WO2021260537A1

WO2021260537A1 - Room sanitizing device, particularly for air sanitization

Info

Publication number: WO2021260537A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/055483
Authority: WO
Inventors: Enrico BORGHETTI; Michele CHINI; Gian Marco GRASSI ODETTI; Michele Manica
Original assignee: Aersafe Srl
Current assignee: Aersafe Srl
Priority date: 2020-06-24
Filing date: 2021-06-22
Publication date: 2021-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-24
Also published as: IT202000015241A1

Abstract

The room sanitizing device (1), particularly for air sanitization, comprising at least one treatment compartment (14) provided with: at least one inlet opening (2) of an air flow to be sanitized (3) comprising pollutants and/or pathogens; at least one outlet opening (4) of the sanitized air flow (5); purification means (6, 7, 15) of the air flow to be sanitized (3) positioned between the inlet opening (2) and the outlet opening (4); washing means (10) of the treatment compartment (14) comprising at least one biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid (F) adapted to allow solubilization and/or dispersion of the pollutants and/or pathogens.

Description

ROOM SANITIZING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR AIR SANITIZATION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a room sanitizing device, particularly for air sanitization.

Background Art

With particular reference to the sanitizing devices built in ventilation and/or air conditioning systems, or used independently from them, it is well known that air purification is an essential aspect within the sanitary management of epidemics and pandemics.

It is known, in fact, that among the different ways of bacteriological or viral contagion there is also direct contact with respiratory secretions of infected subjects.

Consequently, in closed environments shared by several people, it is essential to have air sanitizing devices to minimize the risk of spreading infections.

The sanitizing devices of known type comprise a treatment compartment provided with an inlet opening through which the air flow to be sanitized enters and an outlet opening for the sanitized air flow.

In addition, such devices are provided with purification means of the type of textile membrane elements configured to be crossed by the air flow to be sanitized and adapted to trap pollutants and/or pathogens present in the air flow. These devices do however have some drawbacks including the fact that the aforementioned filtration means do not ensure the retention of viral pathogens.

In addition, the membrane elements, once saturated, need to be replaced, thus significantly increasing the maintenance costs of the device.

Alternatively, cyclone-type purification devices are known wherein the air flow to be sanitized is treated by applying the principle of centrifugal force thereto. However, even this type of device is not without its drawbacks.

In fact, this type of device is efficient when dealing with pollutant particles larger than 10 pm, while being unsuitable for the retention of bacterial and/or viral pollutants. F/BA

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An additional drawback of known sanitizing devices consists in the fact that it is necessary to periodically subject the treatment compartment and the purification means contained therein to sanitization treatments.

This is due to the fact that the prolonged use of these devices causes the accumulation of pollutants and/or pathogens, retained by the purification means, inside the treatment compartment, thus increasing the risk of their spread in the surrounding environment and the formation of colonies inside the treatment compartment itself.

Description of the Invention The main aim of the present invention is to devise a room sanitizing device, particularly for air sanitization, which allows ensuring both the sanitization of the air itself and of the device by eliminating the presence of bacterial and/or viral pollutants from the latter.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a room sanitizing device, particularly for air sanitization, which allows significantly reducing the maintenance costs of the device itself by allowing restoration of the filtration means and avoiding shutdown of the device itself.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a room sanitizing device, particularly for air sanitization, which allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present room sanitizing device, particularly for air sanitization, having the characteristics of claim 1. Additionally, the aforementioned objects are achieved by the use of a biocidal mixture for sanitizing a room sanitizing device, particularly for air sanitization, having the characteristics of claim 16.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a room sanitizing device, particularly for air sanitization, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings F/BA

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3 wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the sanitizing device according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the sanitizing device according to the invention in an alternative embodiment; Figure 3 is a side view of the sanitizing device according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view from above of the sanitizing device in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of the sanitizing device according to the invention in an alternative embodiment;

Figure 6 is a side view of the sanitizing device according to the invention in a further embodiment;

Figure 7 is a plan view from above of the sanitizing device in Figure 6.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a room sanitizing device, particularly for air sanitization.

