BE1030116A1 - DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISINFECTING A ROOM - Google Patents

Abstract

Method (1000) for disinfecting a room by atomizing a hydrogen peroxide mixture performed by a nebulizer having at least one replaceable reservoir containing a hydrogen peroxide mixture, the method comprising the steps of: a) increasing (1021) a hydrogen peroxide concentration in gas phase in the chamber by atomizing a first quantity of the hydrogen peroxide mixture during a first stage (stage 1) with a fixed speed pump that circulates air through the atomizing device; b) maintaining (1022) the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber by intermittently atomizing a second portion of the hydrogen peroxide mixture during a second stage (stage 2) by repeatedly turning the pump ON and OFF; wherein the hydrogen peroxide mixture is a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture comprising 4.5 to 13.0 weight percent hydrogen peroxide; and that the hydrogen peroxide concentration is maintained during the second phase at a value in the range of 45 to 180 ppm for a period of 45 to 120 minutes.

Description

DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISINFECTING A ROOM

Domain of the invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of apparatus, systems and methods for disinfecting or disinfecting rooms or premises or the like, and more specifically to a method for disinfecting a room by atomizing a hydrogen peroxide mixture, and an apparatus and a computer program that performs such method, and a system that includes such apparatus.

Background of the invention

Methods and devices for disinfecting or sterilizing rooms by circulating a gas stream containing hydrogen peroxide to kill microorganisms such as e.g. viruses, bacteria, fungi, spores and yeasts are known in the art.

EPO774263(A1) and EP2952475(A1) describe such methods and devices.

There is always room for improvements or alternatives.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for disinfecting a room or premises or the like.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a computer program that performs such method, and a system that includes such apparatus.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program with which a kill can be achieved for a broad spectrum of microorganisms, e.g. as specified in standard EN17272.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program that can achieve kill for a broad spectrum of microorganisms, e.g. as specified in standard EN17272, in a reduced time span (counted from the start of the disinfection cycle until the room is made available again for normal use).

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program with good or improved reliability, e.g. indicating that an intended disinfection process under given conditions (e.g. temperature and humidity) and can/cannot be carried out reliably with the available resources, and/or has been carried out.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program having a relatively simple structure (e.g., simple hardware), and/or relatively simple complexity (e.g., without complex motor control).

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program that accurately controls the amount of disinfectant (e.g., even though the flow rate is not constant).

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program that efficiently manages the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture, e.g. that uses less or as little hydrogen peroxide mixture as possible to achieve a predetermined kill rate. .

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program with which a disinfection cycle can be performed in a controlled manner, even though at least one of the hydrogen peroxide mixture reservoirs is not completely filled.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program that poses a low or reduced security risk to the user and his/her immediate environment.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program that is simple to use and/or that is easy to use.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program that allows a room or a room or hall (e.g., a meeting room) with a volume of up to about 100 or up to about 145 m ° can be reliably sterilized.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program that allows a room or a room or a hall (e.g., a meeting room) with a volume of up to about 450 or up to about 750 m 3 can be reliably sterilized.

These and other objects are achieved by a method, an apparatus, a system and a computer program according to embodiments of the present invention.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of disinfecting a room by atomizing a hydrogen peroxide mixture carried out by a nebulizing device with connection means for at least one replaceable container of a hydrogen peroxide mixture, and with means for atomizing this hydrogen peroxide mixture in the room, wherein the The method comprises the steps of: a) increasing a gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber by (e.g. continuously) atomizing a first quantity of the hydrogen peroxide mixture during a first stage of a disinfection process; b) maintaining the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber by intermittently atomizing a second quantity of the hydrogen peroxide mixture during a second phase of the disinfection process; wherein the hydrogen peroxide mixture is a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture comprising 4.5 to 13.0 weight percent hydrogen peroxide; and wherein the hydrogen peroxide concentration is maintained during the second phase at a value ranging from 45 to 180 ppm for a period ranging from 45 to 120 minutes.

Tests have shown that the kill rate is many times greater when a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture is used (e.g. the product "Huwa-San TR-12.5", commercially available from Roam Technologies), compared to a hydrogen peroxide mixture without silver stabilization. For some micro-organisms the difference is even more than a factor of 10 or a factor of 100 times greater.

Surprisingly, testing has also shown that a maintenance period (i.e. the duration of the second phase) of approximately 45 to 120 minutes is sufficient to achieve standard-compliant kill

EN17272.

It is also an advantage of a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture that it is much more stable, i.e. decomposes less quickly than a hydrogen peroxide mixture without silver stabilization. (e.g. the product "Huwa-San TR-12.5", commercially available from Roam Technologies, has a shelf life of approximately 2 years, compared to only a few months for similar products without silver stabilization).

It is further an advantage to use a hydrogen peroxide mixture with a hydrogen peroxide concentration of only 4.5 to 13.0 wt%, as opposed to mixtures containing up to 30 wt% or even higher, because the product is much safer to use ( less corrosion and less risk of explosion).

It is further of great benefit to maintain the hydrogen peroxide concentration during the second phase at a value in the range of 45 to 180 ppm, or in the range of 90 ppm to 150 ppm, or in the range of 90 ppm to 130 ppm, or in the range of 90 ppm to 120 ppm, (as opposed to a gas phase H202 concentration of 400 ppm or even higher), because (i) it takes less time to reach such a value (shorter phase1), (ii ) because such values are achievable with a hydrogen peroxide mixture with a relatively low hydrogen peroxide concentration (safer), (iii) because such values are often achievable without conditioning the room (time savings, simpler equipment, no heater and/or dehumidifier required), ( iv) because it takes much less time to lower this value back to a safe level (in a third phase), and (v) because sufficient killing can still be guaranteed, as specified in standard EN17272.

Nebulization in the first phase is preferably a continuous (or uninterrupted) nebulization, i.e. the first pump that circulates air through the nebulizer is continuously ON during the first phase.

The nebulization in the second stage is an intermittent atomization, i.e. the first pump is switched ON and OFF repeatedly during the second stage, preferably at least 5 times.

Preferably, the hydrogen peroxide mixture is not heated (called "cold fogging"). This drastically reduces the risk of explosion.

In one embodiment, the product of the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber and the time that this concentration is present is at least a predetermined factor, e.g., 6000.

For example, at least 60 minutes x at least 100 ppm, or at least 50 minutes x at least 120 ppm, or at least 40 minutes x at least 150 ppm, or at least 75 minutes x at least 80 ppm, or at least 80 minutes x at least 75 ppm, or at least 90 minutes x at least 67 ppm, or at least 100 minutes x at least 60 ppm, or at least 120 minutes x at least 50 ppm.

In one embodiment, the integral of the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber over time is at least 6000. This can be approximated mathematically by: 5 (cg * AT) >6000, where cg is the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber (expressed in ppm ), and AT is the duration of a period during which this concentration was measured (expressed in minutes).

In one embodiment, the factor (6000 in the above example) is operator adjustable.

In one embodiment, killing of micro-organisms is achieved according to standard

EN17272.

In one embodiment, a ratio of weight percent hydrogen peroxide to weight percent silver ions is a value in the range of 1500 to 2000, preferably in the range of 1600 to 1900.

Such a ratio ensures very good killing of micro-organisms.

In one embodiment, the hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of hydrogen peroxide and demineralized water and silver ions.

This mixture therefore does not contain any other substances such as chlorine or peracetic acid.

In one embodiment, the silver-stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of a mixture of 12.1 to 12.5 wt.% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0059 to 0.0079 wt.% silver as stabilizer, and demineralized water (other than wt.%); Such product is commercially available from "Roam Technologies" under the product name "Huwa-San TR-12.5".

In one embodiment, the silver-stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of 7.5 to 7.9 wt.% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0042 to 0.0053 wt.% silver as a stabilizer, and demineralized water (the remainder wt.%). Such product is commercially available from “Roam Technologies" under the product name "Huwa-San TR-7.9".

In one embodiment, the silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of 11.5 to 11.9 wt% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0057 to 0.0074 wt% silver as stabilizer, and demineralized water (the remainder wt%). Such product is commercially available from “Roam Technologies" under the product name "Huwa-San TR-11.9".

In one embodiment, the silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of 4.5 to 4.9 wt.% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0027 to 0.0035 wt.% silver as stabilizer, and demineralized water (for the remainder wt.%). Such product is commercially available from “Roam Technologies" under the product name "Huwa-San TR-5".

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the following steps: i) collecting data with regard to the hydrogen peroxide mixture and with regard to the room to be disinfected; ii) verifying whether the collected data meets certain conditions in order to successfully carry out the atomization process; and if the predetermined conditions are not met, giving an error message; and if all conditions are met, continue with step a).

The data or parameters related to the hydrogen peroxide mixture may contain one or more of the following values: the volume of the hydrogen peroxide mixture available in one or more reservoirs connected to the nebulizer, its composition, its best-before date or its date of manufacture.

The data or parameters related to the room to be disinfected may contain one or more of the following values: the temperature of the air in the room, the relative humidity of the air in the room, the volume of the room.

"Be able to perform successfully" is understood to mean that the preconditions are met to achieve an intended kill, e.g. a LOG4 or LOG5 kill of certain bacteria, e.g. as specified in the EN17272 standard.

In one embodiment, the collecting step includes: c) determining or receiving a volume of the chamber to be disinfected (and optionally also a text string associated with the chamber, e.g., a name of the chamber); d) determining the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one replaceable reservoir; e) estimating an amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture required to obtain (during the first phase) and maintain (during the second phase) said gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration; f) determining how much hydrogen peroxide mix is available in the at least one replaceable reservoir; g) giving an error message if the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture present is less than the necessary amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture (to successfully complete the disinfection process, e.g. according to standard EN17272).

The hydrogen peroxide concentration of the hydrogen peroxide mixture can, for example, be entered by an operator via a touch screen, or can, for example, be read from an (optional)

RFID tag, if present on at least one reservoir.

The available amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one replaceable reservoir can e.g. be entered by an operator via a touch screen, or can e.g. be read from the optional RFID tag, if present.

It is an advantage to check in advance whether a "successful disinfection cycle" can be carried out before actually starting the cycle. This allows an operator to e.g. replace a fairly empty reservoir with a full reservoir, or to preheat the room (e.g. by using an external air heater), etc.

In one embodiment, the required amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in step e) is determined based on the following formula: NH = KV * A, where NH is the required amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture (expressed in ml), and where KV is the volume of the chamber (expressed in cubic meters), and where A is a predetermined value (expressed in ml/m?) that depends on the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture.

In one embodiment, the required amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in step e) is determined based on the following formula: NH = KV * A, where NH is the required amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture (expressed in ml), and where KV is the volume of the chamber (expressed in cubic meters), and where A is a value (expressed in ml/m?) calculated on the basis of the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture, and one or more of the following parameters: Tchamber, RVchamber and Vchamber, where Troom is the temperature of the room,

RVroom the relative humidity of the room, and Vroom the volume of the room.

It is an advantage of this embodiment that the value of A can be further refined by also taking into account the temperature and relative humidity of the room.

As a result, the time of the disinfection cycle can possibly be shortened somewhat, and/or some hydrogen peroxide mixture can be saved, without compromising the disinfection process.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of: c) actively decreasing or passively decreasing the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber to a predetermined value of at most 1.0 ppm, during a third stage, prior to or to report that the infection process is complete.

In other words, step c) is completed when the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber has dropped to a value equal to or less than 1.0 ppm.

It is an advantage to actively extract hydrogen peroxide from the room air, because in this way the H202 concentration in the room can be reduced more quickly, and the room can be released more quickly. Typically, this reduces the time of the third stage by a factor of about two compared to passively decreasing the hydrogen peroxide concentration.

In one embodiment, step c) comprises actively lowering the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber using a catalyst.

For example, the catalyst may be a metal catalyst, e.g., a platinum/alumina catalyst, or a ruthenium/alumina catalyst, but the invention is not limited thereto, and any other suitable catalyst may also be used.

In one embodiment, step c) comprises actively lowering the hydrogen peroxide concentration using a scrubber.

The scrubber can, for example, comprise an active carbon filter.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the use of both a scrubber and a catalyst. In this way, the duration of the third phase can be further shortened. Of course it is also possible to provide several scrubbers, spread over the room.

In one embodiment, the method includes a third stage, with a first portion of passively decreasing the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 15 minutes, or 30 or 45 or 60 or 75 or 90 minutes); and having a second part of: actively lowering the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber to a predetermined value of not more than 1.0 ppm, before indicating or reporting that the infection process is complete. In this way, the contact time can be slightly extended in order to achieve a higher kill rate.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: iv) reporting and/or displaying that the disinfection process has been completed.

This message means that the room may be re-entered without personal protection measures such as a gas mask. The notification can be an announcement or a message or a message, which is sent or displayed by a control unit of the atomizing device that performs the method, and/or by a hydrogen peroxide sensor, and/or by a laptop that is communicatively connected to the sensor and with the nebulizer device, e.g. a

SMS message, a GPRS message, a UMTS message, a message on the screen of a remote control unit, or on the screen of a laptop or a smartphone that is communicatively connected to the nebulizer device.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: v) reporting and/or displaying whether or not the disinfection process has been carried out successfully, e.g. by checking whether a power interruption has occurred while the disinfection process was active, or e.g. in the case of a "closed loop" control, by checking whether an abnormal amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture had to be atomized in order to reach the target concentration in gas phase (e.g. 100 ppm). Such an abnormally high value can, for example, be the result of a window that was open, or a door that was open.

In embodiments where the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber is not only measured, but also forwarded to a central server (e.g. as shown in

FIG. 5B), preferably together with a timestamp, whether the disinfection process has been successfully performed can be determined by the central server, e.g. by statistical analysis of the measured concentrations and timestamps for the specified room conditions and the disinfectant used.

In one embodiment, the atomizing device comprises a first fluid circuit, having a first pump, and having a first inlet for receiving a first gas stream from the chamber, and having a connection to the at least one replaceable reservoir containing the hydrogen peroxide mixture, and means for adding droplets (e.g. 20 to 30 microns in average diameter) of the hydrogen peroxide mixture to this first gas stream, and having a first outlet for delivering this first gas stream containing these droplets to the chamber; and the first fluid circuit is arranged to add the droplets of hydrogen peroxide mixture to the first air stream by means of a liquid pump or on the basis of the venturi principle.

If a liquid pump is used, it preferably has a constant speed and a constant flow rate, so that its control comprises simply activating or switching off this liquid pump. This allows to determine the amount of the mixture by the time that the first pump and the liquid pump are both active.

