EP4132598A1

EP4132598A1 - Air disinfection device and method using same

Info

Publication number: EP4132598A1
Application number: EP21716706.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernd Höhne
Original assignee: Q One Holding AG
Current assignee: Q One Holding AG
Priority date: 2020-04-06
Filing date: 2021-04-01
Publication date: 2023-02-15
Also published as: DE102020109578A1; CN115397478A; US20230144577A1; WO2021204686A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an air disinfection device comprising a disinfection chamber (1) having an air inlet (11), an interior (10) and an air outlet (12), wherein the air to be disinfected flows through the disinfection chamber (1) from the air inlet (11) to the air outlet (12), UVC light source means (2) are provided in the disinfection chamber (1), and the interior of the disinfection chamber (1) is equipped with a reflective surface. The invention is characterised in that one or more UVC lasers (21) are provided as UVC light source means (2), and a multiplicity of mirrors (17) are provided as a reflective surface in the interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1), wherein UVC lasers (21) and mirrors (17) are arranged in such a way that one or more UVC laser beams (26) emitted by the UVC laser (21) pass through the interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1) so as to be reflected multiple times, and in that the disinfection chamber (1) is cuboidal, wherein the disinfection chamber (1) has a height (H) which corresponds to the diameter of an individual UVC laser beam (26) or to the vertical extent in the case of a plurality of UVC laser beams (26) located one above the other. The invention also relates to a method for disinfecting air using this device.

Description

Air disinfection device and method therewith

The invention relates to an air disinfection device with a disinfection chamber with an air inlet, interior and air outlet, the air to be disinfected flows through the disinfection chamber from the air inlet to the air outlet, UVC light source means being provided in the disinfection chamber and the disinfection chamber (1) equipped with a reflective surface in the interior is. The invention also relates to an air disinfection method with a disinfection chamber with air inlet, interior and air outlet, the air to be disinfected flows through the disinfection chamber from the air inlet to the air outlet and is exposed to UVC radiation, in particular with an air disinfection device.

Air disinfection devices are known in the prior art in various configurations and for various applications. For example, so-called air cleaners for living spaces are known which have an air inlet and an air outlet with a cleaning chamber in between. The cleaning chamber then contains air cleaning agents, often a filter or air washer or also UV light irradiation. However, such air purifiers are mostly supplied with mains power and accordingly cannot be used in a mobile manner, or only very awkwardly. Furthermore, it is difficult to use the known air cleaners for particularly strict hygiene requirements, for example in hospitals, old people's homes and especially for individuals, since the respective air flow is only incompletely exposed to the germicidal UVC light irradiation.

There are also respiratory masks which also have a type of cleaning chamber in which germ-retaining and / or germicidal material (filter material) is contained, through which the person wearing the mask sucks in ambient air when inhaling. In such masks, exhalation valves are also often provided in order to enable a controlled path for the air exhaled by the wearer and to avoid that when Exhale the wearer lifts the mask and could thus draw in additional air. On the other hand, technically complex air preparation and disinfection devices are known which are known, for example, for stationary use in hospitals.

DE 102018 129811 A1 describes a pressure vessel for receiving compressed air for dental medical applications, the compressed air being disinfected by means of UVC LEDs with internal reflective surfaces arranged in the container. The compressed air vessel can be viewed as a disinfection chamber, with only one passage being provided for supplying and removing air.

DE 20021 236 U1 describes a device for cleaning air in which an air flow is guided from a lower air inlet to an upper air outlet through a housing with UVC light sources, the light sources inside the housing, which consists of two parabolic curved areas , are arranged in the respective focal points (focal lines).

WO 03/039604 A2 shows an air disinfection device which has an air inlet and an air outlet with a disinfection chamber arranged in between. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the UV light source is arranged outside the disinfection chamber and shines through a UV light inlet opening into the disinfection chamber. This chamber is provided with partly reflective surfaces and a diffusing mirror. An air inlet tube is made of UV-permeable quartz glass in order to distribute the UV light within the housing and to be able to reflect it completely with the appropriate coating.

Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to provide an air disinfection device or a method with which a reliable disinfection of the air flowing through, in particular for the breathing air supply for persons to be protected from infections, is made possible The device is permanently replaceable, inexpensive, compact, energy-efficient and can therefore be used in particular in a mobile manner.

This object is achieved with an air disinfection device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 11. The preferred use of this device or this method for air disinfection is the supply of people to be protected from infections and / or the disinfection of exhaled air of an infectious person.

In that one or more UVC lasers (21) are provided as UVC light source means (2) and a large number of mirrors (17) are provided in the disinfection chamber (1) in the interior (10) as a reflective surface, with UVC lasers (21 ) and mirror (17) are arranged so that the UVC laser beam (s) (26) emitted by the UVC laser (21) cross the interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1) with multiple reflections, and that the disinfection chamber (1) is cuboid is formed, wherein the disinfection chamber (1) has a height (H) which corresponds to the diameter of a single UVC laser beam (26) or the height extension of several UVC laser beams (26) arranged one above the other, the intense UVC radiation from the or the UVC laser distributed throughout the interior of the disinfection chamber, so that the air flowing through the disinfection chamber and thus any air cargo, in particular any microorganisms, of the disinfecting UVC radiation over a length er exposure path and a longer exposure time is exposed, namely the time in which an air particle flows through the disinfection chamber from the air inlet to the air outlet. Correspondingly, a good killing effect against microorganisms, bacteria and / or viruses is achieved and thus the number of germs in the air that is passed through is considerably reduced. Furthermore, a flat disinfection chamber is provided, which is acted upon by the UVC laser beam in one plane. With a greater height of the disinfection chamber, several UVC lasers can also be arranged one above the other in such a way that their laser beams are different from one another parallel planes and fill the entire flat-cuboid disinfection area. UVC lasers with a low power consumption of a few milliwatts are sufficient to disinfect an average tidal volume of a person while flowing through the disinfection chamber. In particular, the UVC laser radiation allows higher energy to act selectively on the irradiated medium.

If the UVC laser (s) is / are arranged on the outside of the disinfection chamber, with the laser output at which the laser beam is coupled out pointing through an opening into the disinfection chamber, the laser does not impair the passage of air in the interior of the disinfection chamber. Furthermore, the laser is easier to replace for maintenance purposes.

The fact that, with a single UVC laser beam, the UVC laser beam is coupled into the disinfection chamber in a central area, which is aligned centrally and perpendicular to the vertical extension of the cuboid disinfection chamber and the mirrors are oriented perpendicular to this central area, results in an alignment of the introduced laser beam guaranteed centrally within the disinfection chamber along the central surface despite multiple reflections and thus effective disinfection achieved in the interior of the disinfection chamber swept by the laser beam.

In the case of several UVC laser beams arranged one above the other, the UVC laser beams are coupled in parallel to the central surface in the disinfection chamber, the UVC laser beams being arranged equidistantly along the height extension. Correspondingly, the entire interior of the disinfection chamber is also covered at a somewhat greater height. In this respect, a high efficiency of the UVC irradiation in the disinfection chamber and thus an optimal disinfection of the air flowing through it is achieved. If the mirrors are fixed in a fixed arrangement in the interior, a very robust disinfection chamber can be provided. For example, the disinfection chamber is designed as a one-piece cast aluminum component with mirror surfaces polished in on the inside, which forms a particularly stable disinfection chamber that shows a high degree of constancy and strength with regard to the alignment of the mirror for the laser beam (s).

A further increase in efficiency is achieved with a given UVC radiation output in that the walls of the disinfection chamber facing the interior are mirrored. Scattered light from the UVC laser beams is thus repeatedly reflected back into the interior of the disinfection chamber and improves the UVC light penetration and thus the disinfecting effect.

The UVC laser is preferably an LED laser which emits UVC radiation with wavelengths of 200 nm to 280 nm, in particular 250 nm to 270 nm. UVC LED lasers with a power of 1 mW to 70 mW, in particular 3 mW to 20 mW, can be used, which are available on the market at reasonable prices.

