JP2022087703A - Virus deactivation device and air processing unit with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a virus deactivation device capable of efficiently deactivating floating viruses in a short time and excellent in practicability without needing high-temperature heating or high-temperature exposure for an extended period of a whole chamber and further without using a special device or material.SOLUTION: A virus deactivation device is configured by providing a heat source 2 and heat-holding treatment space 3 for heat-holding an introduction air over the temperature and detention time of a prescribed threshold value to a heating treatment part 1 provided to an air passage part which introduces the air capable of including viruses and treats the introduction air to discharge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to, for example, an air treatment device such as a virus inactivating device that heats and inactivates a virus in the air and a heating device equipped with the virus inactivating device.

Inactivation of airborne viruses has been investigated and studied by various methods such as heating, ultraviolet rays, ozone, photocatalyst, and humidity.
For example, research has been conducted to inactivate it by controlling humidity at room temperature.

In addition, it can be expected as a general finding that it can be inactivated by heating, but as a prior art, it has been reported that it can be inactivated by heating at a relatively low temperature such as 30 minutes or 1 hour at a temperature of less than 100 ° C for a long time. There are also cases.

Further, for example, a device for inactivating a virus by passing it through a heating space and a discharging space without capturing the virus has also been proposed (Patent Document 1, Patent No. 5683247).

The present inventor has also proposed a device for inactivating a virus in the entire space without heating the entire space to a high temperature by controlling the room temperature and humidity in a closed space where a person enters (Patent Document). 2 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-92835).

However, for example, a device that can automatically and efficiently inactivate airborne viruses in a short time without raising the temperature of the room has not been realized or put into practical use. In addition, there are not many cases of investigating and researching the temperature for inactivation at a high temperature of 100 ° C. or higher and the heating holding time (residence time) required for inactivation at that temperature.

Japanese Patent No. 5683247 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-92835

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, a floating virus can be efficiently and efficiently inactivated in a short time without heating the entire room to a high temperature or exposing it to a high temperature for a long time, and without using a special device or a special material. It is an object of the present invention to provide a virus inactivating device having excellent properties and an air treatment device with a virus inactivating device.

The gist of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A heat treatment unit 1 for heat-treating the introduced air is provided in an air flow path portion for introducing air containing a virus and treating and discharging the introduced air, and the heat treatment unit 1 is configured to heat the introduced air. A heat source 2 that heats the introduced air in the flow path space under heat treatment conditions of a predetermined threshold temperature and residence time or more to be inactivated, and a flow path space under heat treatment conditions of this threshold temperature and residence time or more. The present invention relates to a virus inactivating device, which is provided with a heat holding treatment space 3 for heating and holding the introduced air inside by the heat source 2.

Further, the temperature and residence time of the threshold value, which is the heat treatment condition in the heat treatment unit 1, are 100 ° C. or higher and the residence time is 0.5 seconds or less, and the temperature and residence time satisfying this heat treatment condition or more. The present invention relates to the virus inactivating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat source 2 and the heat retention processing space 3 are configured so that the introduced air is heat-treated.

Further, the temperature and residence time of the threshold value, which is the heat treatment condition in the heat treatment unit 1, are such that the higher the temperature, the shorter the residence time. The virus-free according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat source 2 and the heat retention treatment space 3 are configured so that the introduced air is heat-treated at a temperature and a residence time that satisfy the treatment conditions. It is related to the activation device.

Further, the heat retention processing space 3 is a flow path portion through which the introduced air passes, and is configured as a heated air retention portion having a retention path length in which a high temperature state heated by the heat source 2 is maintained. By setting a long flow path distance from the introduction portion to the discharge portion of the introduced air of the heat retention treatment space 3 which is the retention portion, the introduced air in the heat retention treatment space 3 is equal to or higher than the temperature of the heat treatment condition. The present invention relates to the virus inactivating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the residence time to be heated and held in the air is set to be long.

The virus inactivating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heat source 2 is also configured to be used as a heat source for heating or humidifying. Is.