When the liquid mixture is aspirated based on the Venturi effect, a liquid pump can be avoided, which contributes to the simplicity of the atomizing device.

A disadvantage of this is that the flow rate of the liquid flow is not constant, but depends on the actual amount of liquid in the reservoir. However, it is possible to calculate this quantity, starting from a known initial quantity (e.g. when a user enters the initial quantity in the reservoir via the touch screen, or when the reservoir contains an RFID tag. However, the latter is not strictly necessary In either case, a nebulizer controller can repeatedly update the amount of fluid, keeping it in local memory (e.g. RAM), and/or non-volatile memory (e.g. Flash or EEPROM), and/or writing to the RFID tag if present.

In a preferred embodiment, the velocity of the first gas stream is a velocity of 50 to 70 m/s (e.g. about 60 m/s), and the suction channel of the liquid mixture has an internal diameter of 5 to 7 mm (e.g. 6 mm ).

In one embodiment, the first pump has a fixed speed, and the nebulizer device control unit is arranged to turn the first pump either ON or OFF.

It is an advantage that the first pump has a fixed speed, and that the control unit does not have to regulate a speed. This requires less complex hardware and software of the nebulizer.

In one embodiment, the first fluid circuit is provided to add the droplets of hydrogen peroxide mixture to the first air stream based on the venturi principle; and a control unit of the nebulizer device is provided to update the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one replaceable reservoir, taking into account a variable flow rate of the liquid mixture (due to the Venturi effect), the flow rate depending on the amount still present hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one reservoir.

In a preferred embodiment, the flow rate of the liquid withdrawn from the reservoir varies by a factor of at least 1.5 (150%) between a substantially full reservoir and a substantially empty reservoir, or by a factor of at least 160%, or by a factor of at least 170%, or by a factor of at least 180%, or by a factor of at least 190%.

It is not trivial to accurately calculate the amount of fluid remaining in the reservoir for a suction based on the Venturi principle, but accurate estimation of the amount remaining is important to obtain an optimal compromise between: i) sufficient kill ii) to waste as little hydrogen peroxide mixture as possible (or in other words: to use the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture present as optimally as possible}, iii) to carry out the shortest possible disinfection cycle, iv) to maintain a constant or substantially constant hydrogen peroxide concentration during the second phase (the "contact phase"), e.g. in open-loop control.

In one embodiment, the remaining amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one reservoir is calculated in an iterative manner, taking into account the initial content and assuming that the instantaneous flow rate changes linearly as a function of the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one reservoir between a first flow rate value associated with a substantially full reservoir, and a second flow rate value associated with a substantially empty reservoir.

This implies that the amount of mixture in the reservoir varies non-linearly as a function of the time that liquid is drawn from the reservoir.

FIG. 6 shows a measurement of the flow rate of a prototype atomizer. In this example, the first value (corresponding to a full reservoir) is about 62 ml/min, and the second value (corresponding to a nearly empty reservoir) is about 30 ml/min.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, derived from FIG. 6, show that the flow rate and the volume of liquid mixture remaining in the reservoir change non-linearly as a function of the time that liquid mixture is withdrawn from the reservoir.

FIG. 8 further shows that the time required to extract 500 ml of liquid mixture from an almost full reservoir (in the example 500 sec) differs very strongly from the time required to extract the same amount of liquid mixture from an almost empty reservoir (in the example: 790 seconds).

In practice, this can be implemented by using a lookup table with at least two columns, where one column contains the cumulative time that liquid mixture is withdrawn from the reservoir (or in other words: that the first pump is active, and the relevant valve is open), and a second column containing the remaining amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture. For example, the table can contain values for discrete time intervals of multiples of 10 seconds, or multiples of 20 seconds, or multiples of 30 seconds, or multiples of 1 minute, but of course a table of other intervals can be used. Optionally, values from the table can be interpolated. Alternatively, it is also possible to calculate the variable flow rate and/or the remaining amount of liquid using mathematical formulas.

In one embodiment, the first amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture that is atomized into the chamber during the first stage of the disinfection process and the second amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture that is atomized into the chamber during the second stage of the disinfection process is determined based on the amount of time liquid has left the room. at least one reservoir is withdrawn.

When the hydrogen peroxide mixture is drawn in based on the Venturi principle, only the time that the first pump is active is relevant. When the liquid mixture is withdrawn from the reservoir by means of a liquid pump, the time that both the first pump and the liquid pump are active should be considered.

This method uses a so-called "open loop" control. In this method, it is not necessary for the nebulizer device to contain a hydrogen peroxide sensor, or to be communicatively connected to it, but it is sufficient to control the first pump based on known characteristics of the device and known parameters of the chamber, e.g. using tables created during calibration tests, possibly supplemented by information obtained from fogging devices "in the field" when connected to a central server (e.g. as shown in FIG. 5B) .

When the nebulizer is communicatively connected to a central server (as in FIG. 5B), the necessary time information (e.g. the duration of the first phase and the second phase for certain chamber parameters and for a certain hydrogen peroxide mixture) can also be retrieved to the server. Based on statistical analysis of data received from multiple fogging devices, the server can determine the necessary times to disinfect rooms of various sizes and under various combinations of temperature and relative humidity.

In one embodiment, the nebulizer device further comprises or is communicatively connected to at least one hydrogen peroxide sensor; and the method further comprises repeatedly receiving a measured value from this sensor, and the method comprises controlling the first pump taking into account the measured values.

The communicative connection can be a cable connection (e.g. USB, Ethernet,

RS232, etc.) or can be a wireless connection, e.g. an RF connection (e.g. Bluetooth, Wifi), or an optical connection (infrared).

In this way, the nebulizer knows the actual gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber, and the first pump can be controlled more accurately, e.g. no longer than necessary to allow the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber to rise to a value in the predetermined range (e.g. 100 to 120 ppm) during the first stage and second stage, and to start and stop the first pump in a timely manner during the second stage so that hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber remains in the target range (e.g. 100 to 120ppm).

In one embodiment, the nebulizer device further comprises or is communicatively connected to at least two hydrogen peroxide sensors; and the method further comprises receiving a measured value from these sensors repeatedly, and the method comprises controlling the first pump, taking into account the measured hydrogen peroxide concentration values, a minimum of the at least two measured values being considered as effective value during the first and second phase of the disinfection process, and where a maximum of the at least two measured values is considered as effective value during the third phase of the disinfection process.

In one embodiment, the nebulizer device further comprises an RF communication module (e.g. Wifi or Bluetooth or Zigbee) and/or a mobile data communication module for transmitting data via mobile internet, e.g. via a 3G or a 4G or a 5G network, e.g. via SMS or GPRS or

UMTS, and the method further comprises the steps of: detecting an abnormal rise in the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber during the first stage of the disinfection process; and if an abnormal rise is detected, sending an alarm message via the RF communication module and/or via the mobile data communication module.

For example, detecting an abnormal rise may include measuring an actual gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber and comparing it to an alarm value. The alarm value can e.g. be calculated as a function of the cumulative time that the first pump was activated, taking into account the parameters of the room to be disinfected (e.g. volume, temperature, relative humidity), or can be determined based on a predetermined table. By sending such an alarm message, an operator can be notified as quickly as possible, and accidents can be avoided, eg for bystanders who were in the vicinity of the room of which, for example, a door was accidentally left open.

In one embodiment, the nebulizer device further comprises an RF communication module (e.g. Wifi or Bluetooth or Zigbee) and/or a mobile data communication module for transmitting data via mobile internet, e.g. via a 3G or a 4G or a 5G network, e.g. via SMS or GPRS or

UMTS, and the method further comprises the steps of: sending to a central server, by the atomizing device, the collected data relating to the hydrogen peroxide mixture and relating to the room to be disinfected; sending to the central server, by the atomizing device, a plurality of measured values of gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber, preferably together with a timestamp; the receipt by the central server of the collected data and the measured values, and the storage by the central server of this data on a storage medium (e.g. a hard disk or a network disk); analyzing, by the central server, the received data and values, in order to detect an abnormality; (e.g. an abnormal rise in hydrogen peroxide concentration under the given conditions); and reporting a result of the analysis to the nebulizer.

It is an advantage (for the manufacturer) that a lot of statistical information can be collected in this way, which can be used for drawing up tables, and/or for improving process parameters, and/or for giving advice to users of the nebulizer.

It is also an advantage (for the user/operator) that his process is (if desired) monitored, and he receives quick feedback if an abnormality is detected, e.g. a report that the nebulizer or a sensor unit or the like is not functioning as expected. In this way, the reliability of the disinfection process can be further increased, as well as the safety of the users of the nebulizer and bystanders.

If necessary, a "name of the room" will also be sent. Optionally, the initial and final amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one reservoir is also sent along, from which the consumed amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture can be derived.

In one embodiment, the second phase of the disinfection process is divided into a predetermined number (N) of intervals; and a substantially equal amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture is atomized in each of these intervals (e.g. accurate to +5%).

Preferably, the number of intervals is two to fifteenth intervals.

The intervals may be of equal duration (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 15A or FIG. 15B), or may be of unequal duration. This quantity corresponds to "the second quantity" divided by the number of intervals "N".

It is not trivial to inject equal amounts of the liquid mixture into the chamber, if the Venturi principle is used, because the flow rate is not constant, but depends on the degree of filling of at least one reservoir, but it is technically possible by keeping track of this filling level and updating it repeatedly, as described above.

In one embodiment, the at least one reservoir carries an RFID tag that stores data comprising at least an amount of the hydrogen peroxide mixture; and the nebulization device further comprises at least one RFID reader-writer communicatively connected to the control unit, and the control unit is arranged to read data from the RFID tag of the at least one container; and the method further comprises the step of: writing repeatedly to the RFID tag to update the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture on the RFID tag of the at least one container.

It is a great advantage if the replaceable reservoir contains an RFID tag, and if the nebulizer device contains an RFID reader-writer, as this way information from the hydrogen peroxide mixture can be passed to the device without human intervention, i.e. with a reduced chance on errors.

The RFID tag makes it possible, among other things, to check whether the reservoir contains the correct content, or in other words, to detect whether a reservoir with the wrong mixture has been connected.

It is an advantage that the RFID tag contains the initial amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture (e.g. 1000 ml, or 3000 ml), and that the control unit is equipped to repeatedly update this amount, or keep it up-to-date, so that the RFID tag indicates the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture remaining in the reservoir at any time. In this way, the nebulizer can check whether there is sufficient hydrogen peroxide mixture present before starting a (new) disinfection cycle. In this way, the RFID tag can therefore help to successfully complete a disinfection cycle and waste as little hydrogen peroxide mixture as possible.

Although it is in principle possible to update the contents of the reservoir only once at the end of a disinfection cycle, it is an advantage to update the contents repeatedly, e.g. periodically, e.g. at least once per minute, or at least once every 30 seconds, or at least once every 15 seconds, or at least once every 10 seconds, as this increases the risk of a large discrepancy between the actual amount of the hydrogen peroxide mixture on the one hand, and the amount as indicated on the RFID tag, on the other hand, is drastically reduced, even in the event of a power failure.

It is an advantage to communicate contactlessly (via RFID) as opposed to galvanic contact, due to the corrosivity of the mixture.

The use of an RFID tag also ensures that a user cannot use a product that the device is not familiar with, or with which the device cannot perform proper disinfection, e.g. a hydrogen peroxide mixture of too low a concentration (e.g. with only 3 wt. % H2 O2 concentration).

The use of an RFID tag on the reservoir also ensures that if a user were to place a half-full reservoir in another similar nebulizer device, the device would automatically recognize that this reservoir is only half full.

The RFID tag also allows a device with at least two reservoirs to start a disinfection cycle with a reservoir that is not completely filled. The user therefore does not have to throw away the hydrogen peroxide mixture (economical or efficient use), or pour it over (safety), and the device is still able to introduce the correct amount of hydrogen peroxide into the chamber (reliability). This is particularly non-trivial for a device without a liquid pump, but where the liquid is drawn from the reservoir by the Venturi principle.

In one embodiment, the data on the RFID tag indicating the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one reservoir is updated at least once per minute that fluid is withdrawn from that reservoir, preferably at least 2x or at least 3x or at least 5x per minute that the first pump (and/or the liquid pump, if present) is active, and the first or second valve is open.

Of course, the quantity is not updated if the first pump is OFF, or if the third reservoir (for flushing) is used.

In one embodiment, the data on the RFID tag of the at least one reservoir also contains a value of a concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the hydrogen peroxide mixture; and the method further comprises the step of: reading said concentration value stored on the

RFID tag.

This value can e.g. be used to calculate the necessary amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture to be atomized in the first and second phase to disinfect a certain room. This value can also be used during the disinfection cycle itself, e.g. to determine the duration T1 of the first phase, and/or to determine the duty cycle of the second phase.

By storing the hydrogen peroxide concentration of the hydrogen peroxide mixture on the

RFID tag, the nebulizer can optimally take into account the hydrogen peroxide mixture.

This greatly increases the flexibility of the device, as it can work with different hydrogen peroxide mixtures.

In one embodiment, the data on the RFID tag of the at least one reservoir further includes an expiration date of the hydrogen peroxide mixture, and the method further includes the steps of: determining (e.g., requesting or retrieving) a current date, and comparing the expiration date with the current date, and giving an error message if the expiration date has passed.

Determining the current date can be done, for example, by requesting it from an external device such as a smartphone or a laptop, or by reading a local clock, or by retrieving the date from a website, or the like.

By checking the expiration date of the reservoir, or if several reservoirs are present, of each reservoir, the reliability of effective disinfection or killing of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, spores and yeasts can be increased.

In one embodiment, the data on the RFID tag of the at least one reservoir further includes a date of manufacture; and the method further comprises the step of: adjusting the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide mixture read from the RFID tag based on the production date and the current date.

It is known that the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture decreases spontaneously with time (although this decrease is much smaller in the case of a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture). guaranteed, or at least approached as closely as possible.

In one embodiment, the nebulizer device further comprises a first valve for selectively connecting a first replaceable reservoir to the first fluid circuit, and further comprising a second valve for selectively connecting a second replaceable reservoir of a second hydrogen peroxide mixture to the first fluid circuit; and the second reservoir contains a second RFID tag that stores data comprising at least an amount of the second hydrogen peroxide mixture; and the method further comprises the step of: repeatedly updating the RFID tag of each container from which hydrogen peroxide mixture is withdrawn.

It is a great advantage to use a nebulizer with a connection for two reservoirs, because this avoids the loss of hydrogen peroxide mixture (or rather: leaving it unused), and because it avoids that a user has to pour over hydrogen peroxide mixture, with all the associated risks. This also makes it possible to disinfect a larger room (or space).