In order to keep the interior of the disinfection chamber as free of dust as possible and to keep the breathing air to be disinfected as free as possible from floating dirt particles, a particle filter and / or a controllable inlet valve are provided at the air inlet. With the controllable inlet valve, the air inlet can only be opened as required, which can reduce the possible ingress of dirt.

If a check valve and / or a controllable outlet valve are provided at the air outlet, the check valve at the air outlet prevents air from flowing back through the disinfection chamber against the working direction. This can be an alternative or a supplement controllable outlet valve take over this function or also cut off the air flow during breaks in use.

In a further embodiment, a first biosensor is provided at the air inlet and / or a second biosensor is provided at the air outlet. With a biosensor at the air inlet, the biological quality of the air supplied, in particular the presence of microorganisms, can be determined. In addition or as an alternative, a second biosensor can also measure the biological quality of the air at the air outlet. It is thus possible, when using the air disinfection device for a person to be protected, to measure the content of any microorganisms in the air in front of the disinfection device and when leaving the disinfection device in order to be able to prove the quality of the disinfection. Conversely, when the air disinfection device is used, the exhaled air can be checked by an infectious person, so that the still possible presence of microorganisms via the first biosensor can be checked at the air inlet and the proper germ reduction by the second biosensor can be checked at the air outlet.

Correspondingly, the solution according to the method is characterized by the following steps: generating at least one UVC laser beam, which is directed into the interior of the disinfection chamber in a central area that is perpendicular to the vertical extension of the cuboid disinfection chamber, the height of the disinfection chamber being the diameter of the UVC -Laser beam or the UVC laser beams arranged one above the other, multiple reflection of the UVC laser beams in the interior, the UVC laser beams essentially passing through the entire interior of the disinfection chamber parallel to the central surface on their path.

The distribution of the UVC laser beams with multiple reflections in the interior of the disinfection chamber essentially covers the entire interior of the disinfection chamber, so that air flowing through it is penetrated intensively by the UVC laser beams, so that any microorganisms present in it are reliably killed, i.e. the number of germs is significantly reduced.

If each UVC laser beam is absorbed after passing through the interior of the disinfection chamber, precisely definable paths are provided for each UVC laser beam and uncontrolled scattered UVC laser light is avoided by the absorption at the end of the passage.

In an alternative design, each UVC laser beam is coupled back to itself at the beginning of its path after passing through the interior of the disinfection chamber. This ensures that the residual intensity of the respective UVC laser beam after passing through the interior is not destroyed by absorption, but is coupled in to amplify the signal.

In a further alternative embodiment, a plurality of laser beams are generated, with a further laser beam being coupled into the previously introduced laser beam several times in succession on a first laser beam after a partial travel path. This means that several UVC lasers are located one behind the other, which emit their UVC radiation on a common light path, but with a partial path for the UVC laser beam between two successive lasers, on which a certain attenuation of the signal occurs, with each additional laser entering further UVC radiation energy is added. At the end of the path of this cascading laser beam, both absorption at a defined point and feedback of the laser beam to the beginning of its laser path can take place.

An advantageous signal amplification of the UVC radiation is achieved in particular if the UVC laser beam is coupled in phase after it has passed through. This can be done by precisely defining the path length for the U VC laser beam can be reached at its wavelength and coherence length up to the new coupling point.

If the UVC laser beams are guided without crossing in the interior of the disinfection chamber, the UVC laser beams are largely undisturbed over the entire route. This ensures the effectiveness of the UVC radiation for killing microorganisms essentially over the entire path of the UVC laser beams. The attenuation of the signal due to scattering / dissipation on air particles should remain very small.