Further, by controlling the heating capacity of the heat source 2 or the ventilation capacity of the blower device 4 for introducing the introduced air into the heat treatment unit, the heat treatment control for temporarily increasing the virus inactivating capacity of the heat treatment unit 1. The present invention relates to the virus inactivating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the unit is provided.

The virus inactivating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a heat insulating structure 5 for reducing heat dissipation is provided in the heat treatment space 3 of the heat treatment unit 1. Is.

Further, the heat treatment unit 1 is provided in the air flow path portion of the air treatment unit that performs air treatment such as indoor heating, cooling, air conditioning, air cleaning, humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, stirring, ventilation, or introduction of outside air. The present invention relates to an air treatment device with a virus inactivating device, which comprises the virus inactivating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the introduced air is heat-treated under the heat treatment conditions of the temperature for inactivation and the residence time to be heated and held at that temperature, that is, the found threshold temperature and the residence time or more. By inactivating and discharging the virus in the introduced air, for example, without heating the entire room to a high temperature or exposing it to a high temperature for a long time, and without using special equipment or materials. It is a highly practical virus inactivating device that can efficiently and efficiently inactivate airborne viruses in a short time.

Further, if this device is provided in an air treatment device such as a heating device that performs air treatment such as indoor heating, cooling, air conditioning, air purification, humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, stirring, ventilation, or introduction of outside air, for example, indoor heating. If almost all the air in the room is introduced into this device, the airborne virus in the room can be almost inactivated in a relatively short time (predetermined time) while heating. It will be an air treatment device with a virus inactivating device that is excellent in practicality.

It is a schematic configuration explanatory perspective view of this Example. It is sectional drawing explaining the schematic structure of this Example. It is a schematic block diagram of the virus inactivation test apparatus (simulator) for finding the threshold value of this Example.

The optimum embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described by showing the operation of the present invention based on the drawings.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air containing a virus is introduced into the heat treatment unit 1 provided in the air flow path portion by, for example, the blower 4, and is heat-treated and discharged. The air is heat-treated in the heat-treating unit 1 under heat treatment conditions of a predetermined threshold temperature for inactivating the virus and a residence time or more.

For example, the heat retention processing space 3 is a flow path portion through which the introduced air taken in by the blower 4 passes, and has a retention path length in which the high temperature state heated by the heat source 2 is maintained for a predetermined time. The introduction in the heat retention processing space 3 is configured in the retention portion, for example, by setting the flow path distance from the introduction portion to the discharge portion of the introduction air of the heat retention treatment space 3 which is the heating air retention portion. The air can be heated and held for a predetermined time at a temperature equal to or higher than the heat treatment condition.

Therefore, the introduced air is heated by the heat source 2 of the heat treatment unit 1 at a temperature equal to or higher than the threshold temperature which is a combination of a predetermined temperature and the residence time for inactivating the virus, but is further heated in the heat retention treatment space of the heat treatment unit 1. By passing through No. 3, the virus is heated and held at that temperature for the residence time of this threshold or longer, and the virus in the introduced air is inactivated and discharged.

Therefore, for example, if this device is installed indoors and the operation is continued, the airborne virus in the entire room can be automatically inactivated in a relatively short time, and the room cannot be used for a while by heating the room to a high temperature. Nothing happens, it is not necessary to expose it to high temperature for a long time, and it is not necessary to use special equipment or materials. It is possible to easily realize a highly practical virus inactivating device that can automatically and efficiently inactivate a floating virus in a short time.

In other words, the present invention has repeatedly experimented, researched, and considered to find an appropriate threshold value for inactivation, that is, a combination condition of the temperature and residence time for inactivation, and thus the heat source 2 of the heat treatment unit 1. The heat retention treatment space 3 is designed so that the heat treatment can be realized under these conditions to form the heat treatment unit 1, and by providing the heat treatment unit 1 in the air flow path portion, the airborne virus in the introduced air is provided. It is possible to realize this device that can efficiently and efficiently inactivate the virus in a relatively short time.