By using two reservoirs, the control unit can switch from the first to the second reservoir, or vice versa, at a convenient time in order to minimize the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture that is wasted (leave it unused).

In an atomization device according to the present invention, the two reservoirs are not used simultaneously to atomize hydrogen peroxide mixture, but either the first reservoir or the second reservoir. The first and second valves allow choosing which of the two reservoirs is connected to the mouthpiece (or mouthpieces). These valves are controlled by the control unit. The RFID tag of the reservoir that is fluidly connected is updated repeatedly.

In one embodiment, the nebulizer includes a first RFID reader-writer arranged to communicate only with the RFID tag of the first replaceable reservoir; and the nebulization device includes a second RFID reader-writer arranged to communicate only with the RFID tag of the second replaceable reservoir; and the method further comprises the step of: communicating with the RFID tag of the first reservoir via the first RFID reader-writer (e.g., repeatedly when liquid is drawn from the first reservoir}, and communicating with the RFID tag from the second reservoir via the second RFID reader-writer (e.g. repeatedly when liquid is drawn from the second reservoir).

It is an advantage to use two separate RFID reader-writers, one for each reservoir, because the control unit can determine how much fluid each reservoir contains, without human intervention. In this way, the risk of human error is reduced or completely eliminated, thus increasing the reliability of a successful disinfection cycle.

In one embodiment, the atomizing device further comprises an electromagnetic shielding to prevent the first RFID reader-writer from communicating with the RFID tag of the second container, and vice versa, or to reduce interference.

The RFID tag is preferably a passive RFID tag, operating at a frequency of 13.56

MHz.

Testing has shown that such an RFID tag is effective over a sufficient distance from the reservoir, and can provide sufficient power to read and write data reliably, at a sufficiently high read/write speed.

The RFID tag preferably has a memory of at least 512 bytes, or at least 1024 bytes.

Although not all bytes are available for the fogging device, such an RFID tag is very suitable for the current application. Preferably an RFID tag with an EEPROM memory is used, because it allows to overwrite the "amount of mixture", although this is not strictly necessary, and it is also possible to work with an RFID tag of which not every byte can be individually overwritten without erasing an entire sector. The latter would be significantly more complex in terms of software.

In one embodiment, the data on the RFID tag is encrypted, and the method further comprises the steps of: decrypting data read from the RFID tag, and encrypting data written to the RFID tag.

It is an advantage to encrypt the communication with the RFID tag to prevent the data on the tank from being accidentally changed or deleted by an unauthorized user. This helps to guarantee the reliability of a "successful disinfection cycle".

It should be noted that it is not necessary for all information to be encrypted. For example, the invention would still work if one or more of the values selected from the group consisting of the product name, concentration, and expiration date were unencrypted on the RFID chip. For example, this would allow an employee with a smartphone (or other device that supports NFC communication) to read the RFID tag of a reservoir before inserting it into the nebulizer.

In a specific embodiment, at least one of: the product name, the concentration, and the expiration date are stored both encrypted and unencrypted on the RFID tag.

In a second aspect, the present invention also provides an atomizing device comprising: at least one replaceable reservoir containing a hydrogen peroxide mixture; and a controller; and means for atomizing the hydrogen peroxide mixture, the control unit being arranged to carry out a method according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect, the present invention also provides an atomization system comprising: an atomization apparatus according to the second aspect; and one or more external devices selected from: a hydrogen peroxide sensor, a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a remote control, a fan or ventilator, an air heater, a dehumidifier, an external scrubber, a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone, a central server, the external device being communicatively connected to the control unit of the nebulizer device.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention also provides a computer program product for disinfecting a room, the computer program product containing executable instructions which, when executed on the control unit of a nebulization device according to the second aspect or of a nebulization system according to the third aspect, causing the nebulizing device to perform a method according to the first aspect.

Specific and preferred aspects of the invention are included in the appended independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims and with features of other dependent claims as appropriate and not merely as expressly set forth in the claims.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described below.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1A shows a first example of a fogging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, also referred to herein as a "small fogger", in perspective view. A container with a hydrogen peroxide mixture is connected to the nebulizer. The reservoir optionally contains an RFID tag containing a field that shows the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the reservoir. The nebulizer optionally has an RFID reader-writer provided to keep this quantity up to date.

FIG. 1B shows the reservoir of FIG. 1A with an RFID tag. The RFID tag is also enlarged with increased contrast.

FIG. ZA shows a block diagram of a possible embodiment of the nebulizer device of FIG. 1A, where liquid is withdrawn from the at least one reservoir based on the Venturi principle.

FIG. 2B shows a block diagram of a variation of the nebulizer device of FIG. 2A, wherein liquid is withdrawn from the at least one reservoir by means of a liquid pump.

FIG. 3A shows a second exemplary fogging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, also referred to herein as a "large fogger", in perspective view. There is space in the device for at least two containers with a hydrogen peroxide mixture. Each reservoir optionally has an RFID tag containing a field that displays the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the respective reservoir. The fogging device optionally includes two RFID reader-writers, each provided to communicate with one RFID tag. The device is optionally equipped to keep the quantities indicated in the RFID tags up to date.

FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C show an example of a reservoir that may be used in conjunction with the nebulizer device of FIG. 3A. The RFID tag is also enlarged with increased contrast.

FIG. 4A shows a block diagram of a possible embodiment of the nebulizer device of FIG. 3A, where liquid is withdrawn from the at least one reservoir based on the Venturi principle.

FIG. 4B shows a block diagram of a variant of the nebulizer device of FIG. 4A, wherein liquid is withdrawn from the at least one reservoir by means of a liquid pump.

FIG. 5A shows a fogging system comprising a fogging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and one or more external devices selected from: a hydrogen peroxide sensor, a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a remote control, at least one fan or ventilator, an air heater, a dehumidifier, an external scrubber, a laptop or a tablet or a smartphone, the external device being operationally and/or communicatively connected to the control unit of the fogging device.

FIG.5B shows a variant of the atomization system of FIG. 5A, with a hydrogen peroxide sensor, and with a central server, communicatively connected to the nebulizer device, e.g. via an internet connection.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary curve illustrating the flow rate of the liquid hydrogen peroxide mixture from the reservoir as a function of the degree of filling of the reservoir, as applicable in atomizing devices according to the present invention that utilize the venturi effect.

FIG. 7 shows another representation of the curve of FIG. 6, showing the fluid flow rate as a function of the cumulative time of emptying a reservoir.

FIG. 8 shows a curve representing the contents of a 3000 ml reservoir, as a function of cumulative time, corresponding to the fluid flow rate of FIG. 6, illustrating, for example, that it takes much less time to withdraw 500 ml of liquid mixture from a full reservoir than from one that is almost empty. This curve shows that, in order to obtain a good estimate of the flow rate of the liquid mixture, a good knowledge of the contents of the reservoir is necessary. In other words, this curve shows that a good knowledge of the contents of the reservoir is necessary to make a good estimate of the time it takes to withdraw a certain amount of mixture from the reservoir.

FIG. 9A shows three curves representing the maximum gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration achievable by so-called "cold fogging" (i.e., nebulizing without heating the liquid mixture), as a function of ambient temperature and relative humidity in a room.

FIG. 9B shows a curve representing the minimum room temperature as a function of relative humidity to achieve a gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration of 100 ppm in the room by "cold fogging" a hydrogen peroxide mixture containing approximately 87.5 weight percent water and approximately contains 12.5 wt% hydrogen peroxide.

FIG. 10 to FIG. 13 illustrate a method according to the present invention.

FIG. 14A is an exemplary representation of an ideal concentration curve of

H202 in gaseous form in the room, during a disinfection process.

FIG. 14B is an exemplary representation of a possible practical course of the concentration of H 2 O 2 in gaseous form in the chamber, during a disinfection process according to a method proposed by the present invention, which is carried out by an atomizing device in "open-loop" control, i.e. without measuring the gaseous H202 concentration in the chamber.

FIG. 14C is an exemplary representation of a possible practical course of the concentration of gaseous H 2 O 2 in the chamber, during a disinfection process according to a method proposed by the present invention, which is carried out by a nebulizer in "closed-loop" control, i.e. with measurement of the gaseous H202 concentration in the chamber.

FIG. 15A shows an example of "intermittent fogging" with a fixed interval time and a fixed duty cycle.

FIG. 15B shows an example of "intermittent fogging" with a fixed interval time and a variable duty cycle.

Detailed description of illustrative embodiments

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings, however, the invention is not limited thereto but is limited only by the claims. The figures are only schematic and not limiting. In the drawings, the size of certain elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and relative dimensions sometimes do not correspond to the actual practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second and the like are used in the description and in the claims to distinguish like elements and not necessarily to describe an order, whether temporal, spatial, ranking or otherwise. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are adapted to operate in any order other than that described or illustrated herein.

It should be noted that the term "comprises" as used in the claims is not to be construed as limited to the means described below; this term does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the listed features, values, steps or components referred to, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, values, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with regard to the present invention, A and B are the only relevant components of be the device.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, occurrences of the terms "in one embodiment" or "in one embodiment" in various places throughout this specification may not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, but may do so. Furthermore, the specific features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together into a single embodiment, figure or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one. or more of the various inventive aspects. In any event, this method of disclosure should not be interpreted as reflecting an intent that the invention requires more features than are explicitly stated in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single previously disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim being self-contained as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Further, while some embodiments described herein contain some, but not others, features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention, and constitute different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. .

For example, in the following claims any of the described embodiments may be used in any combination.

Numerous specific details are set forth in the description provided herein. In any case, it is to be understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail for the sake of clarity of this disclosure.

In this document, "fogging device" is also referred to as "fogger", "disinfection device" and "sterilization device".

In this document, the term "room" is used for an enclosed space. For example, this term can refer to a hospital room, a meeting room in a company, etc.

References in this document to "humidity" or "humidity", without reference to absolute humidity or relative humidity, mean the relative humidity of the room air.

In this document, the terms "fogging" and "fogging" are used synonymously.

In this document, the terms "liquid mixture" and "hydrogen peroxide mixture" are used synonymously.

In this document, the terms "disinfection cycle" and "disinfection process" are used synonymously.

When referring to "hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber" in this document, it means the hydrogen peroxide concentration in gaseous form, unless explicitly stated otherwise, or unless clear from the context that something else was intended.

When referring to "hydrogen peroxide concentration in the mixture" in this document, it means the hydrogen peroxide concentration in liquid phase, unless explicitly stated otherwise, or unless clear from the context that something else was intended.

The present invention relates to apparatus, systems and methods for disinfecting or disinfecting rooms or premises or the like, and more specifically to a method for disinfecting a room by atomizing a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture, and an apparatus and a computer program performing such method, and a system including such apparatus.

It is known in the art that hydrogen peroxide (chemical formula: H202) is suitable for killing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, spores and yeasts. In practice, a mixture is usually used in which hydrogen peroxide (H202) is dissolved in demineralised water (H20), and the nebulizer must ensure that

"appropriate amounts" of this mixture is introduced into the chamber. Much less known is how much that “appropriate amount” must be to achieve a certain kill rate (e.g. LOG5).

Different manufacturers offer different solutions. For example, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H202) varies from about 5 wt% to about 35 wt% relative to the mixture. Some manufacturers atomize the mixture without heating ("cold atomization"), other manufacturers heat or vaporize the mixture. However, the latter can be dangerous.

It is also known that the relative humidity and temperature of the room to be disinfected play an important role in the disinfection process. In general, the higher the temperature and the lower the relative humidity, the more water and hydrogen peroxide can be added to the air in the room. For this reason, some manufacturers of fogging devices build a heating component and/or a dehumidifier into their device to condition the room before starting fogging. This allows a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide to be introduced into the chamber, but the disinfection process will take much longer.

However, the state of the art is much less clear about exactly how much hydrogen peroxide is needed to achieve a certain kill rate. Some manufacturers recommend raising the hydrogen peroxide level in the room to at least 400 ppm, and preferably much higher, e.g. at least 900 ppm. However, this has several drawbacks: (1) reaching such a high value is only possible if the room has a sufficiently high temperature and a sufficiently low humidity, which in practice means that the room has to be conditioned, which requires additional hardware, and costs extra time and energy; (2) it takes longer to bring the hydrogen peroxide level in the chamber to this level (see, e.g., stage 1 in FIG. 14A); and (3) it takes much longer to reduce the hydrogen peroxide level in the room back to a safe level (see e.g. stage 3 in

FIG. 14A), which again takes extra time.

The inventors of the present invention had several objectives in mind, including: they wanted above all to provide a reliable solution, a solution that kills sufficiently (e.g. at least LOG5 as specified in the EN17272 standard), preferably with hardware that is as simple as possible, preferably with as little waste of hydrogen peroxide mixture as possible, and preferably by carrying out a process that is safe for the user and takes as little time as possible (the total time, counting from the start of the disinfection, up to and including the release of the the room), and preferably two or more of these objectives.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of disinfecting a room by atomizing a hydrogen peroxide mixture. This method is carried out by an atomizing device which has connection means for at least one replaceable container of a hydrogen peroxide mixture, and which has means for atomizing this hydrogen peroxide mixture in the chamber. The method includes the following steps: a)

increasing a gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber by (e.g., continuously) atomizing a first quantity of the hydrogen peroxide mixture during a first stage of a disinfection process; b) maintaining the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber by intermittently atomizing a second portion of the hydrogen peroxide mixture during a second stage of the disinfection process. The hydrogen peroxide mixture is a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture comprising 4.5 to 13.0 weight percent hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide concentration during the second phase is maintained at a value in the range of 45 to 180 ppm, or in the range of 90 to 120 ppm, or in the range of 100 to 120 ppm, for a period of time in the range of 45 up to 120 minutes, e.g. from 50 to 70 minutes, e.g. from 55 to 65 minutes, e.g. from about 60 minutes.

Preferably, the product of the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber, and the time this concentration is present, is at least a factor of 6000. For example, at least 60 minutes x at least 100 ppm, or at least 40 minutes x at least 150 ppm, or at least 100 minutes x at least 60 ppm, or at least 120 minutes x at least 50 ppm. This can be approximated mathematically by: > (cg * AT) >6000, where cg is the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber (expressed in ppm), and AT is the length of a period during which this concentration was measured (expressed in minutes) .

