IT202100006056A1 - DISINFECTION DEVICE FOR THE AIR AND/OR SURFACES OF AN ENVIRONMENT TO BE TREATED AND PROCEDURE FOR DISINFECTING AN ENVIRONMENT TO BE TREATED - Google Patents

Description

DISINFECTION DEVICE FOR THE AIR AND/OR SURFACES OF AN ENVIRONMENT TO BE TREATED AND PROCEDURE FOR DISINFECTING AN ENVIRONMENT TO BE TREATED

Field of invention

[1] The present invention relates to a device and a method for sanitizing indoor working and living environments or the interior of an ambulance or other vehicle, and more in general to sanitize the air contaminated by bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, consequently reducing the contamination of surfaces.

State of the art

[2] The current SARS COVID-19 virus pandemic has re-presented the need to effectively sanitize work and living environments from pathogens, such as schools, bars, restaurants, waiting rooms, offices, other public places and others busy environments, more or less for a long time, for more? people, and in particular the need to effectively sanitize the air in an environment and to reduce possible surface contamination caused by indirect contamination by microorganisms.

[3] To quickly disinfect the air and the great variety? of environments potentially contaminated by SARS-CoV 2 and other pathogens, both disinfection systems using ultraviolet rays and ozone have been re-proposed and sometimes marketed in recent months.

[4] Both systems offer particular advantages but also have various drawbacks and contraindications which have effectively limited their diffusion and use as a contrast to the pandemic.

[5] Ultraviolet radiation ? a known effective germicidal agent against viruses and bacteria, including Sars-Cov 2; the wavelength of which ? been more widely demonstrated? effectiveness (254 nm) has for? harmful effects on the eye and on the skin, when not suitably protected, at doses already lower than that required for disinfection; There? makes it necessary to evacuate closed environments from their occupants or visitors before sanitizing with UV rays.

[6] Another notable limitation of ultraviolet rays? that the activity? germicidal on exposed surfaces ? effective only through direct irradiation and at a short distance, but they don't have a usefulness? appreciable if used at a distance and not irradiated directly on the surfaces to be sanitized

[7] There? prevents you from effectively disinfecting most of the surfaces of an environment that a person can? touch, risking getting infected.

[8] The germicidal effect of UVC? therefore at the moment only demonstrated at close range from the surfaces/materials to be decontaminated and used in areas forbidden to people.

[9] Ozone also has the drawback of being toxic by inhalation already? at concentrations more low than that at which it becomes effective as a germicidal agent.

[10] Ozone, precisely because of its intrinsic characteristics, would therefore in itself? very valid for sanitizing closed rooms, managing to reach even hidden corners thanks to the diffusion of ozone in gaseous form, but requires the absence of occupants in the rooms during disinfection and during a subsequent phase during which the ozone concentration must be brought back below the threshold compatible with the presence of people, increasing times, costs and complexity? of the sanitization procedures of the environments.

[11] An aim of the present invention ? therefore obviate the limitations and drawbacks of the state of the art by providing a device and a procedure for disinfecting environments frequented by people who combine multiple? effectively the advantages of ultraviolet radiation and ozone as germicidal agents while reducing their drawbacks.

Summary of the invention

[12] This object is achieved, in a first aspect of the present invention, with a device having the characteristics according to claim 1.

[13] In a second aspect of the invention this object is achieved with a process having the characteristics according to claim 13.

[14] In a particular embodiment of this process, in step S13.3) the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere of the environment to be treated is reduced by means of the disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1' '') by activating the ultraviolet source (5).

[15] In a third aspect of the invention this object is achieved with a process having the characteristics according to claim 14.

[16] Further features of the invention are the object of the dependent claims.

[17] The advantages achievable with the present invention will be more? evident, to the person skilled in the art, from the following detailed description of some particular embodiments of a non-limiting nature, illustrated with reference to the following schematic figures.