Further, for example, if this device is provided in an air treatment device such as a heating device that performs air treatment such as indoor heating, cooling, air conditioning, air cleaning, humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, stirring, ventilation, or introduction of outside air, for example, indoors. If the airborne virus in the room can be gradually inactivated at the same time while heating, and if almost all the air in the room is introduced into this device, the airborne virus in the room can be removed in a relatively short time (predetermined time) while heating. It is possible to inexpensively realize an air treatment device with a virus inactivating device, which is excellent in practicality and can be almost inactivated.

Specific Example 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the air flow path portion for introducing and discharging the air containing the virus by the blower 4 is provided with the heat treatment unit 1 for heat-treating the introduced air. For example, it is desired to remove the airborne virus. By arranging this device in the space or installing this device in an air treatment device such as a heating device for another purpose and continuing the operation of taking in the air in the room, the airborne virus in the space is gradually inactivated. If almost all the air in the room is introduced into this device, almost all the airborne viruses in the space can be inactivated after a predetermined time.

Specifically, the heat treatment unit 1 has a heat source 2 that heats the introduced air in the flow path space under heat treatment conditions of a predetermined threshold temperature for inactivating the virus and a residence time or more, and a heat source 2 of this threshold. The heat holding treatment space 3 is provided in which the introduced air in the flow path space is heated and held by the heat source 2 under the heat treatment conditions of the temperature and the residence time or more.

That is, the introduced air is introduced into the heat treatment unit 1 by the blower 4, and is heated by the heat source 2 at a temperature equal to or higher than the threshold temperature which is a combination of a predetermined temperature and a residence time for inactivating the virus. By passing through the heat holding treatment space 3 of the part 1, the heating temperature of the heat holding treatment space 3, the flow path cross-sectional area, the flow path length (flow path distance), and the configuration of the heat insulating structure 5 allow the temperature at this threshold temperature. It is configured to be automatically heated and held for longer than the residence time (just by passing through) so that the virus is inactivated and discharged.

Further, the heat retention processing space 3 of this embodiment is a flow path portion through which the introduced air passes as described above, and has a flow path length (retention path length) in which the high temperature state heated by the heat source 2 is maintained. By setting a long flow path distance from the introduction portion to the discharge portion of the introduced air of the heat retention treatment space 3 which is configured as the heated air retention portion and has the heating air retention portion, the inside of the heat retention treatment space 3 The residence time for keeping the introduced air heated and held at a temperature equal to or higher than the heat treatment condition can be set for a long time.

Therefore, the introduced air taken into the housing by the blower 4 passes through the heat holding treatment space 3 while being heated by the heat source 2, so that all of the introduced air is automatically heated and held so as to satisfy this heat treatment condition. For example, if the air in the room is introduced in sequence and the virus in the introduced air is inactivated and discharged continuously, and almost all the air in the room is introduced into this device, almost all of the air in the room is introduced. It is configured so that all airborne viruses will be inactivated.

Further, in this embodiment, the heat treatment conditions in the heat treatment unit 1 are found in advance by a test apparatus (simulator) described later, and the temperature and residence time of the threshold value, which is the heat treatment conditions, are 100 ° C. As described above, the residence time is 0.5 seconds or less, and the higher the temperature, the shorter the residence time. The combination of the temperature and the residence time is used as the heat treatment condition. Specifically, for example, in the case of influenza virus, if the residence time is 0.17 seconds or more at a temperature of 180 ° C., the virus inactivation rate is 99% or more, and if the residence time is 0.06 seconds or more at the same temperature, for example. For example, the deactivation rate is 90% or more, for example, at a temperature of 150 ° C, the deactivation rate is 90% or more with a residence time of 0.10 seconds, and even at a temperature of 130 ° C, the deactivation rate is 90% with a residence time of 0.17 seconds. With the above, it was confirmed that the virus in the room can be inactivated. Furthermore, as a result of estimating the points at which the virus inactivating ability can be exerted based on such test results, it was possible to find a threshold value of 100 ° C. or higher and 0.5 seconds or lower.