In particular, the nebulizer includes a first fluid circuit with a first inlet "IN1" for receiving a first gas stream from the chamber, and means for adding droplets (e.g., 20 to 30 microns in diameter) of the hydrogen peroxide mixture. to this first gas stream, and with a first outlet "OUT1" for supplying this first gas stream with these droplets to the chamber. The first fluid circuit includes a first pump 205, 405 for circulating air through the first circuit. nebulization device further comprises a control unit 215, 415 (e.g. a programmable microprocessor) for controlling the first pump 205, 405 e.g. one replaceable reservoir 202, 4024, 402b containing the silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture.

It is a great advantage to use a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture, because tests have shown that the kill is many times greater when a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture is used (e.g. the product "Huwa-San TR-12.5", commercially available from Roam Technologies), compared to a hydrogen peroxide blend without silver stabilization. For some micro-organisms the difference is even more than a factor of 10 or a factor of 100 times greater.

Surprisingly, testing has also shown that a maintenance period (i.e. the duration of the second phase) of approximately 45 to 75 minutes is sufficient to achieve standard-compliant kill

EN17272.

It is also an advantage of a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture that it is much more stable, i.e. decomposes less quickly than a hydrogen peroxide mixture without silver stabilization. (e.g. the product "Huwa-San TR-12.5", commercially available from Roam Technologies, has a shelf life of approximately 2 years, compared to only a few months for similar products without silver stabilization).

It is further an advantage to use a hydrogen peroxide mixture with a hydrogen peroxide concentration of only 4.5 wt% to 13.0 wt%, as opposed to mixtures containing up to 30 wt% or even higher, because the product is much safer in use (less corrosion and less risk of explosion).

It is further of great benefit to maintain the hydrogen peroxide concentration during the second phase at a value in the range of 90 to 180 ppm, or in the range of 90 ppm to 150 ppm, or in the range of 90 ppm to 130 ppm, or in the range of 90 ppm to 120 ppm, (as opposed to a gas phase H202 concentration of 400 ppm or even higher), because (i) it takes less time to reach such a value (stage1 shorter), (ii ) because such values are achievable with a hydrogen peroxide mixture with a relatively low hydrogen peroxide concentration (safer), (iii) because such values are often achievable without conditioning the room (time savings, simpler equipment), (iv) because it takes much less time to bring this value back down to a safe level (in a third phase), and (v) because sufficient killing can still be guaranteed, as specified in standard EN17272.

The nebulization in the first phase is preferably a continuous nebulization, i.e. the first pump that ensures the air circulation through the nebulization device is continuously ON during the first phase.

The nebulization in the second stage is an intermittent atomization, i.e. the first pump is switched ON and OFF repeatedly during the second stage, preferably at least 5 times. This offers the advantage that (i) the risk of condensation decreases, and (ii) that the hydrogen peroxide concentration is not raised unnecessarily high, which would require a more liquid mixture, and (iii) so that later (in the third phase) it is much would require more time for this concentration to drop back to a safe value before the room is accessible again without a gas mask.

These are the main underlying principles of the present invention. Further embodiments and variants are described in more detail below.

Optionally, the hydrogen peroxide mixture is withdrawn from the at least one reservoir using the Venturi principle, but this is not strictly necessary, and it is also possible to use a liquid pump.

Optionally, the at least one container carries an RFID tag 103, 303, storing data comprising at least an amount of the hydrogen peroxide mixture, and the atomizing device further includes at least one RFID reader-writer communicatively connected to the control unit, and the control unit provided to read data from the RFID tag, and write to the RFID tag repeatedly, e.g. to keep the amount of mixture in the at least one reservoir up to date, but an RFID tag is not strictly necessary for the present invention, and the initial amount can also be entered manually by an operator, and kept up-to-date in the nebulization device (e.g. in RAM).

Optionally, the nebulizer device is communicatively connected to one or more external devices (e.g. with at least one hydrogen peroxide sensor), and/or to an external server, and the disinfection process is controlled in "closed loop", i.e. using the values read from the hydrogen peroxide sensor, but it is not strictly necessary, and it is also possible to control the disinfection process in "open-loop", based on time.

Referring to the figures,

FIG. 1A shows a first example of a fogging device 100, also referred to herein as a "small fogger", in perspective view. A container 102 containing a hydrogen peroxide mixture is connected to the fogging device 100. As can be seen, the container 102 is located on the outside of the "little fogger". Preferably, the reservoir 102 contains an RFID tag (see FIG. 1B) with a non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory or EEPROM), which includes a field (e.g., one byte or two bytes in size) containing a value which corresponds to the amount of hydrogen peroxide that is (still) present in the reservoir 102.

The nebulizer 100 has a control unit 215 (also referred to herein as "controller"), e.g., a programmable processor, and preferably also an RFID reader-writer 204 connected to this processor, (not visible in FIG. 1A, but see FIG. . 2), so that the control unit can read data stored in the RFID tag, e.g. the initial amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture, but optionally also other data such as e.g. one or more values selected from the group consisting of: the production date of the hydrogen peroxide mixture, an expiry date, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the (liquid) hydrogen peroxide mixture.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the fogging device 100 is provided to keep the value of this field in the RFID tag (corresponding to the amount of liquid mixture) up-to-date, e.g. by updating the value of this field repeatedly, e.g. periodically updated as fluid is drawn from the reservoir 202. Preferably, this field is updated at least once every 20 seconds that the first pump 205 and/or the liquid pump 219 is active, e.g. at least once every 10 seconds, or at least once every 8 seconds, or at least once times every 6 seconds, or at least once every 5 seconds, or at least once every 4 seconds. The more often this value is updated, the more closely the content of the field corresponds to the actual amount of fluid in the reservoir. By updating the field repeatedly (as opposed to just once at the end of a disinfection cycle), it can be assumed that this field accurately reflects the actual contents of the tank, even if the disinfection cycle was interrupted prematurely by e.g. a power cut.

FIG. 1B shows the container containing the hydrogen peroxide mixture 102 of FIG. 1A, and with a

RFID tag 103. The RFID tag is also enlarged with increased contrast.

FIG. ZA shows a block diagram of one possible embodiment of the nebulizer 100 of FIG. 1A, where liquid is withdrawn from the at least one reservoir 102 based on the Venturi principle.

As already mentioned above, the nebulizing device 200 includes a first fluid circuit with a first inlet "IN1" for receiving a first gas stream from the room to be disinfected in which the device is located, and with means to dispense small droplets (e.g., with an average diameter of 10 to 50 microns, e.g. from 20 to 40 microns, or from 20 to 30 microns) of a hydrogen peroxide mixture to be added to this first gas stream, and with a first outlet "OUT1" for supplying this first gas stream with this droplets to the chamber, and with a first pump 205 to circulate air through the first fluid circuit.

In FIG. 2B, a variant of the atomizing device will be shown that includes a fluid pump 219 to pump fluid from the at least one reservoir 202 and add it to the first air stream, but the atomizing device 200 of FIG. 2A preferably does not contain a liquid pump, but liquid is added from the at least one reservoir 202 via a tube or tube 206 that is inserted into the reservoir 202, along which liquid is drawn in by means of the Venturi principle, caused by the velocity of the first gas stream. .

Preferably, the first pump 205 has a predetermined (non-adjustable) speed. The first pump 205 and the diameter of the pipes of the first fluid circuit can be dimensioned such that the velocity of this air stream is, for example, 40 m/s to 80 m/s, or a value in the range of 50 m/s to 70 m/s. m/s, e.g. approximately equal to 60 m/s. This allows the liquid mixture to be sucked out of the reservoir at a flow rate of about 30 to 60 ml/min, as will be further explained in FIG. 6.

The nebulizer 200 further includes a control unit 215, also referred to as a controller, e.g., a programmable microprocessor, as well as working memory (RAM) and non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory or EEPROM or the like), located internally or externally of the processor. can be located. The non-volatile memory preferably contains a computer program that contains instructions that can be executed by the controller 215. Preferably, this computer program executes a method 1000, as described in FIG. 10 to FIG. 13. This computer program is provided, among other things, for controlling the first pump 205, e.g. to switch the pump ON or OFF, e.g. by means of a relay. Such circuits are well known and therefore need not be described in detail.

The nebulizer 200 further includes provisions for connecting to the first circuit a replaceable reservoir 202 containing a hydrogen peroxide mixture, e.g. via a screw cap connection and a tube 206.

The nebulizer 200 further includes a user interface, e.g., a display, (e.g., a

LCD screen) and keys, or a touchscreen 212, or the like, communicatively connected to the control unit 215. In this way, the control unit can exchange information with the user, e.g. request data, and/or display data.

Although not strictly necessary, the container 202 preferably carries an RFID tag 103 with a non-volatile memory in which data is stored. This data contains at least the amount of the hydrogen peroxide mixture, e.g. in the case of the tank 102 for the "small fogger" the initial amount is approximately equal to 1000 ml, in the case of the tank 302 for the "large fogger" the initial amount approximately equal to 3000 ml. And, while not strictly necessary, the nebulization device 200 preferably includes an RFID reader-writer 204, which is positioned in proximity to the container's RFID tag when the container is connected to the atomization device. The RFID reader-writer 204 has an antenna (not explicitly shown in

FIG. 2) which allows it to communicate wirelessly with the RFID tag 203 of the container 202. The RFID reader-writer is communicatively connected to the control unit 215 so that the control unit 215 can read and/or write data from the RFID tag 203. Preferably, the RFID tag of the reservoir is repeatedly written to when hydrogen peroxide mixture is withdrawn from the reservoir, i.e. when the first pump 205 is active, to keep the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture up to date. Preferably, the memory field containing the initial amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture is repeatedly overwritten, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is also possible to provide multiple fields to be written or overwritten sequentially.

For example, in embodiments where the reservoir does not carry an RFID tag, and/or where the nebulizer device does not include an RFID reader-writer, the user can manually enter via the user interface 212 how much hydrogen peroxide mixture is still present in the at least one reservoir, (see e.g. step 1010 of Fig. 10, and step 1016 of Fig. 11) and the nebulizer device can update, e.g., in RAM, this amount during a disinfection cycle.

Further, the nebulizer 200 includes a timing circuit 217, e.g., a timer and/or a real-time clock. "Real-time clock" refers to a chip or module, optionally with a battery, that keeps track of not only the time, but also the date. However, the latter is not strictly necessary, and it is sufficient that the control unit 215 can measure the time.

Preferably, the nebulizer 200 also includes a buzzer 213, or a loudspeaker or the like, capable of generating an acoustic signal. In this way, the control unit 215 can, for instance, indicate that an operator must leave the room and/or may not yet enter the room. In this way the safety of the operator can be increased.

Optionally, the nebulizer 200 also includes an RF communication module 211, e.g. a

Bluetooth module or a Wifi module, to communicate with one or more external devices, e.g. with a remote control. This aspect will be further explained in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, but is not strictly necessary for the operation of the nebulizer.

Optionally, the nebulizer 200 also includes a mobile data communication module 218, e.g. an SMS transceiver, or a GPRS transceiver, or a UMTS transceiver, or other suitable transceiver module for a 3G or 4G or 5G network, e.g. to communicate with a central server 560 over the internet. This aspect will be further explained in FIG. 5B and

FIG. 13, but is not strictly necessary for the operation of the nebulizer.

This completes the main hardware components of the nebulizer 100 of

FIG. 1A, which can be seen as a "minimum design", but of course the present invention is not limited thereto and one or more components can be added, e.g. internal to the nebulizer, or external to the nebulizer, or both , as will be described further (e.g., in FIG. 4A to FIG. 5B).

In FIG. 10 to FIG. 13 will describe a method that can be performed by the nebulizer 200 to disinfect a room, in "open-loop" (without hydrogen peroxide sensor), or in "closed-loop" (English: closed loop, with hydrogen peroxide sensor), but before explaining such a method, a second embodiment of an atomizing device will first be described with reference to Figures 3A to Figure 5B. can enter certain parameters (e.g. temperature and relative humidity and volume) of the room to be disinfected via the user interface, and that the controller 215 can check (e.g. via the RFID tag) how much hydrogen peroxide mixture is available in the reservoir 202 , and that the controller 215 can check (and display) whether the available amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture is sufficient to adequately disinfect the room (and optionally whether the best before date has passed. If the user decides to continue, a disinfection cycle can be started after which the controller 215 will usually generate an audible signal to indicate that the operator must leave the room, after which the controller 215 will control the first pump 205 to run through a disinfection cycle, e.g. based solely on time information ("open loop)". If a hydrogen peroxide sensor is present, this can be used, and a "closed-loop" disinfection cycle can be completed. This will be further explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 15B.

FIG. 2B shows a block diagram of an nebulizer 250 which can be viewed as a variant of the nebulizer 200 of FIG. 2A, with the main difference being that the nebulizer 250 of FIG. 2B includes a liquid pump 219 to withdraw hydrogen peroxide mixture from the reservoir. In this embodiment, the fluid flow rate is preferably constant, and the graphs of FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, and FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B therefore not applicable. If the flow rate is constant (variant of FIG. 6 and FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B), the contents of the reservoir will change linearly as a function of time (variant of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8).

FIG. 3A shows a second exemplary fogging device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention, also referred to herein as a "large fogger", in perspective view. This device can be viewed as a variant of the nebulizer device 100 of FIG. 1A, and aside from the differences, what was described above for the "small fogger" also applies here, mutatis mutandis.

The fogging device 300 (the "large fogger") is larger and heavier than the fogging device 100 (the "small fogger") of FIG. 1A, and the chassis therefore preferably includes four wheels 331, 332 and a handle 334 for moving the device. In the example shown, for practical reasons the device comprises two non-swivel wheels 331 located on the side of the handle, and two swivel wheels 332 with wheel brake 333 on the opposite side, but this is of course not essential for the invention In the example of Fig. 3A, the non-swivel wheels 331 have a larger diameter than the swivel wheels 332, but this again is not essential, and the invention will also work if the apparatus had four similar wheels, swiveling or non-swivelling. pivotable, with or without wheel brake.

The nebulizer 300 further comprises a user interface 312, in the example in the form of an LCD touchscreen (touch screen), where information can be displayed to the operator, and where the operator can enter certain values (e.g. room temperature, relative humidity of the room , volume of the room), and/or can select or set certain parameters, and/or can start the disinfection process, etc. Instead of a touch screen 312, an ordinary display can of course also be used (e.g. LCD screen without input option) and one or more pushbuttons and/or rotary knobs or the like.

It should be noted that the nebulizer device 300 preferably has a communication module 411, e.g., an RF communication module (e.g., Bluetooth or Wifi). This is not visible in FIG. 3A, but is shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, which means that the presence of a user interface 312, 412 on the nebulizer 300 itself is not strictly necessary, as communication with the operator could also take place via an external device, e.g. a remote control 540 or a laptop 541 or a smartphone . However, the presence of a user interface 312, 412 on the device itself is convenient, and allows the nebulizer device 300 to operate stand-alone, without external devices.