List of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a disinfection device according to a first particular embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the first treatment duct of the disinfection device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a cross section of the treatment duct of Figure 2, according to a section plane perpendicular to the axis of the duct itself;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the second treatment duct of the disinfection device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the second treatment duct of a disinfection device according to a second particular embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the second treatment duct of a disinfection device according to a third particular embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a disinfection device according to a fourth particular embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a disinfection device according to a fifth particular embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a disinfection device according to a sixth particular embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description

[18] Figures 1-4 refer to a disinfection device with activity? germicide on the air and on the surfaces of an environment to be treated according to a first particular embodiment of the invention, indicated with the overall reference number 1.

[19] The disinfection device 1 reduces the presence of pathogens in the air, destroying or inactivating a significant portion of them.

[20] The disinfection device 1 comprises an ozone generator 3, 3', 3" and an ultraviolet source 5 arranged to emit ultraviolet rays at a defined irradiance.

[21] Disinfection device 1 ? designed to diffuse the ozone produced by the ozone generator 3, 3', 3" into the surrounding environment, particularly into the ambient air, so as to reduce - possibly drastically - the possible presence of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms in ambient air.

[22] Disinfection device 1 ? further arranged to irradiate the air of the environment to be treated, for example of the surrounding environment or coming from the surrounding environment with the ultraviolet rays produced by the ultraviolet source 5 so as to reduce the presence of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms possibly present in the surrounding environment - for example in the surrounding air - or at least reduce its quantity, and/or reduce the concentration of ozone contained in the surrounding air or coming from the surrounding environment.

[23] The ozone generator 3, 3', 3" can be, for example, of the corona effect type and generate ozone through electric discharges, or through ultraviolet light or cold plasma.

[24] Preferably the corona generator operates via dielectric barrier discharges.

[25] The 3, 3', 3" ozone generator is preferably capable of generating an ozone flow rate equal to or greater than 20 g/h [grams/hour], more preferably equal to or greater than 40 g/h.

[26] The 3, 3', 3" ozone generator may be capable of generating an ozone flow rate of, for example, between 2-25 grams/hour.

[27] The ozone generator 3', 3" can comprise a plurality of modules 30 each of which capable of producing an ozone flow rate equal to or greater than 20 g/h [grams/hour], more preferably equal or higher than 40 g/h; advantageously these modules are arranged to be activated independently of each other, for example by activating only one of them, some of them or all of them.

[28] the modules of the ozone generator 3', 3" can thus be activated for example in cascade as the required ozone flow rate increases, allowing both very small and very large ozone flow rates to be generated and controlled with precision, managing thus effectively sterilizing or sanitizing a large variety of large and small environments, and with more or less complex geometry.

[29] As for example in the embodiment of Figure 5, the modules 30 of the ozone generator 3' can be arranged side by side to one another so as to form a kind of beam or corona.

[30] As for example in the embodiment of Figure 6 , the modules 30 of the ozone generator 3" can be arranged one after the other so as to essentially form a row, which preferably extends along the second duct of treatment 9 described in more detail below.

[31] In embodiments not shown the modules 30 of the ozone generator can form further arrangements in space, so as to form for example a spiral or a helix whose axis ? substantially coaxial or in any case longitudinal to the second treatment duct 9.

[32] The ultraviolet 5 source can? include, for example, one or more gas discharge lamps 50, mercury vapor, one or more? LED (Light Emitting Diode) sources.

[33] These lamps 50, LED sources or distributions thereof advantageously have an oblong shape, as explained further on. extensively later.

[34] Advantageously, the device 1 comprises a first treatment duct 7 arranged to irradiate the air coming from the external environment with the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet source 5 and to send the irradiated air towards the external environment.

[35] Preferably for this purpose the ultraviolet source 5 ? contained in the first treatment duct 7 (Figures 2, 3).

[36] Advantageously, the first treatment duct 7 has substantially non-transparent or translucent walls, so as not to let the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet source 5 escape outside itself.

[37] Advantageously, the device 1 comprises a second treatment duct 9 arranged to mix air coming from the external environment with ozone produced by the ozone generator 3, 3', 3" and send this mixture towards the external environment.

[38] The ozone generator 3, 3', 3" or at least its delivery port are preferably arranged in the treatment duct 9 (Figure 4).

[39] The passage sections of the second treatment duct 9 can for example have a substantially circular shape and have an average diameter DC9 (Figure 4).

[40] The second treatment duct 9 has an overall length or a linear development LC9.