Fmbodiments of the Invention With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a room sanitizing device.

In detail, in the context of the present disclosure, the expression “sanitizing device” relates to a device adapted to allow air purification and usable in an integrated manner with ventilation and air conditioning systems or in an independent and separate form from these to purify the ambient air, i.e. that does not require integration with an aeration or air conditioning system.

The sanitizing device 1 comprises a treatment compartment 14 provided with an inlet opening 2 of an air flow to be sanitized 3 comprising pollutants and/or pathogens and with an outlet opening 4 of the sanitized air flow 5. It should be noted that in the present disclosure the expression “pollutants and/or pathogens” relates to substances which, directly or indirectly, produce pollution, thus representing a danger to human health or the environment. In detail, this expression also relates to bacterial, viral and fungal agents. Furthermore, the device 1 comprises purification means 6, 7, 15 of the air flow to be sanitized 3 positioned between the inlet opening 2 and the outlet opening F/BA

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According to the invention, the device 1 comprises washing means 10 of the treatment compartment 14 comprising, in turn, at least one biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F adapted to allow solubilization and/or dispersion of the pollutants and/or pathogens. It is noted that within the scope of the present disclosure, the expression “biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid” F relates to one or more substances which are effective against harmful organisms and/or microorganisms for the purpose of destroying them, eliminating them, rendering them harmless, preventing their action or exerting a controlling effect thereon. In detail, this expression is used for both compliant and non-compliant substances in accordance with EU Regulation 528/2012 and REACH standards No. 1907/2006.

Additionally, the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F is soluble and/or dispersible in water. Advantageously, the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F has high stability over time.

This means that the biocidal activity remains unaltered over time even after the first use, thus allowing the recovery and reuse of the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F comprises a liquid mixture comprising one or more copper- based compounds.

It is specified that in the context of the present disclosure the expression “one or more copper-based compounds” relates to the fact that the mixture may comprise one or more compounds either belonging to the same chemical species or belonging to different chemical species.

In particular, it should be emphasized that the copper ion performs high biocidal activity due to the non-specific binding affinity with the proteins of pathogenic microorganisms, thus causing their denaturation. In other words, the fact that proteins lose their native structure also causes the loss of their biological activity and, therefore, in the case of pathogenic F/BA

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5 microorganisms, they are unable to interact with the host.

It is easy to understand how this aspect takes particular importance in the processes of air purification in large environments or subject to the influx of a large number of people, such as e.g. hospitals, supermarkets, schools, stations, airports and shopping centers.

Advantageously, the one or more copper-based compounds comprise copper sulfate.

In detail, copper sulfate has free Cu++ ions available in solution.

Preferably, the copper sulfate is pentahydrate. Conveniently, the liquid mixture comprises at least one non-volatile solvent. This means that the liquid mixture comprises one or more non-volatile solvents. Preferably, the one or more non-volatile solvents comprise water.

It cannot however be ruled out from the scope of the present discussion that the liquid mixture comprising an organic solvent. The aforementioned organic solvent is selected from the list comprising: aprotic polar solvents, protic polar solvents and apolar solvents suitable for dispersing and/or solubilizing and/or emulsifying substances with biocidal activity.

It is of the utmost importance that one or more solvents are suitable in order to solubilize and/or emulsify the biocidal component and, at the same time, allow the sanitization of the air avoiding the emission of odors.

It is specified that within the scope of the present disclosure, the expression “one or more non-volatile solvents” relates to the fact that the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F may have both one or more solvents of the same chemical species and one or more solvents of different chemical species. Furthermore, the liquid mixture may comprise one or more additives adapted to increase the biocidal activity of the composition itself.

The purification means 6, 7, 15 comprise at least one mechanical filter 15 selected from the list comprising: pocket filter, sleeve bag filter, cartridge filter, candle filter, panel filter, cyclone filter, and multi-cyclone filter (Figures 6 and 7).

