WO2005116543B1 - Fungus abatement system - Google Patents
Fungus abatement systemInfo
- Publication number
- WO2005116543B1 WO2005116543B1 PCT/US2005/017075 US2005017075W WO2005116543B1 WO 2005116543 B1 WO2005116543 B1 WO 2005116543B1 US 2005017075 W US2005017075 W US 2005017075W WO 2005116543 B1 WO2005116543 B1 WO 2005116543B1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- air
- enclosed space
- blower unit
- inlet
- flow
- Prior art date
Links
- 241000233866 Fungi Species 0.000 title claims abstract 16
- 230000002070 germicidal Effects 0.000 claims abstract 17
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims abstract 13
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 230000001143 conditioned Effects 0.000 claims 3
- 238000007791 dehumidification Methods 0.000 claims 3
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 abstract 1
Abstract
An apparatus and methodology for abating fungi in a building (1) supported on a ground surface and having an upper enclosed living space (12) and a lower enclosed space (16) beneath the upper enclosed space (12) and proximate or beneath the ground. The apparatus includes a blower (20) positioned in the lower enclosed space (16) and having an air inlet and an air exhaust; a plurality of intake conduits (22, 24, 26, 28) having inlet ends adapted to open in the lower enclosed space (16) proximate a lower boundary of that space and outlet ends connected to the inlet of the blower; a plurality of exhaust conduits (30, 32) having inlet ends connected to the exhaust of the blower (20) and outlet ends discharging into the lower enclosed space (16); a plurality of ultraviolet lamps (34, 36, 38, 40) establishing germicidal killing zones intercepting and cleansing air moving from the lower enclosed space (16) to the inlet of the blower (20); and a condenser positioned between the outlet ends of the intake conduits and the blower inlet, forming a part of a refrigerant loop, and serving to dehumidify the air moving from the outlet ends of the intake conduits to the inlet of the blower(20).
Claims
1. A method of maintaining a building structure free of fungi comprising the steps of: creating a flow of air from an enclosed space within the structure; treating the flow of air in a germicidal fashion; and treating the flow of air in a dehumidifying fashion.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the germicidal treating step precedes the dehumidifying treating step.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the dehumidifying treating step precedes the germicidal treating step.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the flow of air is returned to the enclosed space after the germicidal treating step and the dehumidifying treating step.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the germicidal treating step comprises: creating a fungi killing zone in the enclosed space; and passing the flow of air through the killing zone.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the killing zone comprises a zone in which the flow of air is subjected to radiant energy.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the radiant energy comprises ultraviolet radiation.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the dehumidifying treating step comprises passing the flow of air over an evaporator forming a part of a refrigerant loop. -15-
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the dehumidifying treating step further comprises passing the flow of air over a condenser in the refrigerant loop after it has passed over the evaporator.
10. For use with a building structure situated on a ground surface and having an upper enclosed space and a lower enclosed space beneath the upper enclosed space and proximate or beneath the ground surface, a method of maintaining the building free of fungi comprising the steps of: creating a flow of air from the lower enclosed space; treating the flow of air in a germicidal fashion; and treating the flow of air in a dehumidifying fashion.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the germicidal treating step precedes the dehumidifying treating step.
12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the dehumidifying treating step precedes the germicidal treating step.
13. A method according to claim 10 wherein the flow of air is returned to the lower enclosed space after the germicidal treating step and the dehumidifying treating step.
14. A method according to claim 10 wherein the germicidal treating step comprises: creating a fungi killing zone in the lower enclosed space; and passing the flow of air through the killing zone.
15. A method according to claim 14 wherein: the killing zone comprises a zone in which the flow of air is subjected to radiant energy. -16-
16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the radiant energy comprises ultraviolet radiation.
17. A method according to claim 10 wherein the dehumidifying treating step comprises passing the flow of air over an evaporator forming a part of a refrigerant loop.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the dehumidifying step further comprises passing the flow of air over a condenser in the refrigerant loop after it has passed over the evaporator.
19. For use with a structure having a first enclosed space intended for human occupancy and a second enclosed space proximate the first space, a method of maintaining the structure free of fungi comprising the steps of: creating a flow of air from the second enclosed space; creating a zone of radiant energy in the second enclosed space; creating a dehumidification zone; passing the flow of air through the radiant energy zone; and passing the flow of air through the dehumidification zone.
20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the method includes the further step of returning the flow of air to the second enclosed space after the passage through the radiant energy zone and the dehumidification zone.
21. A method according to claim 19 wherein the radiant energy is in the form of wave energy.
22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the radiant energy is in the form of ultraviolet waves. -17-
23. A method according to claim 19 wherein the step of creating a dehumidifying zone comprises providing an evaporator forming a part of a refrigerant loop over which the flow of air is passed.
24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the step of creating a dehumidifying zone further comprises providing a condenser in the refrigerant loop over which the flow of air is passed after it has passed over the evaporator.