[41] Advantageously, the first 7 and the second 9 treatment ducts are arranged to draw ambient air inside and blow it outside.

[42] For this purpose they can advantageously each be provided with a relative fan 70, 90 arranged for example inside the respective duct 7, 9.

[43] Advantageously, device 1 controls each fan 70, 90 so as to possibly differentiate the flow rates and speed? of the air flowing in the duct 7 from the flow rate and speed? of the air flowing in the duct 9, in order to optimize them more? effectively, for example in order to maximize the radiation of UV rays to which ? subjected each elementary volume of air flowing in the duct 7, and increase to the maximum - or in any case in the most? appropriate, the range and speed? of the air flowing in the second treatment duct 9 for example to increase more? quickly the ozone content present in the air of the room, ambulance or other environment to be treated.

[44] For example, device 1 can? be prepared to make s? that the air flow rate which passes through the first treatment duct 7 is approximately equal to 0.1 times, 0.5 times, 0.9 times, 1.1 times, 2 times, 5 times, 10 times the air flow rate air passing through the second treatment duct 9.

[45] In an embodiment not shown the device 1 can? be provided with a compressor set up to compress the air flowing through the treatment duct 7 so as to increase its density? and exposure to ultraviolet rays.

[46] Each treatment duct 7, 9 can? include, for example, a section of pipe (Figure 1-4).

[47] The first 7 and the second 9 treatment ducts can for example be arranged fluidically in parallel to each other, i.e. without flowing fluidly into each other or flowing fluidly from each other (Figure 1-4).

[48] This disposition fluidically in parallel does not imply for? necessarily that the first 7 and the second 9 treatment duct are geometrically parallel or side by side to each other.

[49] For this purpose, the first 7 and the second 9 treatment duct can each be provided with a respective suction port 72, 92 and a respective delivery port 74, 94 respectively arranged to draw in air from the external environment and reintroduce it .

[50] As for example in the particular embodiments of Figures 7, 9 described even more? subsequently, the first 7 and the second 9 treatment duct can for example be arranged fluidically in series with respect to each other, for example by causing one of the two to introduce the air sucked in from the external environment into the other or the air to be reintroduced into the external environment.

[51] Advantageously, the ultraviolet source 5 ? designed to emit ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength between 100-300 nanometers, or between 200-280 nanometers, between 210-230 nanometers, between 250-300 nanometers, between 250-280 nanometers or between 250-260 nanometers and for example equal to about 220 nanometers or 254 nanometers.

[52] These wavelengths have a particular germicidal effect which exploits the breakdown of nucleic acids, RNA and DNA, of microorganisms.

[53] Wavelengths of 260 nanometers or greater are longer? effective for eliminating encapsulated viruses and bacteria encapsulation of viruses in drops of liquid with a diameter greater than that conventionally attributed to ?aerosols?.

[54] Advantageously, the first treatment duct 7, or more? in general the disinfection device 1, ? designed to irradiate the air sucked in from the external environment with ultraviolet radiation with an energy equal to or greater than approximately 10 mJ/cm<2 >[milliJoule/square centimetre] and more? preferably equal to or greater than about 20 mJ/cm<2 >, about 25 mJ/cm<2 >, 30 mJ/cm<2 >, or 38 mJ/cm<2 >; these last two energy values, according to conservative assessments, are able to inactivate 99.99% of pathogens; the previous radiation energies per unit? of surface are referred to the internal surface of the first treatment duct 7, ie? at the most large internal surface of the duct 7 lapped by the air flowing along it.

[55] Previous radiation energies per unit? of surface are also referred to the air contained in the first treatment duct 7.

[56] For this purpose, preferably the first treatment duct 7, or more? in general, the disinfection device 1, pu? be arranged to irradiate the air sucked in from the external environment with ultraviolet radiation with an energy for example between 10-50 mJ/cm<2>.

[57] Also for this purpose preferably the disinfection device 1 ? arranged to make the air flow along the first treatment duct 7 with a suitable speed? which allows to irradiate the air itself with a sufficient dose of ultraviolet radiation and for a sufficiently long time to obtain the desired germicidal action and flow rate of disinfected air

[58] Also for this purpose the disinfection device 1 ? arranged to make the air flow along the first treatment duct 7 with a speed? preferably between 1-10 meters/second and more? preferably between 2-5 metres/second.