That is, from this test result, it is easy to mount the heat source 2 having such a high temperature, and if the residence time of heating and holding at that temperature is 0.5 seconds or less, it can be put into practical use. Therefore, the heat holding process is possible. It can be said that it was confirmed that the heat treatment unit 1 having a temperature equal to or higher than the threshold value capable of exerting the inactivation ability can be put into practical use by designing the structure of the space 3 and the heat insulating structure.

From this test result, in this example, a temperature of 180 ° C. that can inactivate a virus by 99% or more and a residence time of 0.17 seconds are found as threshold values, and the heat treatment unit 1 is configured to satisfy the heat treatment condition that can be heated and held above this threshold value. is doing.

Specifically, as shown in the figure, a ventilation device 4 for taking in air (outside air) in the housing is provided in the housing (exterior body), and an air flow path portion of the introduced air taken in by the ventilation device 4 is provided. A heat source 2 that employs a heater that can heat the introduced air above this threshold of 180 ° C, and a flow path distance that holds for 0.17 seconds or more just by passing through a high temperature state heated to 180 ° C or higher by this heat source 2 ( The heat treatment unit 1 is provided with the heat retention treatment space 3 having the retention path length).

Further, in the present embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a heat treatment housing having a heat insulating structure 5 surrounded by a heat insulating material is provided as the heat treatment unit 1 in the housing (exterior body), and the heat treatment unit 1 is provided. A blower 4 is provided at the introduction port of the air, a heat source 2 is provided, and a baffle plate or the like is provided between the inlet and the like to form a plurality of left and right branch paths. The designed stagnant flow path is formed, and the introduced air passing through this stagnant flow path is heated to 180 ° C. or higher by the heat source 2, and the heat insulating structure 5 prevents cooling while maintaining the flow path length at that temperature for a long time. The air introduced by the blower 4 is introduced and passed through the heat holding treatment space 3 which is configured to form the heat holding treatment space 3 which is the secured flow path and to maintain the high temperature state by the heat source 2 in this heat insulating state. By discharging, all of the introduced air is held at 180 ° C. or higher for 0.17 seconds or longer and discharged.

That is, in this embodiment, a heat retention processing space 3 that is a heating region satisfying such a heating condition is provided in the air flow path portion, and for example, the cross-sectional area of the flow path is made small and the length is formed in a meandering or detour. By lengthening the flow path length and further providing the heat insulating structure 5, the temperature in this heating region (heat retention treatment space 3) is easily maintained at 180 ° C. or higher, and all of the introduced air is 0 at 180 ° C. or higher. It is heat-held for 17 seconds or longer, and is configured so that almost all airborne viruses can be inactivated by this heat.

Therefore, again, the heat retention treatment space 3 of the heat treatment unit 1 of the present embodiment is configured in this way, and by taking in and passing air that may contain a virus, the introduced air is passed through at 180 ° C. In addition to heating above, it is configured in a heating region (heated air retention portion) having a length that can be heated and held at 180 ° C. or higher for 0.17 seconds or longer.

Further, if this heating region is surrounded by the heat insulating structure 5, energy saving can be achieved because heat dissipation is suppressed, the length can be designed to be short, and even if the air volume is increased, the heat treatment condition equal to or higher than the threshold value can be satisfied. The activation ability is improved and it can be inactivated in a shorter time.

Through such experiments, research, and consideration, a threshold of temperature and residence time at which the target virus can be inactivated at a predetermined inactivation rate was found, and the temperature and residence time above this threshold, that is, the combination thereof. The heat source 2 and the heat retention treatment space 3 are configured so that the introduced air is heat-treated under the heat treatment conditions of the above temperature and the residence time.