Alternatively, the UVC laser beams cross on your path in the interior of the disinfection chamber. In this embodiment, mutual influencing of intersecting laser beams is consciously accepted in order to enable a greater distribution of the UVC radiation in the interior of the disinfection chamber. A lower degree of structural accuracy for the disinfection chamber is possible, so that it can be constructed more cost-effectively. It goes without saying that the attenuation of the signal intensity due to scattering and superposition phenomena is greater than when the UVC laser beams are guided without crossing according to the embodiment described above. However, the entire volume of air passed through the disinfection chamber should be completely illuminated by this much more scattered UVC radiation, so that any isolated germs (microorganisms) that may occur are in any case touched by UVC radiation, which is due to the very discrete nature of the above version Spread of the UVC laser beams is not always to be expected.

If pulsed UVC laser beams are used, high-energy UVC laser pulses can be introduced into the interior of the disinfection chamber, which in turn have a strong germicidal effect. Due to the multiple reflection of these pulsed UVC laser beams, essentially the entire interior of the disinfection chamber is passed through, With certain geometric constellations, crossing paths of the specified UVC laser beams are also possible without the energetically rich UVC laser light pulses meeting at these crossing points.

Five exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It shows:

1 shows an air disinfection device according to a first

Embodiment in a schematic, partially sectioned plan view, FIG. 2 an air disinfection device in a second embodiment,

3 shows an air disinfection device in a third embodiment and

4 shows an air disinfection device in a fourth embodiment.

In Fig. 1, a first embodiment of an air disinfection device is shown in a schematic, partially sectioned view. The air disinfection device has a disinfection chamber 1, the disinfection chamber 1 having an interior 10, to which an air inlet 11 is arranged on one side of the disinfection chamber 1 and an air outlet 12 is arranged on the opposite side. Air can thus flow from the air inlet 11 through the interior 10 to the air outlet 12 through this disinfection chamber 1.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the disinfection chamber 1 is essentially cuboid, with the largest longitudinal extension in Direction of flow X of the air flowing through the disinfection chamber 1 is aligned and the width of the disinfection chamber 1 is aligned transversely to the direction of flow X of the air. In Fig. 1, the side walls 13 of the disinfection chamber 1 are shown in the plane of the drawing above and below. End faces 14 of the disinfection chamber 1 are shown on the left and right in the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1. The end faces 14 are open for the air to be disinfected to flow freely. A housing 100 can be arranged around the disinfection chamber 1, which is provided for the air inlet 11 and air outlet 12, suitable transitions to hose connections etc. for the conduction of the air to be disinfected flowing to the air disinfection device or for the conduction of the disinfected air emitted by the air disinfection device. In FIG. 1, the disinfection chamber 1 is shown in a top view, that is, with the top side 15 omitted, as a view of the underside 16. In the disinfection chamber 1, mirrors 17 are arranged in the interior 10 along the two side walls 13. Furthermore, at the corner of the disinfection chamber 1 shown at the bottom right in FIG. 1, an opening 18 is provided, to which a first UVC laser 21 is attached as UVC light source means 2. The laser output, at which a UVC laser beam 26 is coupled out, points into the opening 18 so that the UVC laser beam 26 is directed into the interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1. The first UVC laser 21 is preferably inserted airtight with its laser output in the opening 18.

The UVC laser beam 26, which is emitted by the first UVC laser 21, is shown in dash-dotted lines. The UVC laser beam 26 is reflected several times over its path on the mirrors 17, so that a path of the UVC laser beam 26 (dash-dotted illustration) extends over the entire interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1. At the end of the disinfection chamber 1 shown on the left in the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1, the UVC laser beam 26 is reflected back into a returning laser beam 27 (indicated by dashed lines), so that a corresponding return of the Laser beam results, which is coupled again in a suitable manner at the beginning of its path on itself (see short-dashed coupling laser beam 28).

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the path of the UVC laser beam 26, the returning laser beam 27 and the coupling laser beam 28 lies on a plane parallel to the top 15 or bottom 16 of the disinfection chamber 1, so that the paths of the UVC laser beam 26 coincide with the paths of the returning laser beams 27 and intersect coupling laser beam 28. At these intersection points, there is a conscious scattering or swirling of the UVC radiation, so that an increased distribution of the UVC radiation in the interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1 can be expected.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention, in which the same or similar components to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. However, there is an essential difference in the path of the laser beams 26, 27, 28, since here the path of the laser beams 26, 27, 28 is designed so that the path of the laser beams 26, 27, 28 does not cross which the UVC laser beam 26 is oriented within the interior 10 is directed via appropriately oriented mirrors. This ensures that the returning laser beam 27 is coupled back into the beginning of its path (UVC laser beam 26) via appropriately aligned mirrors 17 by means of a coupling laser beam 28.