25. An apparatus for abating fungi in a structure having boundary walls defining a first enclosed space intended for human occupancy and a second enclosed space proximate the first enclosed space, the apparatus comprising: a blower unit having an air inlet and an air exhaust and adapted to be positioned in the structure with the air inlet communicating with the second enclosed space, actuation of the blower unit being operative to create a flow of air from the second enclosed space into the inlet of the blower unit and thereafter discharge the air through the air exhaust; a source of radiant energy adapted to be positioned to establish a fungi killing zone to intercept the flow of air moving from the second enclosed space to the inlet of the blower unit; and a dehumidifier adapted to be positioned to intercept the flow of air moving from the second enclosed space to the inlet of the blower unit.
26. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the air discharged from the blower unit through the air exhaust is returned to the second enclosed space.
27. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the source of radiant energy comprises an ultraviolet lamp.
28. An apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the apparatus further includes an exhaust conduit having an inlet end connected to the exhaust of the blower unit and an outlet end opening in the second enclosed space. -18-
29. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the dehumidifier comprises an evaporator forming part of a refrigerant loop.
30. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the dehumidifier further comprises a condenser forming a part of the refrigerant loop.
31. An apparatus for abating fungi in a building supported on a ground surface and having an upper enclosed space and a lower enclosed space beneath the upper enclosed space and proximate or beneath the ground surface, the apparatus comprising; a blower unit having an air inlet and an air exhaust; at least one exhaust conduit having an inlet end connected to the exhaust of the blower unit and an outlet end, actuation of the blower unit being operative to draw air from the lower enclosed space into the inlet of the blower unit and thereafter to discharge the air through the exhaust conduit; a source of radiant energy adapted to be positioned to establish a fungi killing zone to intercept air moving from the lower enclosed space to the inlet of the blower unit; and a dehumidifier adapted to be positioned to intercept the air moving from the lower enclosed space to the inlet of the blower unit.
32. An apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the apparatus further includes an intake conduit having a horizontal run connected to the blower unit air inlet and a vertical run extending downwardly from the horizontal run to position the inlet end of the intake conduit proximate the floor surface of the lower enclosed space.
33. An apparatus according to claim 32 wherein a plurality of spaced intake conduits are provided each having a horizontal run connected to the blower unit air inlet and a vertical run defining an air inlet end positioned proximate the floor surface of the lower enclosed space. -19-
34. An apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the source of radiant energy comprises a plurality of radiant energy sources adapted to be positioned in spaced relation in the lower enclosed space and operative to intercept the air moving into the intake ends of each of the intake conduits.
35. An apparatus according to the claim 34 wherein each source of radiant energy comprises a source of ultraviolet radiation.
36. An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein each source of ultraviolet radiation comprises an ultraviolet lamp.
37. An apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the dehumidifier comprises an evaporator forming a part of a refrigerant loop.
38. A structure comprising: boundary walls defining a first enclosed air space intended for human occupancy and a second enclosed air space proximate the first air space; a blower unit positioned in the structure and having an air inlet communicating with the second enclosed space and an air exhaust, actuation of the blower being operative to draw air from the second enclosed space into the inlet of the blower unit and thereafter discharge the air through the air exhaust; a source of radiant energy positioned in the second enclosed space in a position to establish a fungi killing zone to intercept air moving from the second enclosed air space into the inlet end of the blower unit; and a dehumidifier positioned to intercept the air moving from the second enclosed space to the inlet end of the blower unit.
39. A structure according to claim 38 wherein the structure further includes: -20- an intake conduit having an inlet end opening in the second enclosed space and an outlet end connected to the blower unit, whereby the air moving from the enclosed space into the blower unit moves through the intake conduit; and an exhaust conduit having an inlet end connected to the blower unit air exhaust and an outlet end communicating with the second enclosed space whereby the air leaving the blower air exhaust is returned to the second enclosed space.
40. A structure according to claim 38 wherein the source of radiant energy comprises an ultraviolet lamp.
41. A structure according to claim 38 wherein the structure further includes means for providing conditioned air to the first enclosed space.
42. A structure according to claim 38 wherein the dehumidifier comprises an evaporator forming a part of a refrigerant loop.
43. A structure according to claim 42 wherein the dehumidifier further comprises a condenser forming a part of the refrigerant loop.
44. A building structure including: boundary walls defining an upper enclosed space including a floor and a lower enclosed space defined beneath the floor and including a lower boundary surface; a blower unit positioned beneath the floor and having an air inlet and an air exhaust; at least one exhaust conduit having an inlet end connected to the air exhaust of the blower unit and an outlet end, actuation of the blower unit being operative to draw air from the lower enclosed space into the air inlet of the blower unit and thereafter discharge the air through the outlet end of the exhaust conduit; -21- a source of radiant energy positioned to establish a fungi killing zone to intercept air moving from the lower enclosed space to the inlet of the blower unit; and a dehumidifier positioned to intercept air moving from the lower enclosed space to the inlet of the blower unit.