Alternatively, according to a preferred embodiment of the device 1 according to F/BA

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6 the invention, the purification means 6, 7, 15 comprise at least one electrostatic filter.

The electrostatic filter 6, 7 comprises a plurality of collection electrodes 6 for collecting pollutants and/or pathogens. In detail, the collection electrodes 6 are arranged in the proximity of the outlet opening 4.

The collection electrodes 6 are made of a conductive metal material. Advantageously, the collection electrodes 6 are made at least partly of copper. As visible in the figures, the collection electrodes 6 comprise a plurality of plate- shaped elements 8 arranged in series parallel to each other.

Additionally, the electrostatic filter 6, 7 comprises a plurality of charging electrodes 7 adapted to ionize the air flow to be sanitized 3; the pollutants and/or pathogens are attracted by the collection electrodes 6 by electrostatic attraction. In detail, as visible in the figures, the charging electrodes 7 are arranged in the proximity of the inlet opening 2.

The charging electrodes 7 are powered by the power supply means 9 adapted to allow ionization of the air flow to be sanitized 3.

The power supply means 9 are configured to allow voltages suitable for the operation of the device 1 to be delivered and maintained thanks to the insulation means configured to prevent the aforementioned voltages from being discharged to the ground, such as e.g. in the presence of fouling of the biocidal composition.

The potential difference created between the charging electrodes 7 and the collection electrodes 6 allows for the electrostatic attraction of pollutants and/or pathogens onto the collection electrodes themselves.

Furthermore, the device 1 comprises filtration means 17, 18 comprising a first filtering element 17 arranged in the proximity of the inlet opening 2 and a second filtering element 18 arranged in the proximity of the outlet opening 4. The first filtering element 17 is configured to allow uniformity of the air flow to be sanitized 3 and, in parallel, the second filtering element 18 is configured to F/BA

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7 allow retention of any residual pollutants and/or pathogens contained in the sanitized air flow 5.

In order to allow sanitization of the device 1, the washing means 10 are configured to allow washing the purification means 6, 7, 15 and/or the filtration means 17, 18.

In detail, the washing means 10 are configured to allow washing of at least one of either the collection electrodes 6 or the charging electrodes 7, the first filtering element 17 or the second filtering element 18.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device 1, the washing means 10 are configured to allow washing of both the purification means 6, 7, 15 and the filtration means 17, 18.

In detail, the washing means 10 comprise the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F and are adapted to allow solubilization and/or dispersion of the pollutants and/or pathogens in the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F. Preferably, the washing means 10 are operatively connected to a storage tank, not shown in detail in the figures, adapted to contain the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F.

The washing means 10 comprise a plurality of nozzles 11 arranged in the proximity of the purification means 6, 7, 15 and/or of the filtration means 17, 18.

Preferably, the nozzles 11 are arranged in the proximity of the charging electrodes 7 and of the collection electrodes 6.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the nozzles 11 are associated with the supporting means 12 adapted to allow the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F to be precisely and effectively delivered on the plate- shaped elements 8 and on the charging electrodes 7.

Specifically, the washing means 10 are arranged above the purification means 6, 7, 15; in this case, as visible in Figures 1 and 2, the washing means 10 are arranged above the charging electrodes 7 and the collection electrodes 6. In this way, the delivery of the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F from above allows washing in a homogeneous manner the treatment compartment 14, the F/BA

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8 charging electrodes 7 and the collection electrodes 6.

Additionally, the washing means 10 are positioned between the inlet opening 2 and the purification means 6, 7, 15 and between the latter and the outlet opening

4. Specifically, the nozzles 11 are positioned between the charging electrodes 7 and the inlet opening 2 and between the collection electrodes 6 and the outlet opening 4 (Figures 3 and 4).

In fact, as seen in Figures 3-5, the nozzles 11 are positioned: between the charging electrodes 7 and the first filtering element 17; - between the collection electrodes 6 and the second filtering element 18; and above the charging electrodes 7 and the collection electrodes 6.