In a third embodiment, FIG. 3 shows an air disinfection device with a disinfection chamber 1, in which the UVC laser beam 26 emitted by the first UVC laser 21 along a surface parallel to the plane of the drawing through the interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1 to a laser beam absorber 29 at the left end of the in the plane of the drawing Disinfection chamber 1 is performed. In this embodiment, too, the UVC laser beam 26 is guided without crossing.

As in the other exemplary embodiments, the clear height of the interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1 should be designed in such a way that it corresponds as precisely as possible to the radiation diameter of the first UVC laser 21. This ensures that the entire free cross section corresponding to the open end faces 14 is traversed over the entire area of the interior 10 by the UVC laser beam 26 and possibly by the returning laser beam 27 (according to the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2). This ensures that the air flowing through the interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1 interacts with the UVC radiation and, in particular, microorganisms carried along in the air are killed by the UVC radiation.

In a fourth exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, a total of four UVC lasers 21, 22, 23, 24 are provided as UVC light source means 2, each of which is arranged at four corresponding, spaced-apart openings 18 on the disinfection chamber 1. The first UVC laser 21 generates a UVC laser beam 26 which, after a partial travel path, is received in a newly introduced UVC laser beam 26 ', so that the intensity of the weakened UVC laser beam of the first UVC laser 21 matches the newly introduced UVC laser beam 26 'reinforced. After a further partial travel path, a new UVC laser beam 26 ″ from a third UVC laser 23 is then coupled in to this UVC laser beam 26 ′. This, in turn, amplified UVC laser beam signal is now mirrored several times over a further partial path until the UVC laser beam is combined with a new UVC laser beam 26 '"generated by a fourth laser 24. This UVC laser beam 26 ′ ″ is then directed onto a laser beam absorber 29 after a subsequent partial travel path. Of course, this embodiment could also include a returning laser beam 27 with renewed coupling at the beginning of the path. Of course, further combinations of the aforementioned features from the four exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another in order to be able to specify further embodiments of the invention.

Furthermore, further equipment features of the air disinfection device will now be explained in a representative manner on the basis of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1. These features can also further develop the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 2 to 4 and embodiments modified therefrom.

On the air disinfection device shown in Fig. 1, a particle filter 3 is provided at the air inlet 11, which frees the air flowing in there at the air inlet 11 from suspended particles and dirt particles, so that the interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1 remains as clean as possible and during the UVC irradiation by the Interior 10 air flowing through the lowest possible radiation losses occur due to scattering and dissipation. Furthermore, an inlet valve can be provided at inlet 11. On the one hand, this inlet valve can be a simple mechanical check valve in order to prevent an air flow against the desired inlet direction (flow direction X). Alternatively, the inlet valve can also be an electrically controllable valve. An outlet valve is also provided at the air outlet 12. That it can also be designed as a check valve to avoid an undesired backflow of air against the flow direction X or also as a controllable outlet valve.

In a further embodiment, sensors 4 are provided that can measure conditions on the air disinfection device. A first biosensor 41 can preferably be provided at the air inlet 11 and a second biosensor 42 at the air outlet 12. Furthermore, sensors 4 can be used as air flow meters for Measurement of the ozone content of the air after the UVC irradiation and pressure sensors can be provided.

The sensors 4 are connected to a control unit 5, which preferably has a rechargeable battery 51 as a voltage supply. The UVC light source means 2 are connected to the control unit 5. The UVC light source means can, for example, light up continuously while the air cleaning device is in use (battery inserted). Alternatively, the UVC LED laser can only be switched on for the required disinfection process, for example for each breath (triggered by pressure sensors). Furthermore, in the case of corresponding controllable valves, namely the inlet valve and / or the outlet valve can be connected to the control unit 5.