[59] Advantageously the disinfection device 1 ? arranged to make the air flow along the second treatment duct 9 with a speed? preferably equal to or greater than 10 meters per second, for example equal to or greater than 20 meters per second or 30 meters per second.

[60] High speed? of the air flow that runs through the second treatment tube 9 help to reach pi? quickly the level of ozone concentration in the air of the room or other environment to be treated.

[61] For this purpose, the through sections of the first treatment duct 7 preferably have an average diameter DC7 comprised between 5-100 centimetres, between 10-90 centimetres, between 5-50 centimeters or between 19-50 centimetres.

[62] Again for this purpose, the through sections of the first treatment duct 7 preferably have an average area between 19-8000 cm^2 [square centimetres], or between 280-2000 cm^2.

[63] Again for this purpose, the first treatment duct 7 can? have an overall length LC7 preferably between 10-100 centimetres, 10-500 centimetres, or 10-1000 centimetres.

[64] Preferably the length LC7 ? greater than the diameter DC7 or more? in general of the maximum width or average length of the transversal sections of passage of the first treatment duct 7.

[65] Always to radiate more? efficient the aspirated air with ultraviolet rays the ultraviolet source 5 ? surrounded by a reflector 54 arranged to collect the ultraviolet emission radiated by the source 5 and reflect it towards the inside of the first treatment duct 7.

[66] Reflector 54 can? be realized as a reflective surface which extends around the ultraviolet source 5 and along it (Figure 4).

[67] The reflective material allows to reach a UVC dose high enough not to require further treatments by photocatalysis.

[68] Preferably disinfection device 1 ? arranged to emit treated air from the first treatment duct 7 into the external environment with a flow rate equal to or greater than 15 m<3>/h [cubic meters/hour], plus? preferably equal to or greater than 25 m<3>/h, or 30 m<3>/h or 36 m<3>/h; the latter capacity value allows the air in the load compartment of an ambulance to be completely sanitized in about 20 minutes, even in the presence of people.

[69] Preferably disinfection device 1 ? arranged to emit treated air from the first treatment duct 7 into the external environment with a flow rate equal to or greater than 50 m<3>/h [cubic meters/hour], or equal to or greater than 70 m<3>/h or 100 m <3>/h.

[70] Preferably disinfection device 1 ? arranged to emit treated air from the first treatment duct 7 into the external environment with a flow rate equal to or less than 100 m<3>/h, 80 m<3>/h, 60 m<3>/h or 40 m<3 >/h.

[71] Advantageously, the ultraviolet source 5 ? arranged in the first treatment duct 7 longitudinally thereto, so as to radiate more? long and more the flow of air which travels through the duct 7 is efficient (Figures 2, 3).

[72] For this purpose, the ultraviolet source 5 has a substantially oblong overall shape, and can include for example an oblong-shaped lamp, a beam of lamps with an overall oblong shape (Figure 2), an LED or a distribution of multiple? LEDs.

[73] To optimize the dimensions of the first 7 and of the second 9 treatment duct on the basis, for example, of the shape and arrangement in space of the ultraviolet source 5, of the lamp or lamps 50 which possibly form part of it, of the ozone generator 3, 3', 3" and of the module 30 or modules 30 which possibly form part thereof, the length LC7, the diameter DC7 or the average area of the through sections of the first duct 7 can be for example approximately equal to 0.1 times, 0 .5 times, 0.9 times, 1.1 times, 2 times, 5 times or 10 times respectively the LC9 length, DC9 diameter or the mean area of the through sections of the second duct 9.

[74] Preferably the length LC9 ? greater than the diameter DC9 or more? in general of the maximum width or average length of the transversal sections of passage of the second treatment duct 9.

[75] Preferably disinfection device 1 ? equipped with a unit control logic 10 arranged to control the operation of the device 1 itself.

[76] The unit? logic 10 can? include for example a microprocessor.

[77] Disinfection device 1 can? be provided with a shell, box or other casing 13 which during normal use at least partially contains the first 7 and/or the second treatment duct 9 and/or ? fixed to at least one of these ducts 7, 9.