Further, in this embodiment, by controlling the heating capacity of the heat source 2 or the ventilation capacity of the blower device 4 for introducing the introduced air into the heat treatment unit 1, the virus inactivating capacity of the heat treatment unit 1 is increased. It is equipped with a heat treatment control unit that temporarily increases the heat treatment.

For example, specifically, the inactivation performance can be temporarily improved by increasing the air volume while maintaining the temperature above the threshold value acquired in the experiment / test and the heat treatment condition at least the residence time. The device 4 is provided with an air flow rate control device.

Similarly, the inactivation performance is adjusted by using an existing heat source control device that raises the heating temperature by the heat source 2, and the inactivation performance can be further temporarily increased by adjusting the heat source 2.

In addition, for example, a virus detection device that measures the amount of airborne viruses in the introduced air or indoor air is provided, and if a virus is detected to be floating by this detection device, the inactivation performance can be improved by operating the control device. It may be configured to be automatically controlled (in strong mode).

Also, for example, in a room at room temperature in a dry state with a relative humidity of 40% RH or less, the virus is less likely to be inactivated (a state where the infectivity in the air is high), so a humidity sensor is provided and this humidity sensor is used. When the relative humidity in the room becomes a predetermined value or less, for example, 40% RH or less and a dry state in the room is detected, the configuration may be such that the mode is automatically controlled to the strong mode.

Further, for example, a particle counter may be provided, and when the particle counter detects that the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and a person is in a dense state, the particle counter may be automatically controlled to the strong mode.

Further, the heat treatment unit 1 is provided in the air flow path portion to the air treatment unit that performs air treatment such as indoor heating, cooling, air conditioning, air cleaning, humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, stirring, ventilation, or introduction of outside air. The air treatment device may be provided with the present device as shown in the figure.

In this case, for example, the heat source 2 uses a heat source for heating, and the blower device 4 also uses a blower for heating, and the air flow path portion of an air treatment device such as a heating device for heating the room. This device is installed in the room to gradually inactivate airborne viruses in the room while heating the room, and to efficiently inactivate the viruses in the room in a relatively short time (predetermined time) while heating. A heating device with an activation device can be realized at low cost.

As described above, in this embodiment, the heat treatment unit 1 is provided with a heat source 2 and a heat retention treatment space 3 that satisfy the heat treatment conditions above the threshold value that can be expected to have an inactivating effect of a floating virus having an inactivation rate of 99% or more. By doing so, for example, indoor airborne viruses can be automatically inactivated by 99% or more in a relatively short time while heating, and since no special parts or chemicals are used, a simple configuration with only heating and ventilation can be realized. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the manufacturing cost and realize it at a low price, and if the temperature and the residence time equal to or higher than the threshold value can be secured in this way, further heating is not required and energy saving is possible.

Further, for example, when adopted in a heating device as described above, if the structure is such that the introduced air can be heat-treated at a temperature and residence time equal to or higher than the threshold value, it can be realized regardless of the type of heat source 2 such as a heater. It can be adopted in various existing heating devices, and can be installed in various air treatment devices, and can exhibit virus inactivation performance while performing the treatment.

In addition to the original device function, it can also be temporarily set to virus inactivation mode and used as an inactivating device as long as it can be temporarily heat-treated at a temperature above the threshold and residence time. Applicable to air treatment equipment.

In addition, in order to avoid the risk of infection when performing medical treatment in a winter room with a virus-infected person, it is desirable to increase the amount of outside air taken in by ventilation, but the room temperature drops and comfort is significantly impaired. It causes deterioration. In order to solve this, for example, while circulating the indoor air (inactivating treatment) with this device, if the temperature rises too much due to continuous use, the ventilation device of the room is interlocked and controlled to control the amount of outside air taken into the room. It may be adjusted to increase and configured to maintain a comfortable temperature while minimizing the risk of infection. In other words, if the ventilation system is controlled so as to take in fresh outside air or outdoor air that is free of airborne viruses (low risk of infection) even in the same building and control the temperature rise due to this device. By heating while inactivating the airborne virus, it is possible to perform medical treatment in a comfortable room temperature environment.