The air disinfection method is described below on the basis of the embodiments proposed here according to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the air disinfection device.

Air to be disinfected is sucked in, for example, by a person to be protected from infections via a breathing mask arranged at the air outlet 12. During this process, the UVC light source means 2 are switched on via the control unit 5, so that UVC laser beams 26, 27, 28 essentially pass through the entire interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1 in the interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1. The ambient air sucked in by the person is now conducted into the interior 10 via the air inlet 11. If necessary, a particle filter 3 at the air inlet 11 can free the air thus sucked in from suspended particles and dirt particles. There the UVC radiation of the UVC laser beams 26, 27, 28 interacts with the particles in the air, in particular germs and microorganisms are killed. The air disinfected in this way now reaches the breathing mask, not shown here, of the person to be protected via the air outlet 12. Alternatively, if the air disinfection device is designed accordingly, both inhalation and exhalation can be passed directly through one disinfection chamber 1. It must be taken into account that the air volume in the interior 10 of the disinfection chamber 1 is small compared to the normal breathing volume of a person, so that there is always sufficient fresh ambient air to the person to be ventilated. In this case, only one air disinfection device, ie with only one disinfection chamber 1, is used to disinfect both the inhaled air and the evacuated air, so that the evacuated air of an infectious person can also be disinfected.

In a further embodiment according to the method, two air disinfection devices, i.e. two disinfection chambers 1, can be arranged in parallel, one being responsible only for breathing in and the other disinfection chamber 1 only for breathing out by means of suitable valves, in particular check valves. In this embodiment, larger volumes can also be used in the disinfection chamber 1, since the problems of an air column only being moved back and forth without sufficient exchange with fresh air need not be feared.

To control the efficiency and quality of the disinfection, corresponding biosensors 41, 42 can also measure the quality of the air that is fed in or discharged. In addition, pressure sensors can also be provided in order, for example, with a breathing mask connected to the air outlet 12, to immediately detect a small negative pressure during inhalation in order to then be able to open appropriately controllable inlet and outlet valves. Furthermore, the amount of air can also be measured in order, for example, to be able to increase the light intensity of the UVC light source means 2 in the case of faster and / or more vigorous breathing or to reduce the radiation intensity in the case of calmer breathing. An ozone sensor can be provided as a further quality check, which gives an alarm signal if an ozone limit value is exceeded or which reduces the intensity of the UVC radiation. This is likely however, it may not be necessary in the case of UVC radiation in the wavelength range from 250 to 270 nm, since ozone is more likely to be formed at wavelengths below 200 nm when air is exposed to UVC radiation.

Advantageously, the air disinfection device with its UVC-LED laser can reliably disinfect air for inhalation or exhalation, whereby, due to the low energy requirement of the UVC-LED laser, mobile use with handy rechargeable batteries (e.g. power bank for mobile phones) for a long period of several hours or days is possible. After changing the rechargeable battery or recharging, the air disinfection device can always be used. This is a considerable advantage compared to single-use protective masks, which can only be used for a maximum period of use of a few hours and which then have to be disposed of.

List of reference symbols

Disinfection chamber 3 particle filters

10 interior

100 housing 4 sensor 11 air inlet 41 first biosensor

12 air outlet 42 second biosensor

13 side wall

14 front 5 control unit

15 top 51 rechargeable battery 16 bottom

17 Mirror X Direction of flow

18 Opening 2 UVC light source determination

21 first U VC laser

22 second U VC laser

23 third U VC laser

24 fourth U VC laser 26.26 ‘, 26", 26 ‘", U VC laser beam

27 returning laser beam

28 Coupling laser beam

29 Laser beam absorbers

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Air disinfection device with a disinfection chamber (1) with air inlet (11), interior (10) and air outlet (12), the air to be disinfected flows through the disinfection chamber (1) from the air inlet (11) to the air outlet (12), wherein in the disinfection chamber (1) UVC light source means (2) are provided and the disinfection chamber (1) is equipped in the interior with a reflective surface, characterized in that as UVC light source means (2) one or more UVC lasers (21) and in the Disinfection chamber (1) in the interior (10) a plurality of mirrors (17) are provided as a reflective surface, the UVC laser (21) and mirror (17) being arranged so that the UVC laser beam emitted by the UVC laser (21) (en) (26) cross the interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1) with multiple reflections, and that the disinfection chamber (1) is cuboid, the disinfection chamber (1) having a height (H) that corresponds to the diameter of a individual U VC laser beam (26) or the height extent in the case of several UVC laser beams (26) arranged one above the other.

