WO2022050921A1

WO2022050921A1 - Uv-c air disinfection filter

Info

Publication number: WO2022050921A1
Application number: PCT/TR2021/050747
Authority: WO
Inventors: Metin BİLGE; Melek Duygu BİLGE; Şenay ŞANLIER; Murat KÖYLÜ; Ertuğrul ÖZKAN
Original assignee: Ege Universitesi
Current assignee: Ege Universitesi
Priority date: 2020-09-07
Filing date: 2021-07-28
Publication date: 2022-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-07
Also published as: EP4199978A1; EP4199978A4; TR202100239A1

Abstract

The invention is an element of air conditioning and ventilation system. The invention can be used in the entire health sector including, especially hospitals for air disinfection, especially in vitally important units for human health such as operating rooms and intensive care units. It can be used, apart from health, in shopping centers, congress centers, cinemas, cafes, restaurants, hotels, schools, theatres, indoor sport halls, skyscrapers, factories, public buildings, wedding halls and all workplaces requiring air conditioning. Also, it can be used in air-conditioners at homes, vacuum cleaners, air-conditioning systems or air-conditioners of cars and mass transportation vehicles. In summary, the invention has a wide range of usage potential including health, business and automotive sectors and private living spaces of individuals. In the other words, the filter can be used to exterminate many microorganisms such as bacteria, virus (especially COVID-19) and mould wherever it is used.

Description

UV-C AIR DISINFECTION FILTER

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention is an element of air conditioning and ventilation system. The invention can be used in the entire health sector including, especially hospitals for air disinfection, especially in vitally important units for human health such as operating rooms and intensive care units. It can be used in shopping malls, congress centers, cinemas, cafes, restaurants, hotels, schools, theaters, indoor sports halls, skyscrapers, factories, public buildings, wedding halls and all workplaces that require ventilation apart from health. Also it can be used in air-conditioners at homes, vacuum cleaners, air-conditioning systems or air-conditioners of cars and mass transportation vehicles In summary, the invention has the potential to be used in a wide range of areas including health, business, automotive sectors and people's private living spaces. In other words, wherever a filter is used, it can be used to destroy bacteria, viruses (especially COVID-19) and many microorganisms such as mold.

State of the Art of the Invention (Prior Art)

Existing ventilation systems and air conditioners do not have an infrastructure that can kill microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. These systems filter the air with certain types of filters. Hepa filters, one of the best of these, are insufficient in destroying microorganisms. Since these ventilation systems work to pass some of the air in the environment through the filters and return it to the environment, they increase the possibility of people getting sick by enabling the spread of microorganisms.

Due to previous corona viruses (SARS, MERS), disinfection has been started by placing chemical protectors or UV-C lamps in ventilation systems. Germicides (low or medium pressure UV-C mercury lamps or photocatalytic ionizers) have been newly used in air conditioners. In the photo catalytic ionizers there are risks of formation of titanium dioxide and other free radicals and again there are UV-C based risks. Since protective chemicals pose hazard for human health, UV-C lamps have started to gain popularity in this regard. When low pressure mercury lamps (approximately 10'⁵ bar) are used in the use of disinfection, rays in the wavelength of around 254 nm can be produced. When medium pressure mercury lamps (approximately between 1 and 5 bars) are used, they can generate rays with a wavelength of 180-1370 nm. The use of UV led lamps has been increased as a result of COVID-19 such as UV mercury vapor lamps. Since led lamps do not have more sufficient power for big systems the low pressure lamps are preferred. These lamps have some disadvantages.

The first disadvantages of the low pressure lamps is their size. Due to their size, they cannot be used in air conditioners. Dimensions also have a restrictive role in the ventilation systems. They also require a suitable space and a suitable position for ventilation but not every ventilation is suitable.

Secondly, UV-C (Ultraviolet C) light does not have a sufficient effect on virus because of its air speed. For example, because for COVID-19 to be able to be exterminated by UV-C light it should be at 15 cm distance for about 10 seconds. Air speed is approximately 2 m/s in the ventilations. Duration is not enough at this speed. For this reason, long distance light must be visible in the ventilation, that is, there should be no bends or bends in the pipes. This is a difficult situation.

Thirdly, UV-C is very harmful for human health, so it should not come into direct contact. This necessitates such a mechanism in a hidden place in the ventilation. This means mounting of the mechanism or difficulties in the cases such as any failure and changing the lamp in the future.

Fourthly, UV-C mercury lamps include mercury. They release mercury vapor to the environment when they are broken. Mercury is a dangerous element for health.

Fifth is the energy consumption. Lamps consume energy according to their dimensions. They consume too much energy compared to our invention.

Brief Description and Objectives of the Invention

There are a wide variety of microorganisms that spread through the air, infect humans and cause deadly diseases. A disease occurs as a result of these microorganisms entering into people’s body by respiratory tract that proliferate at the suitable humidity and temperature in the filter systems of the ventilations and air-conditioners and spread to the air from there. Today COVID-19 comes first among them. It is deadly especially for people whose immune system is weak. There are also virus, mould, yeast and other bacteria types (legionella pneumophila known as air-conditioner germ, etc.) in the environment as well. They also threaten human health.

Coronaviruses such as MERS, SARS are a large virus family causing diseases for animals or humans. Finally, the new member of this family is SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). This is called new coronavirus disease. At present, it is the virus that causes a pandemic that affects the world order and changes lives today. The invention eliminates the bacteria, viruses, molds, etc., which we mentioned above, and can keep the microbial load level in the air below the risky level permanently.

Our invention ensures that the air used by the ventilation systems is purified from microorganisms, that is, it disinfects the air.