Further, as described above, the threshold value is a combination heat treatment condition of temperature and residence time, and if the temperature is raised, the residence time can be shortened. For example, by increasing the air volume, the residence time becomes shorter under the same conditions, but the heat retention processing space 3 may be designed to be longer, for example, so that the residence time does not fall below the threshold value. In addition, even if the design is not changed, if the air volume is increased to increase the inactivating capacity, the residence time of the threshold value can be shortened even by increasing the temperature of the heat source 2, so that the residence time can still be secured above the threshold value. Even if the air volume is increased, the same inactivating effect can be obtained, so that the inactivation can be performed in a shorter time. In other words, if the heat retention treatment space 3 can maintain the temperature above the threshold value and the heat treatment conditions above the residence time even if the air volume is increased and the same inactivation effect is obtained, inactivation can be performed in a shorter time. ..

In this way, by controlling the air volume and heat source temperature, the inactivation performance can be temporarily improved, inactivation can be done in a short time, and by adopting the heat source 2 that reaches the maximum temperature immediately, if a virus is detected. It can also be made available for immediate inactivation.

Next, in constructing this embodiment, a test method for finding the threshold values of the temperature and the residence time, which are the heat treatment conditions, will be described in advance.

As shown in FIG. 3, the test apparatus (simulator) in this embodiment is provided with a fan (blower) at the introduction port for introducing air containing a virus, and passes through a rectifying plate for rectifying the introduced air taken in. After that, a heating region (heat retention treatment space) that is heated and held at a predetermined temperature or higher by a heater (heat source) that heats the introduced air is provided, and after cooling with a heat exchanger, the deactivation rate of the inactivated air is determined. It is configured to be discharged to the virus measuring device to be measured (measure the residual rate of the virus).

By measuring and calculating the virus survival rate and calculating the virus inactivation rate using this test device (simulator), the optimum threshold value was found from the test results as described above.

The temperature of this heating area is adjusted by varying the voltage applied to the heater, and the residence time is adjusted by sliding the heating position (heat source position) where the heater is placed in the heater movable area, and surrounded by a heat insulating structure. The length of the heating region (heat retention treatment space) up to the heat exchanger near the discharge port is configured to be variable, and this temperature and the length of the heating region are changed for testing, and the appropriate temperature and residence time are obtained. The combination of was found and the threshold was found.

To explain further, the temperature is an average value measured in front of the entrance of the heat exchanger, and for the convenience of measuring the residual rate of the virus, this heat exchanger is cooled to 28 ° C or less by water cooling, but heating with a heater is placed. The heater heating region, which can be freely lengthened from the position to the heat exchanger, is used as the heat retention processing space, and the residence time is calculated from this volume and air volume.

As fixed parameters, the air volume of the fan is 0.4 m ³ / min, the room temperature is 20 ° C, and the humidity is 30% RH. In addition, influenza virus (H3N2 type) was sprayed with a nebulizer in a 25 m ³ chamber that looked like this room, and the number of infectious viruses in this atmosphere and the number of infectious viruses after passing through the simulator. The virus survival rate is calculated from, and the value obtained by subtracting this from 1 is calculated as the inactivation rate.

Specifically, the number of infectious viruses is measured by the plaque assay method, and the number of viruses in the space (infectious titer corresponding to the number of infectious viruses) and the virus after passing through the simulator. The virus survival rate, which is a relative ratio thereof, is measured and calculated by measuring each of the numbers (the infection titer).

To explain further, first, the simulator is operated only by blowing air without operating the heat source, and it is confirmed that the virus physically adheres to the inside of the simulator and there is no difference in the number of viruses in the space and after passing through the simulator. After starting the simulator operation, the virus is sprayed in the chamber with a nebulizer for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, the chamber is suspended for 30 seconds to equalize the concentration, and then a certain amount of air on the upstream side of the simulator is sampled and the air on the downstream side of the simulator is sampled. Sample a certain amount. The sampling time, sampling period, and the like are appropriately set. The result measured at this time serves as a reference for the result obtained when the apparatus of the present invention is inactivated.