Such a configuration ensures the homogeneous washing of the treatment compartment 14, thus preventing portions thereof remaining untreated by the biocidal fluid F. Additionally, the washing means 10 comprise the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F and are configured to allow for the solubilization and/or dispersion of the pollutants and/or pathogens.

This means that the contact between the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F and the pollutants and/or pathogens instantaneously allows the latter to be dragged in solution, thus eliminating the risk of these being diffused into the sanitized air flow 5 exiting the device 1.

In this way, the pollutants and/or pathogens are removed from the plate- shaped elements 8 allowing them to be restored in such a way that the efficiency of the electrostatic attraction is unaltered over time. To this end, the device 1 comprises a plurality of electrostatic filters 6, 7 operatively connected to the washing means 10.

As seen in Figure 2, the device 1 comprises two electrostatic filters 6, 7.

It cannot however be ruled out from the scope of the present disclosure that the device 1 comprising an additional treatment compartment 14 (Figure 2). In this case, the additional treatment compartment 14 is provided with a respective inlet opening 2, a respective outlet opening 4 and respective filtration F/BA

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9 means 17, 18 and purification means 6, 7, 15.

Under operating conditions, to prevent the operation of the device 1 from being interrupted, the latter has: one of the two treatment compartments 14 wherein the electrostatic filter 6, 7 is active to allow the attraction of the pollutants and/or pathogens on the collection electrodes 6 and the washing means 10 are inactivated; and the other of the treatment compartments 14 wherein the electrostatic filter 6, 7 is inactive and the washing means 10 are activated to allow the washing of the inactivated collection electrodes 6. In other words, when one electrostatic filter 6, 7 is inactive to allow the washing thereof, the other electrostatic filter 6, 7 is active.

This means that the electrostatic filters 6, 7 can be activated alternately. However, as visible in Figure 5, it cannot be ruled out from the scope of the present disclosure that the electrostatic filters 6, 7 being arranged aligned with each other along the direction of forward movement of the air flow to be sanitized 3.

This characteristic greatly increases the functional value of the device 1, particularly when the latter is built in room ventilation systems and/or air conditioning systems. Additionally, the device 1 comprises a collection tank 13 for collecting used biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F, i.e., used during washing of the treatment compartment 14.

In other words, the collection tank 13 is adapted to collect the used biocidal fluid F falling from the purification means 6, 7, 15 and/or from the filtration means 17,18.

The collection tank 13 is arranged below the purification means 6, 7, 15 and the filtration means 17, 18 and is adapted to allow the storage of the used biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F.

In this way, the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F may be easily recovered and subjected to recycling treatments that allow it to be used again in the device 1. This becomes particularly relevant when the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F F/BA

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10 comprises copper sulphate.

The latter allows, in fact, using the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F for multiple washing cycles while maintaining the purification efficiency unchanged over time. For example, the used biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F may be decanted inside the collection tank 13 to allow the pollutants and/or pathogens to be deposited inside the same. In this manner, the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F may be reintroduced into the device 1.

For this purpose, the device 1 comprises recirculation means 16 of the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F out of the collection tank 13.

This means that, once the deposition of the pollutants and/or pathogens has occurred inside the collection tank 13, the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F can be reintroduced into the washing means 10.

Additionally, the device 1 comprises means for injecting a solvent into the storage tank.

Preferably, such injection means are adapted to inject the solvent, preferably water, into the storage tank in such a way that the amount of biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid contained in the storage tank does not decrease during the operation of the device 1. According to an alternative embodiment, the purification means 6, 7, 15 comprise a wet washing device, of the scrubber type.