[78] The unit? logic 10 can? be contained, for example, in the casing 13.

[79] Disinfection device 1 can? possibly be provided with at least one ozone sensor 11 arranged to detect the concentration or in any case the presence of ozone in the ambient air at a predetermined distance from the first 7 and/or from the second 9 treatment duct, so as to supply the unit with logic 10 measures more? of the ozone concentration in the environment being sanitized or sanitized.

[80] This distance can be, for example, a few meters or a few tens of meters.

[81] The ozone sensor 11 ? preferably located outside the casing 13 without being attached to it or to the conduits 7, 9; the sensor 11 can? be, for example, connected to the unit? logic 10 through a transmission system without or through wires, through which pu? send to the unit? logic 10 its findings.

[82] Clearly the disinfection device 1 can? be provided with more ozone sensors 11 arranged to transmit their readings to the unit? logic 10, thus providing the latter with more information? rich, complex and significant on the concentration of ozone in pi? points of an environment to be sanitized or otherwise sanitized.

[83] The remote sensors 11 or other sensors for measuring the ozone concentration of ambient air - for example sensors mounted inside the casing 13 or fixed thereto - have a measurement range preferably between 0 and 10 ppm [parts per million], with a resolution preferably equal to or less than at least 0.1 ppm or 20 ppb [parts per billion]; in this way these sensors are able to measure the effective concentrations at the end of the activity? germicidal, but also low concentrations to allow people to enter the premises safely up to the natural or intrinsic concentrations of the environmental background.

[84] Such sensors can be for example of the electrochemical type.

[85] Such sensors can be for example of the type described in the Swiss patent application n? CH102020000008470 filed on April 21, 2020 and owned by of the company?

and/or produced by the same company?

[86] Disinfection device 1 ? advantageously equipped with one or more? sensors to detect the presence of people in its vicinity and, if it detects them, ? arranged to deactivate the ozone generator 3, 3', 3" or reduce its operation so as to reduce the concentration of ozone contained in the air surrounding the device 1, for example until it is brought back below a suitable threshold harmful to humans or animals.

[87] Disinfection device 1 ? advantageously provided with at least one flow measurement system - not shown - arranged to measure the air flow flowing through the first 7 and/or the second 9 treatment duct.

[88] This flow measurement system can? include, for example, a speed meter? of the air flowing in the first 7 and/or in the second treatment duct 9.

[89] The unit? logic 10 ? preferably arranged to control the disinfection device 1 on the basis of the readings of the at least one flow meter.

[90] The flow meter allows, for example, to calculate the quantity? of air treated by the ultraviolet ray stage, of which the first treatment duct forms part, and/or by the ozone stage, of which the second treatment duct forms part, therefore calculate or in any case estimate what fraction of the air volume of the 'environment to be treated is already? been treated by the ozone or ultraviolet stage and therefore how much longer one or the other stage must still operate to carry out the required treatment.

[91] The aforementioned sensors for detecting the presence of persons and/or the at least one flowmeter can for example be enclosed in the housing 13 and/or fixed thereto or arranged outside it.

[92] Casing 13 can? be for example mobile on wheels, so as to be able to slide for example on a floor; these wheels can be idle or motorized - in the latter case so as to make the purification device 1 self-propelled, for example.

[93] Alternatively, casing 13 can? be for example simply placed on an underlying floor without being able to slide on wheels or skates, or fixed to this floor or walls for example by means of suitable brackets.

[94] More in particular, the disinfection device 1 can? possibly be made in the form of robot pi? or less anthropomorphic, possibly equipped with wheels, mechanical legs or tracks to move around.

[95] Disinfection device 1 ? preferably programmed or in any case arranged to implement the following operating cycle comprising a first phase of diffusion of the ozone, a possible second phase of stabilization, a third phase of deozonation.

[96] In the first phase of ozone diffusion, the disinfection device 1 can operate in such a way as to increase the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere of the environment to be disinfected, or in any case in the environment surrounding the device 1 itself, until it reaches a sufficiently high predetermined threshold, for example such as to guarantee the activity? required germicide.