Within the nebulizer 300, space is provided for two reservoirs 4024, 402b, each containing 3 liters of hydrogen peroxide mixture. To connect a new reservoir and/or replace an existing reservoir, an operator must open the top cover 336 by means of a lever or handle 337. Alternative embodiments may accommodate more than two reservoirs of hydrogen peroxide mixture, e.g., three or four reservoirs, or two reservoirs with a capacity greater or less than 3 litres. As with the "little fogger" of FIG. 1A and FIG. 2, each hydrogen peroxide mixture container 4023, 402b preferably has an RFID tag 4034, 403b with data including a field displaying the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the respective container; and preferably, the nebulization device 300 of FIG. 3A two RFID reader-writers 404a, 404b (see

FIG. 4), each provided to communicate with one RFID tag. The antennas of the RFID reader-writers are dimensioned (relatively small) in such a way that they can only communicate with the reservoir over a relatively short distance, and in such a way that communication with another reservoir that does not belong to the RFID reader-writer in question , is avoided. It is of course also possible to provide an electromagnetic shielding, but this is not strictly necessary.

As explained above for the "small fogger", the fogging device 300 includes a controller 415, e.g., a programmable microcontroller, provided with a software program containing routines to perform a method as shown in FIG. 10. If the device includes RFID reader-writers 404, and if the containers have RFID tags 403, then the software program preferably includes routines to record the value of the amount of liquid mixture in each container, on each RFID tag, up-to-date, and updated repeatedly as fluid is drawn from a reservoir.

Visible in FIG. 3A are also two nozzles 3014, 301b, which form the outlet OUT1 of the first fluid channel, through which the air with droplets of hydrogen peroxide mixture are blown into the chamber. Also visible in FIG. 3A are two openings IN2 of the second fluid channel. Unlike the "little fogger" of FIG. 1A has the "large fogger" of FIG. 3A namely an active filter for removing hydrogen peroxide from the chamber during a third phase of the atomization process. This active filter may include an active carbon filter, or may include a metal catalyst, or both. The output OUT2 of the second fluid channel is not visible in FIG. 3A, but located at the bottom of the device.

FIG. 3B shows an example of a reservoir 302 that may be used in conjunction with the nebulizer 300 of FIG. 3A. The reservoir of FIG. 3B can hold 3000 ml of hydrogen peroxide mixture, but of course the invention will also work with larger or smaller reservoirs.

Certain tests (with a relatively small range of room volume, temperature and relative humidity) have shown that under certain conditions about 7 to 10 ml of mixture per cubic meter of room volume of silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture with a hydrogen peroxide concentration in the liquid mixture of 12.5 wt. %, was sufficient to obtain a disinfection that complies with the EN17272 standard. That amount is sufficient to create a gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration of about 100 to about 120 ppm in the chamber. This quantity can be calculated using the following formula:

NH=KV*A where NH is the required amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture (expressed in ml), and where KV is the volume of the chamber (expressed in cubic meters), and where A is a predetermined value (expressed in ml/m3).

In one embodiment, the value of A is a number in the range of 7 to 10 mi/m3, but the invention is not limited thereto, and values of A in the range of 5 to 25 mi/m3, or in the range of 5 to 20 ml/m°, or in the range of 5 to 15 ml/m3, or in the range of 8 to 25 ml/m°, or in the range of 8 to 20 ml/mê, or in the range of 8 up to 15 mi/m2 are also possible. Optionally, this value is adjustable by the operator.

Optionally, the RFID tag contains not only the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the reservoir, but also the value of the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the liquid mixture, and the nebulizer is provided to request (read) this value from the RFID tag, and to take this into account when determining the amount of the hydrogen peroxide mixture to be introduced into the chamber.

Preferably, before actually starting the cycle, the device will first check whether there is sufficient hydrogen peroxide mixture present in the two reservoirs together, and will give an error message if insufficient hydrogen peroxide mixture is present. This will be discussed further in the method of FIG. 10 to FIG. 13.

Preferably, the device will also request the temperature and relative humidity of the room from the operator, or measure it itself (if it contains the necessary sensors, or if it has contact with external sensors), and the device will also check whether the target hydrogen peroxide concentration is achievable based on the given room conditions, and will generate an error message if the target concentration is not achievable. This will be further discussed in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B.

As an illustrative example, but the invention is not limited thereto, a nebulizer according to the present invention with a full reservoir of 1 liter (1000 ml) of silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture having a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 12.5% by weight, can fill a room or area of about disinfect 100 m3 during a first phase (see

FIG. 14B) to introduce about 450 ml of mixture into the chamber over about 8 or 9 minutes, raising the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber to about 100 to 120 ppm, and then, during a second phase of about 60 minutes, the remaining 550 ml of the mixture into the chamber, by "intermittently fogging" with an appropriate duty cycle, so that a total maintenance period of approximately 60 minutes is achieved. The total time of phase 1 and phase 2 is in so this example is about 68 to 69 minutes.

As an illustrative example, but the invention is not limited thereto, a nebulizer according to the present invention with one full 3 liter (1000 ml) reservoir of silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture having a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 12.5% by weight can fill a room or area of approximately disinfect at 300 m° during a first phase (see

FIG. 14B) introduce about 1350 ml of mixture into the chamber from about 24 to 27 minutes, raising the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber to about 100 to 120 ppm, and then, during a second phase of about 60 minutes, an additional 1650 ml of the mixture (e.g. from the same reservoir, and/or from the other reservoir) into the chamber, by "intermittently fogging" with an appropriate duty cycle, so that a total maintenance period of approx. 60 minutes is obtained, so the total time of phase 1 and phase 2 in this example is approximately 84 to 87 minutes.

These are of course only examples, and since the large fogger has two reservoirs of 3 liters each, it can also be used to disinfect a room larger than 300 m3.

FIG. 3C shows one side (designated by the letter "X") of the reservoir of FIG. 3B on which a

RFID tag 303 is applied. The RFID tag is also enlarged with increased contrast, but as already mentioned above, the presence of the RFID tag is not necessary.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of one possible embodiment of the nebulizer 300 of FIG. 3A. This block diagram (of the "big fogger") is a variant of the block diagram of FIG. 2 (of the "little fogger"). The basic function of the "large fogger" 300 is the same as that of the "small fogger" 100, which is to disinfect a room, but there are a number of differences, including: (i) this fogging device accommodates two reservoirs 4024, 402b with hydrogen peroxide mixture, and optionally also to a third tank 420 with sterilized water, for optional rinsing of the device after stage 1 and stage 2, to purge the lines; (ii) that each reservoir can be individually and selectively connected to or disconnected from the nozzle by means of an associated valve V1, V2, V3. These valves are controlled (e.g., opened or closed) by the controller 415;

(iii) that the valves V1, V2, V3 are connected to a common conduit leading to the nozzle 401, in the example via a manifold 422; (iv) that this dispenser optionally includes two RFID reader-writers 4044, 404b, one for each container with an RFID tag, and with a hydrogen peroxide mixture; (v) that this atomizing device further has means for actively removing hydrogen peroxide from the ambient air, in the example a scrubber 421 with an active carbon filter. The scrubber 421 is part of a second fluid circuit with a second inlet

IN2 and a second outlet OUT2, and has a second pump "PUMP2" for circulating a stream of air through the second fluid circuit. This second pump can be selectively switched ON or OFF by the controller 415, e.g. during a third phase F3 of the disinfection process (see

FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C).

In an alternative embodiment, the activated carbon filter is replaced with a catalyst to remove hydrogen peroxide H202 from the chamber. It is also possible to use both an active carbon filter and a catalyst.

These differences allow the fogging device 300 ("the big fogger") to disinfect a larger room, and the third stage F3 will take less time, so that the room can be cleared more quickly. It also offers the advantage that (for rooms smaller than about 300 m3) it can use the hydrogen peroxide mixture more economically, because it can first empty one reservoir before starting a new reservoir. With this device it is therefore not necessary to always start a new cycle with new reservoirs, and it can also be avoided that liquid has to be poured over, which benefits the safety of the operator.

Although not strictly necessary to perform a disinfection cycle with high reliability, the fogging device 300 preferably includes an RF communication module, e.g. with

Bluetooth and/or with Wifi, and the nebulizer device is provided to communicate with a "remote control" 540 (see FIG.5). This remote control can be an existing tablet or a smartphone, with an appropriate application (app), and can optionally have a touch screen (touch screen) In a simple implementation, the remote control application may be provided to remotely start the nebulizer, e.g., after an operator enters the necessary data through the touch screen 412 on the nebulizer itself device remotely, and the controller 415 will start or stop the device accordingly as if the user had given this command through the touch screen 412. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and it is also possible to run a more extensive application on the remote control. which is provided to display the same information as appears on the display 412 of the nebulizer device 400, and to display input data (e.g., temperature of the room, volume of the room, relative humidity of the room), entered on the remote control, to be sent to the controller 415. The controller 415 in this case will be arranged to process either commands or data entered through the local user interface 412, or via remote control 540. The major advantage of using a remote control is that it allows an operator to operate the nebulizer device remotely, and/or monitor its status, e.g. while outside the room . After all, it is very dangerous to enter the room without personal protective equipment such as a respirator, as long as the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the room exceeds a predetermined safe value, typically 1.0 ppm. The development and/or manufacture of such remote control 540 (hardware and/or software) is known in the art, and thus needs no further explanation. Communication with a remote control is also possible via a mobile data communication module 418, if present.

For the sake of completeness, it is noted that, in a practical implementation of the block diagram of FIG. 4 the "first fluid channel" can be implemented e.g. as two physical channels in parallel, each with its own entrance, its own pump, and its own nozzle, but this is not essential, and such details therefore need not be explained further .

FIG. 4B shows a block diagram of an nebulizer 450 which can be viewed as a variant of the nebulizer 400 of FIG. 4A, with the main difference being that the nebulizer 450 of FIG. 4B includes a liquid pump 419 to withdraw hydrogen peroxide mixture from the reservoir. In this embodiment, the fluid flow rate is preferably constant, and the graphs of FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, and FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B therefore not applicable. If the flow rate is constant (variant of FIG. 6 and FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B), the contents of the reservoir will change linearly as a function of time (variant of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8).

FIG. 5 shows a fogging system 590 that includes a fogging device 500 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention (e.g., a "small fogger" as shown in FIG.

FIG. 1A or a "large fogger" as shown in FIG. 3A), and one or more external devices selected from: one or more hydrogen peroxide sensors 531 for measuring a hydrogen peroxide concentration in gas phase, at one or more locations in the chamber. If present, these hydrogen peroxide sensors can be used, e.g., in steps 1021 to 1023 of the method of FIG. 13, corresponding to stage 3 of FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C, specifically to perform a "closed loop" process; - one or more temperature sensors 532 for measuring an ambient temperature at one or more locations in the room. If present, they can be used e.g. in step 1011 or 1012 of the method of FIG. 11;

- one or more relative humidity sensors 533 for measuring a relative humidity at one or more locations in the room. If present, they can be used e.g. in step 1011 or 1012 of the method of FIG. 11; - one or more fans or ventilators 551 for distributing the air with droplets in the room, and thus to make the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the room more even. If present, these fans can be used e.g. in steps 1021 to 1023 of the method of FIG. 13, - one or more air heaters 552 for heating the air in the room to condition the room. If present, these air heaters can be used e.g. in step 1011 of the method of FIG. 11; one or more dehumidifiers 553 to lower the relative humidity of the air in the room by extracting water vapor from the air to condition the room.

If present, these dehumidifiers can be used e.g. in step 1011 of the method of FIG. 11; - one or more external scrubbers 554 to reduce the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration present in the air of the chamber. If present, these scrubbers can be used e.g. in step 1023 of the method of FIG. 13, corresponding to stage 3 of FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C, to further reduce the duration of the third stage, thus further accelerating the overall decontamination process, so that the chamber can be cleared more quickly, but without sacrificing the fidelity of kill. - a remote control 540. This has already been discussed above. - a laptop 541 or a tablet or a smartphone or the like. This can perform the function of the remote control 540, and possibly even more, such as e.g. to adjust parameters or settings, or even the entire software program of the nebulizer device.

Preferably, any of these external devices, if any, can be communicatively connected to the control unit 415 of the nebulizer device, e.g. via the RF communication module, or optionally via a cable connection (not shown), e.g. RS232, USB, etc., or via the mobile data communication module (e.g. over a 3G, 4G or 5G network).

The hydrogen peroxide sensor 531, and the temperature sensor 532 and the relative humidity sensor 533 may possibly be integrated in one sensor device 530. This sensor device 530 may further comprise a controller 539 for driving and/or reading the sensors, and may comprise a port ( not shown) for connecting a cable (e.g. RS232,

USB, etc.), and/or may include an RF communication module 538 to transmit data wirelessly.

In a specific embodiment, the nebulizer system 590 includes the nebulizer 500 with two hydrogen peroxide reservoirs 402a, 402b and with a third reservoir 420 of sterilized water (to flush the lines), and a laptop 541 with both

Bluetooth as WiFi utilities, and an external sensor device 530 comprising at least a hydrogen peroxide sensor 531, an RF communication module 538 with Bluetooth, and a controller 539. In such a system, the controller 515 of the nebulizer device can communicate with the controller 539 of the sensor device 530 via the laptop, which acts as a gateway. In such an arrangement, the laptop can also be used to log data to a local storage medium 542 (e.g. hard disk), or to a network drive (not shown}, or to the cloud 543 or the like.

In another or further embodiment, the fogging system 590 includes the air heater 552 and the dehumidifier 553, which are preferably automatically controlled by the controller 515 of the fogging device 500, e.g. via a cable (not shown), or via a wireless connection (e.g. .Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) . These devices 552, 553 allow the room to be conditioned if the temperature and/or the humidity do not meet the necessary conditions to atomize the intended amount of hydrogen peroxide (e.g. about 100 to 120 ppm) in the room.

In another or further embodiment, the atomization system 590 includes at least two hydrogen peroxide sensors 531, preferably located at different locations in the chamber; and the nebulizer 500 is arranged to receive a value from each of these at least two hydrogen peroxide sensors, and during the first stage (stage1) and the second stage (stage2) of the disinfection cycle (see FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C) consider a minimum of this multiplicity of values as the relevant gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber (e.g. by ensuring that the minimum value is at least 100 ppm), and to use during the third stage (stage3) of the disinfection cycle ( see Figure 14A to Figure 14C) consider a maximum of this plurality of values as the relevant gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber (e.g. by causing the maximum value to fall below 1.0 ppm). In this way, on the one hand, the probability is increased that the hydrogen peroxide concentration everywhere in the room contains at least the predetermined value (e.g. about 100 ppm), in order to achieve sufficient killing everywhere in the room (e.g. according to standard EN17272), and on the other hand to reduce the risk that the hydrogen peroxide concentration somewhere in the room exceeds the predetermined safe value (e.g. 1.0 ppm) before releasing the room again.