The objects of this invention are as follows;

- It can stop or slow down the microorganisms in the fast air flow by creating an electric field.

-To avoid both big and mercury UV-C lamps and big led UV-C lamps by using small UV-C led diodes.

- To provide small power consumption thanks to UV-C led diodes.

-It can be used wherever filters are used due to its existing structure and flexibility. Ventilation systems, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, cars etc.

-Being made of metals such as phosphor-bronze, preferably brass, galvanized, steel, aluminum, copper having patterns consisting of triangles, preferably circles, tetragons, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons designed not to prevent air flow. - Making disinfection process more efficient through creating electric fields, lowering the rate of travel of the microorganisms (bacteria, virus, mould, fungus, etc.) in the air and increasing their exposure time to UV-C light by making use of the filter structure being made of metals such as phosphor-bronze, brass, galvanized, steel, aluminum, copper.

-Inactivation of microorganisms, which are slowed down in the air by the metal structure with different patterns and the electric field on it, with led diodes that can give light at 265 nm wavelength values in the UV-C spectrum. Preferably, it can be inactivated by LED diodes that can emit light at wavelengths between 200 nm and 280 nm.

-Increasing inactivity ratios of the microorganisms by exposing to UV-C leds more as a result of drawing to the honeycombs and slowing down the microorganisms by means of creating electric fields on the filters themselves made by using metals such as preferably phosphor- bronze, brass, galvanized, steel, aluminum, copper having patterns consisting of preferably triangles, tetragons, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons.

Descriptions of the Figures Describing the Invention

Figures prepared for the better understanding of UV-C Air Disinfection Filter developed with this invention are explained below.

Figure 1: Honeycombed structure having pattern formed by triangles

Figure 2: The honeycombed structure and the UV-C Leds orientated on it

Figure 3: Its position in the ventilation system

Descriptions of Components and Parts Constituting the Invention

The parts and components in the UV-C Air Disinfection Filter developed with this invention have been enumerated separately and are as follows.

1 UV-C Led Diode 2 Metal Plate

3 Triangular Honeycombed Structure

4 Air Filter

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention is based on a product having UV-C led diode which can be used with the purpose of disinfection in all air-conditioners, ventilation systems, cleaning filters.

In the invention, UV-C led diode (1) is used instead of UV-C lamp. In this way, since there will be no size problem, it can be easily used in home, car air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, large ventilation systems without any difficulty.

In normal systems, microorganisms continue their life functions because they cannot be exposed to enough UV-C light due to air velocity. One of the most important features of this invention is to stop or slow down the charged organisms and particles in the air by creating an electric field. In this way, since it is possible to expose microorganisms to enough UV-C, sufficient disinfection is provided.

In other systems lamps must not directly interact with humans and animals or be visible. In our invention there is not such a situation. Because the product is embedded in a filter.

Since UV-C led diode (1) is used instead of UV-C mercury lamp, it is not possible for the lamp to break and release mercury vapor.

UV-C led diodes (1) are incomparably different in energy consumption compared to other UV-C lamps. There is a power of the order of milliwatts.

The invention is composed of a metal plate (2) having thickness of 1 mm, consisting of triangles, made by using phosphor-bronze. Preferably, metal plates consisting of rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal shaped blanks and preferably between 0.1 mm and 5 mm thick, brass, galvanized, steel, aluminum, copper can be used. A voltage is applied to the metal plate (2), thereby creating an electric field around the plate. In this way, microorganisms, especially the COVID-19 virus, will be stopped or slowed down. A led diode (1), which gives light at a wave value of 265 nm in the UV-C spectrum, which is known to inactivate microorganisms, has been added to the edges of the triangular spaces. Preferably, 1 to 10 LED diodes can be added to the edges of each of the rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagon-shaped spaces, giving light at wavelengths between 200-280 nm. The positive end of the UV-C led diodes (1) is fed from the metal plate (2). The negative ends of the UV-C led diodes (1) go to the power supply with the help of cables. Microorganisms traveling in the air flow are inactivated with UV-C led diodes giving light in the UV-C spectrum, when they approach a body of honeycomb structure (3) formed by triangular gaps or pass through the triangular gaps. It is also known that microorganisms die when they come into contact with an electrically charged metal surface.

The invention is composed of a thin and flexible phosphor-bronze metal plate (2) consisting triangular gaps. With the help of the electrical power source, a voltage is applied to the metal plate (2) and an electric field is created around the plate. Since the metal plate (2) is positive (+) and microorganisms are mostly negative (-) they (especially COVID-19 virus) will be stopped or slowed down. To sides of the triangular gaps, UV-C led diodes (1) were added giving light in the values of wavelength of 265 nm in the UV-C spectrum known to kill viruses existing thereon. Microorganisms approaching the metal plate (2) are exterminated with UV-C emitted by UV-C led diodes (1) and air disinfection and filtration is completed.

Metal plate (2) is located between/near air filters (4) as shown in an example ventilation system in Figure-3.

Claims

CLAIMS An UV-C air disinfection filter of an air conditioning and ventilation system, characterized in that it has:

• A metal plate (2) located between/near air filters (4) and having a honeycombed structure (3) comprising various patterns,

• UV-C LED diodes (1) secured to each of gaps in the honeycombed structure (3),

• A power source allowing to pass a voltage by connecting positive (+) end thereof to the metal plate (2). An UV-C air disinfection filter according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal plate (2) is phosphor-bronze. An UV-C air disinfection filter according to claim 1, characterized in that the honeycombed structure (3) has a pattern consisting of triangular gaps. An UV-C air disinfection filter according to claim 1, characterized in that UV-C diode is a source emitting light in the value of 265 nm wavelength.

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