[97] In particular, for example, the predetermined threshold can? be indicatively between 2 and 25 ppm or between 4 and 10 ppm.

[98] In this first phase, the ozone generator 3, 3', 3" is active and the ultraviolet source 5 is inactive.

[99] In the possible second stabilization phase, the disinfection device 1 works preferably so as to keep the concentration of ozone in the environment to be treated substantially constant over time.

[100] For this purpose, the ozone generator 3, 3', 3" and the ultraviolet source 5 can for example be both inactive or both active so that the new ozone produced by the generator 3, 3', 3" compensates for the reconverted one in diatomic oxygen from the ultraviolet 5 source or from the normal degradation of ozone due to its instability? chemicals or other agents possibly present in the environment to be treated; or still only one between the ozone generator 3 and the ultraviolet source 5 can? be active while the other -respectively the source 5 or the generator 3- can? be in the black.

[101] In the third deozonation phase the disinfection device 1 can? operate in such a way as to reduce the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere of the environment to be disinfected or sanitized, or in any case in the environment surrounding the device 1 itself, until it reaches a sufficiently low predetermined threshold, for example not harmful to human beings or predetermined animals and for example equal to or less than 0.2 ppm or 0.1 ppm.

[102] In this third phase, the ozone generator 3, 3', 3" can be inactive and the ultraviolet source 5 active, or they can both be active but at powers or in any case regimes such that the ozone produced in the unit? of time from the generator 3, 3', 3" is not greater than that reconverted into diatomic oxygen by the ultraviolet source 5 or by the normal degradation of the ozone due to its instability? chemicals or other agents possibly present in the environment to be treated; or still the two stages can be activated alternatively to each other, for example by activating the ozone generator 3 in a first phase while the ultraviolet source 5? deactivated, in a subsequent second phase by activating the ultraviolet source 5 while the ozone generator 3 is deactivated, and possibly repeating pi? times this cycle.

[103] The disinfection device 1 effectively combines the advantages of disinfection by ozone and by ultraviolet radiation: the ozone diffused in the air makes it possible to disinfect both the air itself - killing for example bacteria and viruses suspended in aerosols, droplets or powders - both the visible and hidden surfaces of the treated environment, in particular also the surfaces that could not be irradiated by a source of ultraviolet rays or other disinfectant radiations, for example why? in the shadow of that radiation source.

[104] The ultraviolet radiation emitted by the device 1 is confined in the first treatment duct 5, preventing it from affecting and damaging any people or animals around, and is used to disinfect the air flowing in the first duct 5.

[105] The same ultraviolet 5 source used to disinfect ambient air is also used to lower its ozone content at the end of the disinfection period of an environment through the latter and bring the ambient ozone concentration back to pre-set non-harmful levels.

[106] Being able to treat the air both by ozone and by ultraviolet, device 1 ? able to disinfect an environment not only in the absence of people but also when they are present.

[107] The type of ozone sensors of which ? equipped with the disinfection device 1 they allow very precise measurements and over a very wide measuring range.

[108] The ultraviolet ray stage to which the first treatment duct 7 belongs allows the value of the useful dose to be reached in a very few seconds, thus ensuring? high efficiency, even with significant air flow rates.

[109] The fact that the first 7 and the second treatment duct 9 are fluidly parallel to each other allows to optimize their construction and operating characteristics in the best possible way: for example, the first treatment duct 7 can? be built and operated in such a way as to be crossed by different air flows and more? appropriate, having speed? different and more appropriate, by the air flowing through the second treatment tube 9.

[110] How yes? partly already? exposed the first duct of treatment 7 pu? be optimized in order to maximize the radiation of the air with UV rays, while the second treatment duct can? be optimized in order to maximize the amount? of ozone produced and released into the environment to be treated in the unit? of time.

[111] How can this be done? said the ducts 7 and 9 can have diameters DC7, DC9, lengths LC7, LC9 and shapes significantly different, and any respective fans 70, 90 can be made to operate at speed? different, have propellers or other impellers of different shapes and sizes and be driven by motors of different sizes and powers, thus making the device 1 much more? effective than known disinfection devices which combine the action of ozone and ultraviolet radiation.