Of course, many other combinations are possible of the nebulizer 500 with one or more of the aforementioned external devices, shown in dotted line in FIG. 5.

For the sake of completeness, it is noted that it is also possible to build one or more of these devices, e.g. a first, internal scrubber), as well as an external device (e.g., a second scrubber).

FIG. 5B shows an atomization system 595 which can be viewed as a variant of the atomization system 590 of FIG. 5A. The nebulization system 595 includes a hydrogen peroxide sensor 531, which may or may not be integrated into a sensor module 530, communicatively connected to the nebulizer device controller 561, e.g. directly via a Wi-Fi connection, or indirectly via a Bluetooth connection to a laptop, and via a Wifi connection to the nebulizer. In such a system, the actual gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber can be measured repeatedly, and the disinfection process can be performed in "closed-loop" control, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 14B.

Preferably, the nebulizer device is also communicatively connected to a central server, e.g. via an RF communication module 411 (e.g. via Wifi), and/or via a mobile data communication module 418, e.g. via an internet connection.

The controller may further be provided to receive data from the chamber to be disinfected (e.g. initial temperature, initial relative humidity, volume), and data from the hydrogen peroxide mixture (e.g. hydrogen peroxide concentration in the liquid mixture, initial volume, intermediate volumes, preferably together with a time stamp), and to forward the measured hydrogen peroxide values, or a subset thereof, preferably together with a time stamp, to the central server 560. The latter can then check, based on the data received, whether the disinfection process has been carried out successfully , e.g. by statistical analysis of the measured concentrations and timestamps for the specified room conditions and the disinfectant used.

It is noted that the presence of a hydrogen peroxide sensor and/or a connection to the central server are not necessary to perform a reliable disinfection cycle. It is perfectly possible to carry out a disinfection cycle in so-called "open loop" control. In this case, it is sufficient to control the first pump (and possibly the liquid pump) on the basis of known characteristics of the device and known parameters of the chamber, e.g. using tables prepared during calibration tests. In this case, some safety margins may be taken, e.g. introducing a slightly higher than average amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture into the chamber (e.g. during the first and/or second phase ), to ensure sufficient kill, and/or wait a slightly longer than average time (e.g. during the third phase) to ensure sufficient reduction of the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber. Such a safety margin may be set by the operator become.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary curve illustrating the flow rate of the liquid hydrogen peroxide mixture from the reservoir as a function of the degree of filling of the reservoir, as applicable in atomizing devices according to the present invention that utilize the venturi effect. This curve is mainly determined by the speed of the airflow in the first fluid channel, as well as by the shape and size of the nozzle.

As can be seen, the relationship between the liquid flow rate (of the hydrogen peroxide mixture) and the amount of liquid in the reservoir is almost linear. This graph was measured for a 3000 ml reservoir with a height of approximately 25 cm, measured in a prototype "large fogger" of FIG. 3A. In the specific example of FIG. 6, the fluid flow rate can be calculated or approximated from the following formula:

VD [ml/min] = 30.8 [ml/min] + 0.31*VG [in %] [1] where VD is the fluid flow rate (expressed in ml/min), and

VG is the filling level of the reservoir (expressed in %), but of course this may be different for another nebulizer device.

So in the example of FIG. 6, the fluid flow rate is approximately 30.8 + 31.0 = 61.8 ml/min for a full reservoir (VG=100%), and the fluid flow rate is approximately 30.8 + 0.31 = 31.1 ml/min for an almost empty reservoir (VG=1%). That is almost a factor of two difference between a full reservoir and an almost empty reservoir. It will be appreciated that this must be taken into account in order to introduce and/or maintain an accurate concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the chamber (e.g. during the second phase of FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C). This will be further discussed in FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B.

The liquid flow rate in a prototype "small fogger" of FIG. 1A is similar, but the measurement points are slightly shifted. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that the specific curve of FIG. 6 was measured in an 81 m3 test chamber.

FIG. 7 shows another representation of the curve of FIG. 6, showing fluid flow rate as a function of cumulative time, starting from a full 3000 ml reservoir. This graph can be derived from the graph of FIG. 6, or based on formula [1], using the following formulas:

AVfluid [in ml] = VD [in ml/min] * AT [in min] [2] where AVfluid is the volume of fluid drawn from the reservoir for a short time AT, VD is the fluid flow rate mentioned above (expressed in ml/ min), and AT the time span (expressed in minutes). It should be noted that this graph is not linear.

In the example of FIG. 7, AT was chosen as a period of 10 seconds, and every 10 seconds the amount of liquid remaining in the reservoir was calculated, as well as the corresponding liquid flow rate. These values can be calculated iteratively, or can be stored in a table. If AT = 10 seconds, then a table of approximately 408 items is sufficient. Such a table can easily be stored in a non-volatile memory of the device. But of course the invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to store other tables, or to store the curve in a different way, e.g. by storing the coordinates of a stepwise linear approximation. piecewise linear approximation").

FIG. 8 shows a curve 891 representing the contents of a 3000 ml reservoir as a function of the cumulative time fluid is drawn from the reservoir (i.e., the cumulative time the first pump is ON), corresponding to the fluid flow rate of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The curve 891 is clearly non-linear (it lies below the dotted line). The area under the curve 891 also illustrates that it takes, for example, much less time (in the example 500 seconds versus 790 seconds) to withdraw 500 ml of liquid mixture from a full reservoir (e.g. from a capacity of 3000 ml to 2500 ml) compared to of a reservoir that is almost empty (e.g. from a capacity of 1000 ml to 500 ml).

In practice, a lot of hydrogen peroxide mixture would be wasted if one had to start from a completely filled reservoir every time. In order to allow the nebulizer to operate with a reservoir that is not completely filled, it is therefore desirable to have a correct knowledge of the content of the hydrogen peroxide mixture still present in the reservoir in order to make a good estimate of the time required to reach a certain quantity of mixture from the reservoir (in the example: 500 ml, but this is only an example). This is especially important for an "open-loop" method, i.e. one in which the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber is not effectively measured (e.g. because no hydrogen peroxide sensor is present), but is estimated based on time, and using the above table, or mathematical formulas and iterative calculations, established on the basis of the results of several tests with varying values of temperature, humidity and room size, in which the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the room was measured in a test set-up .

During the experiments, the inventors also found that the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber cannot be increased indefinitely, but that it is limited to a ceiling value. They also found that this ceiling value mainly depends on temperature and relative humidity in the room. Further research has led to the graph of

FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9A shows three curves representing the maximum gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration that can be achieved by so-called "cold atomization" (i.e. atomization without heating the liquid mixture), as a function of ambient temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) in a room. These curves apply to a hydrogen peroxide mixture with a liquid phase hydrogen peroxide concentration of approximately 12.5% by weight in demineralised water.

In general, it can be said that the higher the temperature and the lower the relative humidity of the room to be disinfected, the higher the maximum hydrogen peroxide concentration achievable with this mixture.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the target gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration is about 100 ppm. As seen in FIG. 9A, this value is achievable in: - a room with relative humidity = 49% and temperature of at least 15°C, - a room with relative humidity = 60% and temperature of at least 19°C, - a room with relative humidity = 70% and Temperature of at least 21.5°C, etc,

If the temperature and relative humidity of the room meet one of these conditions, then it does not need to be "conditioned", i.e. the temperature does not have to be raised, and/or the relative humidity has to be lowered before a disinfection cycle can be started. be started (this means e.g. that step 1011 of FIG. 11 can be skipped). The specific curves of FIG. 9A were measured in the 81 m² test chamber mentioned above.

Similar curves can be drawn up for hydrogen peroxide mixtures with a different hydrogen peroxide concentration other than 12.5 wt%.

FIG. 9B shows a curve derived from FIG. 9A, and which represents the minimum room temperature as a function of the relative humidity, or vice versa, which indicates the maximum relative humidity for a given temperature, in order to achieve a gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration of 100 ppm in the room by "cold fogging" of a hydrogen peroxide mixture containing substantially 87.5 wt.% demineralized water and substantially 12.5 wt.% hydrogen peroxide, and preferably also 0.006 to 0.008 wt.% silver ions. Such hydrogen peroxide mixture is commercially available from Roam Technologies under the product name: "Huwa-San TR-12.5" or "Huwa San 12.5 MD".

Using the curve of FIG. For example, 9B, the nebulizer may determine that a target gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration of e.g. 100 ppm by nebulizing "Huwa-San TR-12.5" is not achievable if the relative humidity is 80%, and the temperature in the room is lower than 23.5°C at the start of the disinfection cycle. Such a test can be performed e.g. in step 1020 of FIG. 10 or FIG. 12.

Similar curves can be prepared for other hydrogen peroxide concentrations in gas phase, different from 100 ppm, and/or using a hydrogen peroxide mixture with a hydrogen peroxide concentration different from 12.5 wt%.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a method 1000 that can be performed by an atomization device as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, and/or by a misting system 590,

595 as illustrated in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, with one or more external devices. Different variants of the method are possible, depending on which facilities are available, e.g.: - If the fogging device contains a temperature sensor and/or a humidity sensor, or has communicative access to an external temperature sensor 532 and/or an external humidity sensor 533, then it can device measures the temperature and relative humidity of the room to be disinfected itself. Alternatively, the operator can measure the temperature and/or relative humidity, and enter the values through the display 412 of the device or through the remote control 540 (if present), before starting a disinfection cycle. - If the nebulizer has an air heater and/or a dehumidifier, or has communicative access to an external air heater 552 and/or an external air dehumidifier 553, then the nebulizer can optionally increase the temperature in the room and/or the relative humidity in the lower room. Alternatively, if an external air heater 552 and/or a dehumidifier 553 are present in the room, but are not communicatively connected to the fogging device, an operator can optionally operate these devices manually before starting a disinfection cycle. However, as explained above (see e.g. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B), the presence of an air heater and/or a dehumidifier is not strictly necessary, and it is often possible to start a disinfection cycle without pre-conditioning the room, if the temperature is and the relative humidity meet the conditions as shown e.g. in FIG. 9B. - If the nebulizer contains a hydrogen peroxide sensor internally, and/or has communicative access to an external hydrogen peroxide sensor 531, then the nebulizer can measure the hydrogen peroxide concentration in gas phase in the chamber, and process parameters (e.g. the duration of phasel of Fig. 14C, starting and stopping the so-called intermittent fogging during phase 2, and releasing the room after phase 3), adjusting dynamically, taking into account the measured values, in a so-called "closed-loop" control. If the nebulizer does not have access to a hydrogen peroxide sensor, the nebulizer can perform an atomization process in so-called "open-loop" control, based on time, taking into account the current filling level of the reservoir(s).

The method 1000 of FIG. 10 as proposed by the present invention actually comprises four major steps: i) collecting 1010 data for performing an atomization process in a particular chamber; ii) checking 1020 whether the collected data meets certain conditions in order to be able to successfully carry out the intended atomization process, and if not all conditions are met, giving 1030 an error message, and if all conditions are met, proceeding to step 1040 ; iii) performing 1040 the atomization process; iv) optionally notifying 1051 that the disinfection process is complete; v) optionally report 1052 whether or not the nebulization process has been carried out successfully, e.g. by verifying whether a power failure occurred while the disinfection process was active, or e.g. whether an abnormal amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture had to be atomized to achieve the target concentration in gas phase (e.g. 100 ppm) Such an abnormally high value may be the result of an open window, for example.

FIG. 11 shows a possible refinement of the first major step I) of FIG. 10, regarding the collection of data from the chamber, and may include one or more of the following steps: b) determining 1012 conditions of the chamber, including the temperature and relative humidity of ambient air in the chamber to be disinfected. As described above, this step may include an automatic reading of appropriate sensors, if built into the nebulizer device, or external to it, but communicatively connected to it. Alternatively, this step may include, e.g., receiving data input on the user interface 212, 412 of the nebulizer device. If the room was conditioned by means of an air heater and/or a dehumidifier, in step 1011, step 1012 can be skipped; c) determining 1013 the volume of the room to be disinfected (e.g. the number of cubic meters). This step may include, e.g., receiving the appropriate value via the nebulizer device user interface 212, 412, or may include, e.g., receiving a length, width, and height of the chamber, after which the nebulizer device will calculate the volume of the chamber. calculates. Optionally, this volume can be stored in a non-volatile memory of the device, e.g. together with a "name" (e.g. a character string) of the room in question, so that it can be retrieved later. d) determining 1014 the hydrogen peroxide concentration of the liquid mixture in the reservoir. For example, this step may include receiving the appropriate value via the user interface 212, 412 of the nebulizer device, or may include the controller 215, 415 automatically reading the appropriate value from the RFID tag by the controller 215, 415 (if the RFID tag allows this). value); e) estimating 1015 the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture required to introduce a predetermined concentration (e.g., 100 ppm) of gas phase hydrogen peroxide into the chamber during a first stage (stage 1) and to maintain this concentration for a predetermined maintenance period ( e.g. about 60 min) during a second phase (phase2). These predetermined values (0a. the concentration of 100 ppm, and the maintenance period of 60 minutes) may be predetermined in the nebulizer software, or may optionally be set or modified by the operator via the user interface 212, 412;

The amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture required to increase the predetermined concentration of hydrogen peroxide in gas phase (during a first phase) and to maintain it for a certain “maintenance period" (during a second phase), can be determined e.g. on the basis of the following formula: NH = KV * A where NH is the required amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture (expressed in ml), and where KV is the volume of the chamber (expressed in cubic meters), and where A is a predetermined value (expressed in ml/m?). value A depends on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the hydrogen peroxide mixture, and possibly also on the room conditions (e.g. temperature and relative humidity), and possibly also on the room volume, which can be mathematically represented by the following formulas:

A = f1(H202 concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture), or:

A = f2(H202 concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture, Tchamber, RVchamber), or:

A = f3(H202 concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture, Tchamber, RVchamber, Vchamber), where Tchamber, RVchamber and Vchamber are respectively the (initial) temperature, relative humidity and volume of the chamber before the start of the disinfection process. For example, one or more of these functions may be stored in tabular form in a non-volatile memory 216, 416 of the nebulizer device, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the process parameters may also be queried from a network application running in the cloud, after forwarding the parameters mentioned above.