In this case, the device 1 comprises an inlet port of the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F positioned downstream of the inlet opening 2 with respect to the direction of forward movement of the air flow to be sanitized 3. This means that the air flow to be sanitized 3 is subjected to washing by coming into contact with the biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid F inside the treatment compartment.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a biocidal mixture for sanitizing the device 1. In detail, the biocidal mixture comprises one or more copper-based compounds. Preferably, the biocidal mixture comprises pentahydrate copper sulphate. F/BA

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Advantageously, the biocidal mixture comprises at least one non-volatile solvent.

Additionally, the biocidal mixture comprises a non-ionic surfactant.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

In particular, the fact is emphasized that the particular expedient of providing for the use of a biocidal fluid in combination with washing means of the treatment compartment allows the sanitization of the latter in an automated manner. In addition, the fact of providing for the use of a mixture comprising copper sulphate in combination with the use of one or more electrostatic filters ensures the air purification in a remarkably effective way compared to the devices of known type, without altering the pressure drops of the air flow to be treated conveyed by means of a pipeline or air duct. In addition, the use of copper sulphate allows for the recycling of the used biocidal mixture thus allowing it to be used again for numerous operational cycles.

In addition, the use of the aforementioned mixture esnures the total elimination of pollutants and/or pathogens comprising bacterial and viral agents.

Claims

F/BA

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1) Room sanitizing device (1), particularly for air sanitization, comprising at least one treatment compartment (14) provided with: at least one inlet opening (2) of an air flow to be sanitized (3) comprising pollutants and/or pathogens; at least one outlet opening (4) of the sanitized air flow (5); purification means (6, 7, 15) of said air flow to be sanitized (3) positioned between said inlet opening (2) and said outlet opening (4); characterized by the fact that it comprises washing means (10) of said treatment compartment (14) comprising at least one biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid (F) adapted to allow solubilization and/or dispersion of said pollutants and/or pathogens.

2) Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said purification means (6, 7, 15) comprise at least one mechanical filter (15) comprising: pocket filter, sleeve bag filter, cartridge filter, candle filter, panel filter, cyclone and multi-cyclone filter.

3) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said purification means (6, 7, 15) comprise at least one electrostatic filter.

4) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said electrostatic filter (6, 7, 15) comprises a plurality of collection electrodes (6) for collecting said pollutants and/or pathogens.

5) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said electrostatic filter (6, 7) comprises a plurality of charging electrodes (7) adapted to ionize said air flow to be sanitized (3), said pollutants and/or pathogens being attracted by said collection electrodes (6) by electrostatic attraction.

6) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one inlet opening of said biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid (F) positioned downstream of said inlet opening (2), with respect to the direction of forward movement of said air flow to be sanitized (3). F/BA

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7) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said washing means (10) are arranged above said purification means (6, 7, 15).

8) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said washing means (10) are arranged above said charging electrode (7) and said collection electrode (6).

9) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said washing means (10) are positioned between said inlet opening (2) and said purification means (6, 7, 15) and between the latter and said outlet opening (4).

10) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises recirculation means (16) of said biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid (F) out of said collection tank (13).

11) Device (1) according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that it comprises an additional treatment compartment (14) provided with said respective purification means (6, 7, 15).

12) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it has: one of said treatment compartments (14) wherein said electrostatic filter (6, 7) is active to allow the attraction of said pollutants and/or pathogens on said collection electrodes (6) and said inactivated washing means; and the other of said treatment compartments (14) wherein said electrostatic filter (6, 7) is inactive and said washing means (10) are activated to allow the washing of said inactivated collection electrodes (6). 13) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid (F) comprises a liquid mixture comprising one or more copper-based compounds.

14) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid (F) comprises copper sulphate.

15) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized F/BA

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14 by the fact that it comprises a collection tank (13) of said used biocidal and/or sanitizing fluid (F).

16) Use of a biocidal mixture for sanitizing a sanitizing device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims. 17) Use according to claim 16, wherein said mixture comprises at least one non volatile solvent.

18) Use according to one or more of claims 16-17, wherein said mixture comprises one or more copper-based compounds.

19) Use according to one or more of claims 16-18, wherein said mixture comprises copper sulphate.