DE10339142A1 - Disinfection method for ventilation and air conditioning uses combination of filters, microwaves, UV light and atmospheric pressure plasma - Google Patents

Abstract

Air to be disinfected flows through different modules like heated filters (2), a microwave chamber (3), a UV module (4), a plasma chamber (5) with deflector plates and devices for disinfecting. So as to remove charged particles after passing through the plasma chamber, the air is permeated by an electric field bordered by printed circuit boards fitted vertical to the field direction. An independent claim is also included for a method/device for carrying out the method of the present invention.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for sterilizing the room air, and a device for carrying out of the procedure.

It can e.g. in medical practices, hospitals and transport to passenger transportation be used.

Yearly ill Several million people have infections that involve transmission over the Air a big one Plays a role, such as Influenza and SARS. In the transmission The nosocomial infection is a major problem. It therefore exists an urgent need for an improvement of the sterilization technique.

to Reduction of the number of bacteria in the air are already different physical and chemical methods known.

There are various designs of so-called blue-light modules that sterilize room air by UV light both directly and indirectly (by convection of the air). Ionization tubes coupled with an oscillating high voltage reduce the number of viable microorganisms through the generation of reactive, charged molecules and atoms ( DE 101 11 447 A1 ). Furthermore, a method has been developed in which cavitations are produced in a disinfecting liquid within the disinfection station ( DE 101 63 510 A1 ).

The Germicidal action of the listed methods however, it can not be determined with certainty because it is e.g. at the use of Blue Light modules through various parameters is restricted. By particles in the air can Shadow effects arise and different germs show a different UV sensitivity (for example, fungi are relatively resistant to radiation). Also depends the effectiveness from the germinal density, as well as the removal of the germs to the module and from the prevailing humidity.

In Recently, the need for methods and devices with an improved disinfecting effect (e.g. SARS, anthrax, resistance problems TBC etc.).

The The invention aims to improve the degermination performance.

at the implementation the method according to the invention becomes the air pre-cleaned by filters in a first step subjected to microwave irradiation. Then done another irradiation by UV light (UV A, UV B, UV C). In In a final step, the air to be sterilized becomes an area supplied in which an atmospheric pressure plasma burning. The combination of these methods is a reduction the germ count in the order of magnitude several orders of magnitude possible.

The Device consists of sub-systems connected in series for air disinfection, through which the room air is sucked by a pump (→ Fig.).

In An atrium is the room air through at least one filter (Coarse and fine dust filter) cleaned of smaller particles and subsequently with Microwaves irradiated. For further filtering purposes can Example molecular sieves are used, their effectiveness on smallest Pores and channels with openings in the nm range and if necessary directly with microwaves or UV can be irradiated. If necessary, you can These filters are additionally heated to temperatures above 400 ° C by a suitable device be used to kill radiation-resistant germs. In this case, a heat exchangers downstream to cool the heated air to room temperature.

The use of microwaves is known in the field of food and packaging sterilization.
(eg http://www.ubka.uni-karlsruhe.de/vvv/1998/sonstige/8/main.html)

One Another subsystem consists of a container whose walls are exposed to UV radiation permeable are (e.g., quartz glass) and UV lamps surrounding the container. The radiation intensity is chosen that a sufficient part of the pathogens is killed.

 The UV radiation is made more suitable by an appropriate arrangement Reflectors in the flow channel bundled. There are wavelengths greater than 150 nm uses the germs through photochemical changes unable to divide in their DNA do.

to further reduction of the number of bacteria can be followed by one unit be in which the air flows through a device in which an atmospheric pressure plasma burning. This is capable of destroying pathogens electrophysically.

The removal of charged particles is carried out by an electric field perpendicular to the flow direction and printed circuit boards. The individual modules can, if necessary, in a loop several times be flowed through. The air is guided in a relation to the environment substantially closed channel on the predetermined flow path.

 to air transport finds at least one commercial Pump use. The adjustment of the flow rate via a adjustable valve. To check the Germinating effect becomes a germ measurement before and after the sterilization performed in a known manner.

The If necessary, germ determination can also be achieved by the use of ionization detectors the base of nanotubes (e.g., carbon).

1

Germ measurement module

2

filter

3

microwave chamber

4

UV chamber with reflector and fuel rods

5

plasma chamber with baffles

6

heated Molecular sieve chamber with downstream heat exchanger

7

pump

8th

Three-way valve

9

control unit

Claims (10)

Process for the sterilization of indoor air, characterized by using a combination of filters, microwaves, UV light and atmospheric pressure plasma. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that carried out a germ count becomes. Process according to claims 1-2 characterized in that that the air to remove charged particles after flowing through the Plasma chamber undergoes an electric field, that of printed circuit boards is limited, which are arranged perpendicular to the field direction. Process according to claims 1-3 characterized in that that the air to be sterilized flows through the device several times. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one the claims 1-4 marked in that a pump through an adjustable airflow analyzer to suck up the germ, to which a heatable filter system followed. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that that the filter system is followed by a unit, the microwaves generated. Device according to claims 5-6 characterized in that that another chamber is provided with sources of UV light. Device according to claims 5-7 characterized in that that in another module in a known manner an atmospheric pressure plasma is produced. Device according to claims 5-8 characterized in that that a control module based on the previous germ measurement the air flow in case of need for repeated flow through the Device on a loop path directs. Device according to claims 5-9 characterized in that used for the germ measurement ionization detectors from nanotubes become.