Next, an inactivated operation test is performed by combining ventilation and heating. In the case of inactivation operation, the temperature inside the simulator is stabilized by warming up the simulator for 10 minutes in advance, and then the virus is sprayed in the chamber with a nebulizer for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, and the inside of the chamber is kept for 30 seconds. After floating and equalizing the concentration, a fixed amount of air at room temperature around 20 ° C on the upstream side of the simulator is sampled, and a fixed amount of air on the downstream side of the simulator cooled to 28 ° C or lower by a heat exchanger after heating is sampled.

As a measurement result of the inactivation operation, the temperature and residence time at which the virus inactivation rate, which is obtained by subtracting the virus survival rate from 1 is 90% or more, and further 99% or more, are measured, the correlation is considered, and the threshold value of the combination is examined. I found.

That is, by the test using this simulator, the deactivation rate of 99% or more was obtained under the condition of the temperature of 180 ° C. or higher and the residence time of 0.17 sec. High virus inactivation effect was obtained by exposing the virus to high temperature even under one-pass conditions of less than 0.5 seconds, which can be put into practical use in such a very short time.

From this result, a threshold value for realizing this was found, and the easily manufacturable present device capable of performing heat treatment satisfying further heat treatment conditions was constructed.

The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and the specific configuration of each constituent requirement can be appropriately designed, and the threshold calculation method is not limited to the present embodiment.

1 Heat treatment unit 2 Heat source 3 Heat retention treatment space 4 Blower 5 Insulation structure

Claims (8)

The air flow path section that introduces air that can contain viruses and processes and discharges the introduced air is provided with a heat treatment section that heat-treats the introduced air.
This heat treatment unit heats the introduced air in the flow path space under heat treatment conditions of a predetermined threshold temperature and residence time or longer for inactivating the virus, and heating at this threshold temperature and residence time or longer. A virus inactivating device characterized in that it is provided with a heat holding treatment space for heating and holding the introduced air in the flow path space by the heat source under the treatment conditions. The threshold temperature and residence time, which are the heat treatment conditions in the heat treatment unit, are 100 ° C. or higher and the residence time is 0.5 seconds or less, and the temperature and residence time satisfying the heat treatment conditions are the above. The virus inactivating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat source and the heat retention processing space are configured so that the introduced air is heat-treated. The temperature and residence time of the threshold value, which is the heat treatment condition in the heat treatment unit, are the combination of the temperature and the residence time, which are known in advance, and the residence time becomes shorter as the temperature is higher. The virus inactivating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat source and the heat retention processing space are configured so that the introduced air is heat-treated at a temperature and residence time that satisfy the conditions. The heat retention processing space is a flow path portion through which the introduced air passes, and is configured as a heated air retention portion having a retention path length in which a high temperature state heated by the heat source is maintained. By setting a long flow path distance from the introduction portion to the discharge portion of the introduction air in a certain heat retention treatment space, the introduction air in the heat retention treatment space is heated and held at a temperature equal to or higher than the heat treatment condition. The virus inactivating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the residence time can be set to be long. The virus inactivating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heat source has a configuration that is also used as a heat source for heating or humidifying. A heat treatment control unit is provided that temporarily enhances the virus inactivating capacity of the heat treatment unit by controlling the heating capacity of the heat source or the ventilation capacity of the blower that introduces the introduced air into the heat treatment unit. The virus inactivating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the virus is inactivated. The virus inactivating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a heat insulating structure for reducing heat dissipation is provided in the heat retention processing space of the heat treatment unit. The heat treatment unit is provided in the air flow path portion of the air treatment unit that performs air treatment such as indoor heating, cooling, air conditioning, air cleaning, humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, stirring, ventilation, or introduction of outside air. An air treatment device with a virus inactivating device, which comprises the virus inactivating device according to any one of 1 to 7.

Images