2. Air disinfection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the UVC laser (s) (21) are arranged on the outside of the disinfection chamber (1), the laser output at which the laser beam (26) is coupled out via an opening (18) into the disinfection chamber (1).

3. Air disinfection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that with a UVC laser beam (26) the UVC laser beam (26) in a central surface (F) which is in the middle and perpendicular to the vertical extension of the cuboid disinfection chamber (1) is aligned, is coupled into the disinfection chamber and the mirrors (17) are oriented perpendicular to this central surface (F) ..

4. Air disinfection device according to claim 3, but with several superimposed UVC laser beams (26), characterized in that the UVC laser beams (26) parallel to

Central surface (F) are coupled into the disinfection chamber, wherein the UVC laser beams (26) are arranged distributed equidistantly along the height extension.

5. Air disinfection device according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the mirrors (17) are fixed in a fixed arrangement in the interior (10).

6. Air disinfection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the walls of the disinfection chamber (1) facing the interior (10) are mirrored.

7. Air disinfection device according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the UVC laser (21) is an LED laser which emits UVC radiation with wavelengths of 200 nm to 280 nm, in particular 250 nm to 270 nm.

8. Air disinfection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air inlet (11) is a

Particle filter (3) and / or a controllable inlet valve are provided.

9. Air disinfection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a check valve and / or a controllable outlet valve are provided on the air outlet (12).

10. Air disinfection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first biosensor (41) and / or a second biosensor (42) are provided at the air outlet (12) at the air inlet (11).

11. Air disinfection process with a disinfection chamber (1) with air inlet (11), interior (10) and air outlet (12), the air to be disinfected flows through the disinfection chamber (1) from the air inlet (11) to the air outlet (12) and thereby UVC - Irradiation is exposed, with an air disinfection device with a cuboid disinfection chamber (1) with a height (H) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the steps:

Generating at least one UVC laser beam (26) which is directed into the interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1) in a central surface (F) which is aligned perpendicular to the vertical extension of the cuboid disinfection chamber (1), the height (H. ) the disinfection chamber (1) corresponds to the diameter of the UVC laser beam (26) or the UVC laser beams (26) arranged one above the other, multiple reflection of the UVC laser beams (26) in the interior (10), the UVC laser beams (26) essentially pass through the entire interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1) parallel to the central surface.

12. Air disinfection method according to claim 11, characterized in that each UVC laser beam (26) is absorbed after passing through the interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1).

13. Air disinfection method according to claim 11, characterized in that each UVC laser beam (26) after passing through the Interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1) is coupled back to itself at the beginning of its path.

14. Air disinfection method according to claim 11, characterized in that several laser beams (26 ', 26 ", 26"') are generated, a further laser beam (26 ', 26 ") being applied to a first laser beam (26) several times after a partial travel path. , 26 "') is coupled onto the previously introduced laser beam (26,26', 26", 26 "').

15. Air disinfection method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the UVC laser beam (26) is coupled in phase after the passage.

16. Air disinfection method according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the UVC laser beams (26) are guided without crossing in the interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1).

17. Air disinfection method according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the UVC laser beams (26) intersect on their path in the interior (10) of the disinfection chamber (1).

18. Air disinfection method according to one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that pulsed UVC laser beams (26) are used.

19. Use of the air disinfection device and / or the air disinfection method according to one of the preceding claims for the disinfection of inhaled air for people to be protected and / or for the disinfection of exhaled air for infectious people.