[112] The embodiments described above are susceptible to various modifications and variations without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[113] For example, as shown in Figures 1-6, device 1 can? be provided with at least a first 7 and a second 9 treatment duct; the at least a first duct of treatment 7 pu? be arranged to suck air from the environment to be treated and reintroduce it substantially without drawing this air from the second treatment duct 9 and without introducing it into the at least one second treatment duct 9; and the at least one second treatment duct 9 ? arranged to suck air from the environment to be treated and reintroduce it substantially without taking this air from the at least one first treatment duct 7 and without introducing it into the at least one first treatment duct 7.

[114] However, as for example in the embodiment of Figure 7 the device 1' can be provided with a plurality? of first treatment ducts 7 and of a second treatment duct 9; the first treatment ducts 7 can be arranged to draw in air from the room to be treated and reintroduce it substantially without drawing this air from the second treatment duct 9 but introducing it into the second duct 9; the at least one second duct of treatment 9 pu? be predisposed to suck air from the environment to be treated and reintroduce it by taking this air from one or more? of the first treatment ducts 7 without introducing it, at least directly, into one or more? of the first treatment ducts 7.

[115] In essence, in this embodiment all the first treatment ducts 7 are fluidically connected in parallel to each other and all fluidly in series with the second treatment duct 9.

[116] As for example in the embodiment of Figure 9 the device 1''' can? be provided with a plurality? of first treatment ducts 7 and of a second treatment duct 9; one or more first treatment ducts 7 can be arranged to draw air from the environment to be treated and reintroduce it into this environment substantially without drawing this air from the second treatment duct 9 and without introducing it into the second treatment duct 9; besides that? one or more other first treatment ducts 7 can be arranged to draw air from the environment to be treated and introduce it into the second treatment duct 9, which then reintroduces this air into the environment to be treated; the second treatment duct 9 ? arranged to draw air from the environment to be treated through one of the first treatment ducts 7 and to reintroduce this air into the environment to be treated without introducing it into the first treatment ducts 7.

[117] In essence, in this embodiment all but one of the first treatment ducts 7 are fluidically connected in parallel both to each other and to the second treatment duct 9, while the remaining first treatment duct 7? fluidically connected in series to the second treatment duct 9.

[118] A disinfection device 1" according to the invention can also comprise, in addition to the ozone generator 3, 3', 3" and the ultraviolet source 5, a separate deozonator stage 15 arranged to convert the ozone contained in the air environment - including that previously generated and fed into it by generator 3, 3', 3" - in diatomic oxygen or other compounds (Figure 8).

[119] The deozonator stage 15 can? comprise a third treatment duct 17 designed to draw ambient air and re-introduce it into the environment surrounding the device 1 itself, and an ozone converter 19 designed to convert the ozone contained in the air into diatomic oxygen or in any case to convert the ozone contained in the air into other substances flows into the third treatment duct 17.

[120] The ozone converter 19 can? be, for example, of the photocatalytic type.

[121] Any references in this description to "an embodiment", "an example embodiment" mean that a particular feature or structure described in relation to that embodiment? comprised in at least one embodiment of the invention and in particular in a particular variant of the invention as defined in a main claim.

[122] The fact that these expressions appear in various passages of the description does not imply that they necessarily refer only to the same embodiment.

[123] Further, when a feature, element or structure is described in relation to a particular embodiment, it is observed that it is within the skill of the average skilled person to apply that feature, element or structure to other embodiments.

[124] Numerical references that differ only in different superscripts, e.g. 21', 21", 21<III >, when not otherwise specified, indicate different variants of an element named in the same way.

[125] Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[126] For example, the materials used, as well as? the dimensions may be any according to the technical requirements.

[127] It must be understood that an expression of the type "A includes B, C, D" or "A is formed by B, C, D" also includes and describes the particular case in which "A is formed by B, C , D".

[128] Does the expression "A include an element B" unless otherwise specified? to be understood as "A includes one or more elements B".

[129] References to a "first, second, third, ... nth entity?" have the sole purpose of distinguishing them from each other but the indication of the entity? n-th does not necessarily imply the existence of the first, second ... (n-1)th entity.

[130] The examples and lists of possible variants of the present application are to be understood as non-exhaustive lists.

