation is effective, but aircraft materials are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the VHP decontamination process by reducing temperature to 40-60°C and humidity to 50-60% RH, while increasing VHP concentration to 25-50 ppm. This parameter transformation maintains microbial inactivation effectiveness while eliminating thermal stress damage to aircraft composite materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite decontamination approach combining Bio Thermal Decontamination (BTD) with Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP). This composite method leverages the synergistic effects of moderate heat, humidity, and chemical sterilant to achieve effective microbial inactivation at lower temperatures than conventional VHP, protecting temperature-sensitive aircraft materials
2Object-affected harmful factors
If Bio Thermal Decontamination (BTD) is used with low temperature and high humidity, then aircraft materials are protected, but decontamination time is extremely long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges Bio Thermal Decontamination (BTD) with Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP) into a single integrated process. The combination of moderate heat, humidity, and chemical sterilant creates synergistic effects that dramatically accelerate microbial inactivation compared to BTD alone, reducing cycle time from days to hours while maintaining material compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters simultaneously: temperature (40-60°C), humidity (50-60% RH), and VHP concentration (25-50 ppm). This multi-parameter optimization enables rapid microbial inactivation within hours, transforming the BTD process from a days-long procedure to a practical operational solution
3Reliability
If conventional VHP process is used with high concentration, then decontamination is effective, but energy consumption is high and material compatibility is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the VHP process parameters to operate at moderate temperature (40-60°C) and humidity (50-60% RH) with VHP concentration of 25-50 ppm. This parameter transformation reduces energy consumption compared to conventional high-temperature VHP while maintaining effective microbial inactivation through the synergistic BTD-VHP combination
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 approach significantly reduces decontamination time to hours, ensures compatibility with aircraft materials, and simplifies the decontamination process with lower energy consumption and easier sterilant distribution, maintaining aircraft integrity.
Implementation Method 1
heating the region to a target temperature
Implementation Method 2
introducing steam into the region
Implementation Method 3
introducing a sterilant into the region until a sterilant concentration in the region reaches a target sterilant concentration
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A method for decontaminating an object disposed in a region. The method includes the steps of: heating the region to a target temperature; introducing steam into the region until a humidity level in the region reaches a target humidity level; introducing a vaporized sterilant into the region until a sterilant concentration in the region reaches a target sterilant concentration; and maintaining the target temperature, the target sterilant concentration and the target humidity level until a predetermine target dose is obtained.