As an example, for a chamber volume of about 50 mp, and using a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture with a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 12.5 wt%, and an (initial) room temperature of about 20°C and a relative humidity of about 65%, A is preferably a value in the range of 7 to 10 ml/m°.

NH thus represents the total amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture to be atomized during the first and second phase. The ratio of the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture to be nebulized during the first phase and the second phase can be a value of about 45%, or a value in the range of 40% to 50%, or a value in the range of 35% to 55%, or a value in the range of 30% to 60%. In one embodiment this ratio is a constant value, e.g. 45%, but the invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments this ratio may be a function of one or more of the following parameters: the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture, Troom, RVroom, Vroom, where Troom, RVroom and Vroom are the (initial) temperature, relative humidity and volume of the room before the start of the disinfection process, respectively. f) determining 1016 how much hydrogen peroxide mixture is available in the at least one reservoir. This step can include, for example, reading the relevant value from the RFID tag(s), or requesting the filling level of the reservoir(s) via the user interface 212, 412. If several reservoirs are connected, the quantities to be added up.

FIG. 12 shows a possible refinement of the second major step ii) of FIG. 10, regarding the verification that the collected data meet certain conditions to successfully carry out the atomization process, and may include one or more of the following steps: gas phase hydrogen concentration in the chamber; and j) verifying that the temperature and relative humidity of the chamber meet a predetermined criterion (e.g., as shown in FIG. 9B) to achieve the target gas phase concentration; and k) verifying whether the available amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one reservoir is greater than the necessary amount of mixture.

As shown in FIG. 10, if all conditions are met, the nebulization device can continue to perform 1040 the nebulization process, (possibly after a certain waiting time during which an audible signal is produced so that the operator can leave the room); and if not all conditions are met, giving 1030 an error message.

In another or further embodiment, the RFID tag 103, 303 on the at least one container also includes an expiration date of the hydrogen peroxide mixture, and the control unit 215, 415 is further provided to determine a current date, (e.g. by reading a real-time clock 217, 417 in the device, or the current date from an external device, e.g. from a laptop communicatively connected to it, or retrieved from the Internet), and the control unit (if additional test) even after the expiry date (i.e. beyond the current date). If the use-by date has passed, an error message can be given in step 1030. If the use-by date has not yet passed, the control unit can proceed to step 1040.

FIG. 13 shows a possible refinement of the third major step iii), which involves performing the atomization process, and may include one or more of the following steps: m) adding air containing droplets of the hydrogen peroxide mixture to the chamber (herein referred to as "fogging" mentioned), for increasing the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber; and optionally updating the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in each reservoir repeatedly (e.g., in RAM and/or on the RFID tag); and optionally sending measured H 2 O 2 values (if a hydrogen peroxide sensor is present) and timestamps to a central server 560. This step m) corresponds to a first stage "stage 1" of the atomization process (see FIG. 14A to

FIG. 14C). * This increase can be done in "open-loop" (English: "open loop control"), e.g. if no hydrogen peroxide sensor is present, in which case the (predicted) increase of the hydrogen peroxide in gas phase in the chamber is based on is at the time, e.g. the cumulative time the first pump was active, and taking into account the variable flow rate in case the device uses the Venturi principle; or based on the cumulative time that the first pump and the liquid pump are active together, if the device uses a liquid pump. * This increase can also be done in "closed loop control", e.g. if a hydrogen peroxide sensor is present, in which case the actual amount of hydrogen peroxide in gas phase in the chamber can be measured, and the time that the first pump (and optionally also the liquid pump) is active can be dynamically adjusted based on the measured value. In particular, the first pump (and optionally also the liquid pump) can be activated and remain activated until the measured value exceeds the target hydrogen peroxide concentration in gas phase (e.g. 100 ppm). n) maintaining the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 60 min); and optionally updating the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in each reservoir repeatedly (e.g., in RAM and/or on the RFID tag); and optionally sending measured H 2 O 2 values (if a hydrogen peroxide sensor is present) and timestamps to a central server 560. This step n) corresponds to a second phase "phase 2" of the atomization process (see FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C). * Maintenance of the hydrogen peroxide concentration can be performed in open loop, e.g. by repeatedly activating the first pump 405 (and optionally also the liquid pump) with a certain duty cycle, e.g. the 5 minutes, turn the first pump ON for 1 minute, and turn OFF for 4 minutes, until the predetermined period (e.g., 60 min) is over, (e.g., as shown in FIG. 15A); or e.g., every 5 minutes activate the first pump for a variable time (e.g., "act1") to periodically add a certain amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture to the chamber (e.g., as shown in FIG. 15B); * Maintenance can also be carried out in "closed loop" if a hydrogen peroxide sensor is present, in which case the first pump 405 (and optionally also the liquid pump) e.g. can be switched ON whenever the measured value of the

H202 concentration in gas phase is lower than the predetermined value (e.g. 100 ppm), and can be switched OFF whenever the measured value exceeds a certain threshold value (e.g. 110 ppm or 120 ppm), until the predetermined contact period ( e.g. 60 min) has passed. o) actively lowering or passively decreasing the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber to a predetermined value ("closed loop"), (e.g., less than 1.0 ppm), or for a predetermined time (" open loop"); and optionally sending measured H2 O2 values (if a hydrogen peroxide sensor is present) and timestamps to a central server 560. * If a scrubber or catalyst is present in the device (as e.g. with the "big fogger" of FIGS. 3A and FIG. 4), then the second pump (in the scrubber 421) will be activated during the third stage to allow a stream of air to flow through the second fluid channel; * If no scrubber or catalyst is present in the device (as in the small fogger of FIG. 1A, for example), nor externally connected to it, and if no hydrogen peroxide sensor is present, then this step includes the “passive wait for a certain period of time". * If a hydrogen peroxide sensor is communicatively connected to the controller 415, it can be read repeatedly to determine when the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber has dropped sufficiently before releasing the chamber again If no hydrogen peroxide sensor is communicatively connected to the controller 415, then of course this is not possible, and then only a predetermined time can be passively waited. It takes 12 to 15 hours for the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber to drop from 100 ppm to 1.0 ppm.Thanks to the scrubber 412 with activated carbon filter, this time can typically be halved. * In a relatively simple embodiment of a nebulizer with an activated carbon scrubber, but without connection to an external hydrogen peroxide sensor, the duration of the third phase can be estimated using the following formula:

T3 (in seconds) = A3 + B3* Vchamber [3] where A3 is a predetermined time, e.g. 900 s, and where B3 is a value of 100 s / m3, and where Vchamber is the volume of the chamber (expressed in m3). But, of course, this is just an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. * In a somewhat more complex embodiment, the time T3 depends not only on the volume of the chamber, but also on one or more of the following parameters: the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture used, the initial temperature in the chamber, the initial relative humidity in the room. This can be written mathematically as:

T3 = f4(H202 concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture, Tchamber, RVchamber, Vchamber),

This function can e.g. be established by performing tests under various conditions, and can e.g. be stored in tabular form in a non-volatile memory 216, 416 of the nebulizer.

FIG. 14A is an exemplary representation of an ideal course of the concentration of gaseous hydrogen peroxide in the chamber during a disinfection process. It should be noted that these graphs are not drawn to scale. The process consists of three phases: - in a first phase F1, hydrogen peroxide mixture is injected in atomized form into the chamber via the nozzle, or via two nozzles 3014, 301b in the example of

FIG. 3A. If the relative humidity of the air in the room is less than 100%, these droplets will evaporate, and the water (H20) of these droplets and the hydrogen peroxide (H202) of these droplets will be released in gaseous form. Tests have shown that the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in gaseous form in particular is decisive for the killing of micro-organisms. Tests have also surprisingly shown that the kill rate is many times greater when a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture is used (e.g. the product "Huwa-San TR-12.5", commercially available from Roam Technologies), compared to a hydrogen peroxide mixture without silver stabilization. For some micro-organisms the difference is even more than a factor of 10 or a factor of 100 times greater; - in a second phase F2, the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber is kept substantially constant for a predetermined period (typically 60 minutes), also called "maintenance period"; or rather, it is ensured that the hydrogen peroxide concentration in gaseous form remains at least 100 ppm during this period. In practice, however, the hydrogen peroxide concentration will slowly decrease unless new droplets are injected into the chamber (see FIG. 14B and FIG. 14C). At the end of the second phase, the intended killing of the micro-organisms has been achieved. - in a third phase F3, the hydrogen peroxide concentration in gaseous form in the room must be reduced to a value of no more than 1.0 ppm before entering the room without a gas mask. As described above, a scrubber and/or a catalyst is preferably used during this third phase in order to accelerate the decrease of the hydrogen peroxide concentration in gaseous form.

Although not shown in FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C, a rinse with demineralized water can optionally be performed at the beginning of the third stage to clean the pipes and the nozzle, so that less corrosion occurs. This is not necessary for the atomization process or the killing process, but it will benefit the life of the device. To this end, the third reservoir 420 in the block diagram of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, and the third valve V3. Typically there is a 1 minute "rinse", i.e. the first pump is activated, and air with water droplets is sprayed into the chamber, but the time to rinse can also be longer than 1 minute, or shorter than 1 minute.

The amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture required for the first and second phase together has already been described above. As a rule of thumb, it can be said that typically 40% to 60% of this is introduced into the chamber during the first phase, and the remaining amount in the second phase. The optimal ratio between the amount introduced in the first and second phase depends mainly on the volume of the chamber and the maintenance period, but also on the initial temperature and relative humidity of the chamber. This ratio can again be stored in tabular form in a non-volatile memory of the nebulizer.

FIG. 14A shows the ideal or theoretical course, but in practice the increase of the hydrogen peroxide concentration during the first phase is not linear, eg. not only because of the decreasing liquid flow rate in nebulizers without a liquid pump (see FIG. 7), but also and above all because the evaporation of the droplets becomes more difficult as the process progresses, and more water vapor enters the chamber. In other words, during the first phase not only the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration increases, but also the relative humidity. When the relative humidity in the room has reached 100%, the air is saturated and the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the room cannot increase any further.

FIG. 14B shows an example of a sequence that could occur in practice when using open-loop control. Taking into account the fact that the hydrogen peroxide concentration will decrease spontaneously during the second phase, it is preferable to blow slightly more liquid mixture into the chamber than in the ideal case, so that a point A' is reached that is slightly higher than the point A of FIG. 14A. During the second phase, the pump can be controlled intermittently, e.g. with a certain duty cycle, e.g. as shown in

FIG. 15A or FIG. 15B, where the course of the hydrogen peroxide concentration (see FIG. 14B) is not perfectly flat in practice, but will show a kind of sawtooth. When the predetermined duration (e.g. 60 min) of the second phase has elapsed, a short flush of the lines will optionally be performed with demineralized water from the third reservoir 420, after which the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber will decrease spontaneously or forced. Since FIG. 14B illustrates an "open loop" control, i.e. without effective measurement of the hydrogen peroxide concentration in gaseous form, it is not known exactly when the hydrogen peroxide concentration has fallen below 1.0 ppm. Therefore, it is best to use a safety margin in this case. build in before releasing the room.

FIG. 14C shows an example of a sequence that could occur in practice when using closed-loop control. In this case, the course will also show a saw-tooth, but the first pump (and optionally also the liquid pump) can be selectively activated and deactivated repeatedly on the basis of the measured hydrogen peroxide concentration, in order to keep this value as close as possible to the target value (of e.g. . 100 ppm), or to keep this value within a certain range (e.g. within the range of 100 ppm to 120 ppm).

Thanks to the hydrogen peroxide sensor, it is also possible to determine exactly when the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the third stage F3 has fallen below 1.0 ppm, after which the chamber can be released.

In a variant (not shown) of the method of FIG. 10, the third phase consists of a first part of a predetermined duration (e.g. 30 minutes or 60 minutes or 90 minutes or 120 minutes), in which no active agents (e.g. scrubber and/or catalyst) are used to actively reduce of the hydrogen peroxide in the gas phase in the chamber; and a second part, in which active agents (e.g. scrubber and/or catalyst) are used to reduce the hydrogen peroxide in the gas phase in the chamber. In this way, the "contact time" with a relatively high concentration of hydrogen peroxide gas can be deliberately extended, in order to achieve greater killing.

FIG. 15A shows an example of a method of "intermittent fogging", which can be applied during the second stage phase2 of the atomization process in "open loop" control, performed by an atomization device that atomizes a liquid mixture, using the Venturi principle. This example assumes a maintenance period T2 of 60 minutes, which is divided into 12 periods or intervals of 5 minutes each (N=1 to 12). Each interval includes an active portion during which the first pump is turned ON to nebulize, and a passive portion during which the first pump is turned OFF. In the example it is assumed that a remaining volume of "Vrest" of the mixture still has to be atomised.

Depending on the degree of filling at the start of the second phase, the nebulizer can calculate how long the first pump (and optionally also the liquid pump) must be activated to atomize this amount. Suppose that 500 ml is to be atomized in the second phase, and that the degree of filling is 100% (e.g. because the second reservoir is used). As shown in FIG. 8, the pump must be activated cumulatively for 500 s to atomize this amount of mixture. In the example of FIG. 15A this time will be divided by 12, and the first pump will be turned ON every 5 minutes for 500/12 = approximately 41.7 seconds.

By applying this time schedule (with fixed duty cycle), the same amount of mixture will not be blown into the chamber in each period, but only approximately, because the flow rate in the first period is approximately 62 l/min, and for the twelfth period about 55 ml/sec.

FIG. 15B shows a second example of an "intermittent fogging" method that can be applied during the second stage phase2 of the "open loop" fogging process. In this example, a maintenance period T2 of 60 minutes is again assumed, which is divided into intervals of 5 minutes each (N=1 to 12), and it is assumed that another 500 ml needs to be nebulized, but in the scheme of FIG.15B (with variable duty cycle), the active time of each time slot is chosen such that the same amount of mixture is introduced into the chamber in each time slot, in the example 500 ml/12 = approximately 41.7 ml To achieve this effect, the first pump will have to be switched ON for a little less time in the first period, and should be switched ON a little longer in the twelfth period.

Of course these are just examples, and in practice other values can be used for e.g. the amount of mixture to be atomized (e.g.: 500 ml), the maintenance period (e.g.: 60 min), and the number of periods (e.g.: 12) .

However, the invention is not limited to an intermittent fixed period schedule as shown in FIG. 15A or FIG. 15B, (in the example: 60 min / 12 = 5 min), but it is also possible to choose the duration of the intervals differently, so that the first pump in each interval will run for the same amount of time (as shown in FIG. 15A), but that the "injections" are spread out in such a way that a more regular H 2 O 2 concentration profile is obtained. In such time schedule, in case the liquid is sucked by the Venturi principle, the first interval will be somewhat longer than that of FIG. 15A, and the last interval somewhat shorter, inversely proportional to the amount of liquid that will be atomized in that interval, in other words, proportional to the liquid flow rate.