Claims (14)

1) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') for the air and/or surfaces of an environment to be treated comprising an ozone generator (3, 3', 3") and a source ultraviolet (5) designed to emit ultraviolet rays, in which: -the disinfection device (1) ? designed to spread the ozone produced by the ozone generator into the surrounding environment in order to reduce the presence of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that may be present in the surrounding environment to be treated; -the disinfection device (1) ? arranged to irradiate the air of the environment to be treated or coming from it with the ultraviolet rays produced by the ultraviolet source (5) in order to reduce the concentration in the air of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that may be present in the environment to be treated or at least reduce the presence of such bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, and/or to reduce the concentration of ozone contained in the air of the environment to be treated or coming from it; - the disinfection device (1) comprises at least a first treatment duct (7) arranged to irradiate the air coming from the environment to be treated with ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet source (5) and to direct the irradiated air towards the environment from deal with; - the disinfection device (1) comprises at least a second treatment duct (9) arranged to mix air coming from the environment to be treated with ozone produced by the ozone generator (3) and send this mixture towards the environment to be treated; -the at least one first treatment duct (7) ? arranged to suck air from the environment to be treated and reintroduce it substantially without withdrawing this air from the second treatment duct (9) and/or without introducing it into the at least one second treatment duct (9); And -the at least one second treatment duct (9) ? arranged to draw air from the environment to be treated and reintroduce it substantially without withdrawing this air from the at least one first treatment duct (7) and/or without introducing it into the at least one first treatment duct (7). 2) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to claim 1, in which: -the at least one first treatment duct (7) ? arranged to draw air from the environment to be treated and reintroduce it substantially without withdrawing this air from the second treatment duct (9) and without introducing it into the at least one second treatment duct (9); And -the at least one second treatment duct (9) ? arranged to draw air from the environment to be treated and reintroduce it substantially without withdrawing this air from the at least one first treatment duct (7) and without introducing it into the at least one first treatment duct (7). 3) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to claim 1 or 2, in which the first treatment duct (7) contains the ultraviolet source (5). 4) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to claim 3, wherein the ultraviolet source (5) is arranged longitudinally to the first treatment duct (7). 5) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to one or more preceding claims, wherein the second treatment duct (9) contains the ozone generator (3). 6) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to one or more preceding claims, arranged to irradiate the air present in the first treatment duct (7) with ultraviolet radiation, supplying it with an overall energy equal to or greater than approximately 10 millijoules/square centimeter. 7) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to claim 6, arranged to irradiate the air present in the first treatment duct (7) with ultraviolet radiation, providing it with an overall equal or higher energy about 30 millijoules/square centimeter. 8) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to one or more preceding claims, arranged to make air flow along the first treatment duct (7) with an average speed between 1- 10 metres/second, where the average speed is obtained by averaging several punctual speeds at the same instant inside the duct. 9) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to claim 8, arranged to make air flow along the first treatment duct (7) with an average speed in the space inside the duct comprised between 2-5 meters/second. 10) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to one or more preceding claims, arranged to make air flow along the second treatment duct (9) with an average speed equal to or greater than 11 metres/second, where the average speed is obtained by averaging several punctual speeds at the same instant inside the duct. 11) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to claim 10, arranged to make air flow along the second treatment duct (9) with an average speed equal to or greater than 20 metres/ second. 12) Disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') according to one or more preceding claims, arranged to ensure that the air flow rate flowing through the first treatment duct (7) is equal to or greater than 1.1 times the air flow rate flowing through the second treatment duct (9). 13) Procedure for disinfecting an environment to be treated, including the following operations: S13.1) providing a disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') having the characteristics according to one or more preceding claims; S13.2) by means of the disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') increase the ozone concentration in the atmosphere of the environment to be treated by activating the ozone source (3); S13.3) using the disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') to reduce the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere of the room to be treated. 14) Procedure for disinfecting an environment to be treated, including the following operations: S14.1) providing a disinfection device (1, 1', 1", 1''') having the characteristics according to one or more claims from 1 to 12; S14.2) disinfect the air of the environment to be treated by irradiating it with ultraviolet radiation emitted by the ultraviolet source (5).