In the example of FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, hydrogen peroxide mixture was introduced into the chamber at the beginning of each period, but this is of course not strictly necessary, and it is e.g. also possible to introduce hydrogen peroxide mixture at the end of each period, or in the middle of each period.

FINALLY,

Although the invention has mainly been described with reference to a number of specific parameters, or combinations of specific parameters, e.g. at least 100 ppm as the target hydrogen peroxide concentration in gas phase over a period of at least 60 minutes; not more than 1.0 ppm as the target gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration at the end of stage 3; but of course the present invention is not limited thereto, and other values are also possible.

Although the invention was primarily described for a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture, commercially available under the name "Huwa-San TR-12.5", consisting of a mixture of 12.1 to 12.5 wt% hydrogen peroxide, 0.0059 to 0.0079 wt% silver as stabilizer, and demineralized water (for the remainder wt%), the present invention is not limited thereto, and other silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixtures may also be used, such as, for example, but not limited to: the product, commercially available under the name "Huwa-San TR-7.9", consisting of 7.5 to 7.9 wt% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0042 to 0.0053 wt% silver as a stabilizer, and demineralized water (other than wt%); or the product, commercially available under the name "Huwa-San TR-11.9", consisting of 11.5 to 11.9 wt% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0057 to 0.0074 wt% silver as stabilizer, and demineralized water (for the remaining % by weight); or the product, commercially available under the name "Huwa-San TR-5", consisting of 4.5 to 4.9 wt.% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0027 to 0.0035 wt.% silver as a stabilizer, and demineralized water (for the remaining wt%).

For the sake of completeness, the following combinations of parameters are explicitly stated: hydrogen peroxide-silver concentration in hydrogen peroxide concentration | duration of the maintenance phase concentration in the liquid mixture | in the gas phase in the chamber [minutes] liquid mixture [wt%] [ppm]

Terms | Pre | | EE) pres ro | nn 8 | eee EE

Which of these combinations is used depends on the hydrogen peroxide mixture used, but may also depend on the conditions of the room. For example, tests have shown that it is possible to achieve a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 80 ppm by atomizing a hydrogen peroxide mixture with 4.5 wt% hydrogen peroxide in a room with an initial temperature of 20°C and an initial relative humidity of 48%. , but it is not possible to achieve 100 ppm in gas phase without pre-conditioning the room to a higher temperature or lower humidity.

In an embodiment with "closed loop" control, the nebulizer is arranged to detect that the hydrogen peroxide concentration in gas phase does not rise to the predetermined value (e.g. 100 ppm), but only rises to a lower value (e.g. 80 ppm), and will dynamically adjust (e.g. to a value of 75 minutes, because 80 * 75 = 6000) the preset time of the second phase (e.g. 60 minutes, because 100 * 60 = 6000), so that the aforementioned factor of 6000 ( or another value set by the operator) is reached anyway.

For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that external hydrogen peroxide sensors for measuring hydrogen peroxide in gaseous form are commercially available. For example, the following sensor may be used: "DrägerSensor® H202 LC - 6809705" in embodiments of the present invention. This sensor can accurately measure the hydrogen peroxide concentration in gas phase both during the first and second phase (where a value of e.g. about 100 ppm is targeted}, as well as during the third stage (where a value of e.g. about 1.0 ppm is targeted). intended).

While individual features have been illustrated in various drawings and in various embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated that features of various embodiments may be combined, as would be obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this document.

Claims (34)

CONCLUSIONS: A method (1000) for disinfecting a room by atomizing a hydrogen peroxide mixture carried out by an atomizing device (100; 200; 250; 300; 400; 450; 500) having connecting means for at least one replaceable reservoir (202; 402a, 402b) ) with a hydrogen peroxide mixture, and with means for atomizing this hydrogen peroxide mixture, the method comprising the steps of: a) increasing (1021) a gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber by atomizing a first quantity of the hydrogen peroxide mixture during a first stage (stage1); b) maintaining (1022) the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber by intermittently atomizing a second portion of the hydrogen peroxide mixture during a second stage (stage 2); characterized in that - the hydrogen peroxide mixture is a silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture comprising 4.5 wt% to 13.0 wt% hydrogen peroxide; - the hydrogen peroxide concentration during the second phase (phase2) is maintained at a value in the range of 45 ppm to 180 ppm for a period (T2) in the range of 45 to 120 minutes. A method (1000) according to claim 1, wherein killing of microorganisms is achieved according to standard EN17272. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a ratio of the weight percent hydrogen peroxide and the weight percent silver ions is a value in the range of 1500 to 2000. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of hydrogen peroxide and demineralised water and silver ions. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of 12.1 to 12.5 wt% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0059 to 0.0079 wt% silver as stabilizer, and demineralized water; or wherein the silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of 11.5 to 11.9 weight percent hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0057 to 0.0074 weight percent silver as a stabilizer, and demineralized water; or wherein the silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of 7.5 to 7.9 wt% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0042 to 0.0053 wt% silver as stabilizer, and demineralized water; or wherein the silver stabilized hydrogen peroxide mixture consists of 4.5 to 4.9 weight percent hydrogen peroxide, and 0.0027 to 0.0035 weight percent silver as a stabilizer, and demineralized water. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of: i) collecting (1010) data related to the hydrogen peroxide mixture and related to the chamber to be disinfected; ii) verifying (1020) whether the collected data meets certain conditions to successfully perform the atomization process; and if the predetermined conditions are not met, issuing (1030) an error message; and if all conditions are met, continue with step a). A method (1000) according to claim 6, wherein the collecting step comprises: c) determining or receiving (1013) a volume of the chamber to be disinfected; d) determining (1014) the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one replaceable reservoir; e) estimating (1015) an amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture required to obtain (stage!) and maintain (stage2) said hydrogen peroxide concentration in gaseous form; f) determining (1016) how much hydrogen peroxide blend is available in the at least one replaceable reservoir (102; 4024, 402b); g) giving an error message (1030) if the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture present is less than the required amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture. A method (1000) according to claim 7, wherein the necessary amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in step e) is determined, based on the following formula: NH=KV*A where NH is the necessary amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture (expressed in ml), and wherein KV is the volume of the chamber (expressed in cubic meters), and where A is a predetermined value (expressed in ml/m3) that depends on the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture. A method (1000) according to claim 7, where the required amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture is determined using the following formula: NH=KV*A where NH is the required amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture (expressed in ml), and where KV is the volume of the chamber (expressed in cubic meters), and where A is a value (expressed in ml/m3) calculated based on the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the hydrogen peroxide mixture, and one or more of the following parameters: Tchamber, RVchamber and Vchamber, where Tchamber is the temperature of the chamber , RVroom is the relative humidity of the room, and Vroom is the volume of the room to be disinfected. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises a step of: c) actively reducing (1023) or passively decreasing the gas phase hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber to a predetermined value of at most 1.0 ppm, during a third stage (stage3), before indicating or reporting (1051) that the infection process is complete. A method according to claim 10, wherein step c) comprises actively lowering the hydrogen peroxide concentration in gas phase using a catalyst. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein step c) comprises actively lowering the hydrogen peroxide concentration using a scrubber. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises a step of: iv) notifying (1051) that the disinfection process is complete. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises a step of: v) notifying (1052) whether or not the disinfection process has been performed successfully. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the atomizing device comprises a first fluid circuit, with a first pump (205; 405), and with a first inlet (IN1) for receiving a first gas stream from the chamber, and having a connection to the at least one replaceable reservoir (202; 4024, 402b) containing the hydrogen peroxide mixture, and having means for adding droplets of the hydrogen peroxide mixture to said first gas stream, and having a first outlet (OUT1) for delivering said first gas flow with these droplets to the chamber; and wherein the first fluid circuit is arranged to add the droplets of hydrogen peroxide mixture to the first air stream by means of a liquid pump, or based on the venturi principle. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first fluid circuit is arranged to add the droplets of hydrogen peroxide mixture to the first air stream based on the venturi principle; and wherein a control unit (215; 415) of the atomizing device is provided to update the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one replaceable reservoir, taking into account a variable flow rate of the liquid mixture, the flow rate being dependent on the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture still present in the at least one reservoir (202; 4024; 402b). A method according to claim 16, wherein the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one reservoir (202; 4024, 402b) is calculated in an iterative manner, taking into account the initial content and assuming that the instantaneous flow rate changes linearly as a function of the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one reservoir (202; 4024, 402b) between a first value associated with a substantially full reservoir and a second value associated with a substantially empty reservoir. A method (1000) according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the first amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture is atomized in the chamber during the first stage (stage), and the second amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture is atomized in the chamber during the second stage ( phase2) is determined on the basis of time that liquid is withdrawn from the at least one reservoir. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nebulizing device further comprises or is communicatively connected to a hydrogen peroxide sensor (531); and wherein the method further comprises receiving a measured value from said sensor repeatedly, and wherein the method comprises controlling the first pump (205; 405) taking into account the measured hydrogen peroxide concentration value. A method (1000) according to claim any preceding claim and dependent on claim 10, wherein the nebulizing device further comprises or is communicatively connected to at least two hydrogen peroxide sensors (531); and wherein the method further comprises receiving a measured value from these sensors repeatedly, and wherein the method comprises controlling the first pump (205; 405) taking into account the measured hydrogen peroxide concentration values, a minimum of the at least two measured values are considered as rms during the first and second phase (phase, phase2), with a maximum of the at least two measured values being considered as rms during the third phase (phase3). A method (1000) according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the nebulizer device further comprises an RF communication module and/or a mobile data communication module to transmit data via SMS or GPRS or UMTS or mobile internet; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: - detecting an abnormal rise in the gaseous hydrogen peroxide concentration in the chamber during the first stage (stage 1); - and if an abnormal rise is detected, sending an alarm message via the RF communication module and/or via the mobile data communication module. A method (1000) according to any one of claims 19 to 21 and dependent on claim 6, wherein the nebulizer device further comprises an RF communication module and/or a mobile data communication module to transmit data via SMS or GPRS or UMTS or mobile Internet; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: - sending to a central server, by the atomizing device, the collected data with regard to the hydrogen peroxide mixture and with regard to the room to be disinfected; - sending to the central server, by the nebulizer device, a plurality of measured values of hydrogen peroxide concentration in gaseous form in the chamber, preferably together with a timestamp (English: "timestamp"); - receiving by the central server, of the collected data and of the measured values, and storing this data on a storage medium (561); - analyzing, by the central server, the received data and values, in order to detect an abnormality; - and reporting a result of the analysis at the nebulizer. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second phase (phase2) is divided into a predetermined number (N) of intervals; and wherein a substantially equal amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture is atomized in each of these intervals. A method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one reservoir carries an RFID tag (203; 4034, 403b) that stores data comprising at least an amount of the hydrogen peroxide mixture; and wherein the nebulizer device further comprises at least one RFID reader-writer (204; 4023, 404b) communicatively connected to the control unit (415), and configured to read data from the RFID tag of the at least one reservoir; and wherein the method further comprises the step of: writing repeatedly to the RFID tag to update the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture on the RFID tag of the at least one container. A method (1000) according to claim 23, wherein the data on the RFID tag indicating the amount of hydrogen peroxide mixture in the at least one reservoir is updated at least once every minute that fluid is drawn from the respective reservoir. A method (1000) according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the data on the RFID tag (103; 3034, 303b) of the at least one reservoir (102; 3024, 302b) further indicates a value of a concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the contains hydrogen peroxide mixture; and wherein the method further comprises the step of: reading said concentration value stored on the RFID tag. A method (1000) according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the data on the RFID tag (103; 303a; 303b) of the at least one container (102; 3024, 302b) further includes an expiration date; and wherein the method further comprises the step of: determining a current date (1020), and comparing the best-before date to the current date, and issuing (1030) an error message if the best-before date has passed. A method (1000) according to any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the data on the RFID tag (103; 303a; 303b) of the at least one reservoir (102; 3024, 302b) further includes a date of manufacture; and wherein the method further comprises the step of: adjusting the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide mixture read from the RFID tag based on the date of manufacture and the current date. A method (1000) according to any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein the nebulizing device further comprises a first valve (V1) for selectively connecting a first replaceable reservoir (402a) to the first fluid circuit, and further a second valve ( V2) comprises for selectively connecting a second replaceable reservoir (402b) containing a second hydrogen peroxide mixture to the first fluid circuit; and wherein the second reservoir (402b) has a second RFID tag (403b) that stores data including at least an amount of the second hydrogen peroxide mixture; and wherein the method further comprises the step of: repeatedly updating the RFID tag of each container from which hydrogen peroxide mixture is withdrawn. A method (1000) according to any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein the nebulization device comprises a first RFID reader-writer (404a) arranged to communicate only with the RFID tag (403a) of the first container (4023 ); and wherein the nebulization device comprises a second RFID reader-writer (404b) arranged to communicate only with the RFID tag (403b) of the second container (402b); and wherein the method further comprises the step of: communicating with the RFID tag (403a) of the first container (4023) via the first RFID reader-writer (404a), and communicating with the RFID tag (403b) from the second reservoir (402b) through the second RFID reader-writer (404b). A method (1000) according to any one of claims 24 to 30, wherein the data on the RFID tag is encrypted, the method further comprising the step of: decrypting data read from the RFID tag, and encrypting data written to the RFID tag. 32. An atomizing device (100; 200; 250; 300; 400; 450; 500; 561) comprising: - at least one replaceable reservoir (202; 402a, 402b) containing a hydrogen peroxide mixture; - a control unit (215, 415) and means for atomizing this hydrogen peroxide mixture, the control unit being arranged to carry out a method according to any one of the preceding claims. An atomization system (590; 595) comprising: an atomization device (100; 200; 250; 300; 400; 450; 500; 561) according to claim 32; and one or more external devices selected from: a hydrogen peroxide sensor (531), a temperature sensor (532), a relative humidity sensor (533), a remote control (540), a fan or fan (551), an air heater (552) , a dehumidifier (553), an external scrubber (554), a laptop (541), a tablet or a smartphone, or a central server (560), the external device being communicatively connected to the control unit (215; 415) of the nebulizer. A computer program product for disinfecting a room, the computer program product containing executable instructions which, when executed on the controller (215; 415) of an aerosolization device according to claim 32, cause the aerosolization device to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 31.