45. A building structure according to claim 44 wherein the building structure further includes an intake conduit having an outlet end connected to the blower unit air inlet and an inlet end positioned proximate the lower boundary surface of the lower enclosed space.
46. A building structure according to claim 45 wherein there are a plurality of intake conduits defining respective inlet ends opening in the lower enclosed space at spaced locations within the lower enclosed space.
47. A building structure according to claim 46 wherein there are a plurality of sources of radiant energy positioned proximate the floor in spaced relation within the lower enclosed space and operative, cumulatively, to intercept substantially all of the air moving from the lower enclosed space into the inlet ends of the intake conduits.
48. A building structure according to claim 47 wherein each source of radiant energy comprises a source of ultraviolet energy.
49. A building structure according to claim 48 wherein each source of ultraviolet energy comprises an ultraviolet lamp.
50. A building structure according to claim 44 wherein the dehumidifier comprises a refrigerant loop including a condenser, a compressor and an evaporator. -22-
51. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the apparatus further includes a housing receiving the blower unit and the dehumidifier.
52. An apparatus according to claim 51 wherein the source of radiant energy is also received in the housing.
53. An apparatus according to claim 52 wherein the dehumidifier, radiant energy source, and blower are positioned in serial fashion within the housing with the radiant energy source between the dehumidifier and the blower.
54. An apparatus according to claim 51 wherein the air discharged from the blower unit through the air exhaust is returned to the second enclosed space.
55. A method of minimizing fungi contamination of an upper enclosed space of a building including the upper enclosed space, a lower enclosed space beneath the upper enclosed space, and an air handling system operative to deliver conditioned air to the upper enclosed space, the method comprising: positioning an air handler housing in the lower enclosed space totally separate from the ducting of the air handling system; positioning ducting in the lower enclosed space, totally separate from the ducting of the air handling system, operative to collect air from a plurality of spaced locations in the lower enclosed space; directing the collected air to the air handler housing and thereafter discharging the collected air from the air handler housing back into the lower enclosed space; and treating the collected air germicidically during its movement from the lower enclosed space to the air handler housing discharge so that fungi infected air is cleansed prior to being returned to the lower enclosed space and the conditioned air of the upper enclosed space is not contaminated by fungi infected air from the lower enclosed space. -22.1-
56. A method according to claim 55 wherein: the air handling housing includes an inlet end and an outlet end and a passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end; a plenum is defined proximate the inlet end of the air handler housing; the collected air is directed to the plenum via a plurality of intake conduits extending respectively from the spaced locations to the plenum; and the germicidal treating step is achieved by a germicidal device positioned in the passage.
57. A method according to claim 56 wherein the method includes the further step of positioning a dehumidifier in the passage between the plenum and the germicidal device.
58. A method according to claim 57 wherein the method includes the further step of positioning a blower unit at the outlet end of the air handler housing, the blower unit functioning to draw the collected air through the intake conduits to the plenum, and though the passage and over the dehumidifier and germicidal device for discharge into the lower enclosed space.
59. A method according to claim 58 wherein the step of positioning the dehumidifier in the passage comprises positioning an evaporator in the passage and positioning a condenser in the passage between the evaporator and the germicidal device.
60. A method according to claim 59 wherein the germicidal device comprises a plurality of ultraviolet lamps positioned in the passage.
61. A method according to claim 55 wherein the spaced locations in the lower enclosed space are proximate a floor surface of the lower enclosed space. -22.2-
62. A method according to claim 61 wherein the discharge of the collected air back into the lower enclosed space occurs in an upper region of the lower enclosed space.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US10/855,256 | 2004-05-27 | ||
| US10/855,256 US7244390B2 (en) | 2002-12-20 | 2004-05-27 | Fungus abatement system |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2005116543A2 WO2005116543A2 (en) | 2005-12-08 |
| WO2005116543A3 WO2005116543A3 (en) | 2006-04-06 |
| WO2005116543B1 true WO2005116543B1 (en) | 2006-04-27 |
Family
ID=35451496
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2005/017075 WO2005116543A2 (en) | 2004-05-27 | 2005-05-17 | Fungus abatement system |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US7244390B2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2005116543A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20070277540A1 (en) * | 2006-05-30 | 2007-12-06 | Joao Pascoa Fernandes | Dehumidifying System |
| US7585210B2 (en) * | 2007-01-26 | 2009-09-08 | Mike Yurcak | Negative air supplied (NAS) crawlspace system |
| TWM324760U (en) * | 2007-02-15 | 2008-01-01 | Hocheng Corp | Indoor air processing device |
| CA2602737A1 (en) * | 2007-09-14 | 2009-03-14 | Air Tech Equipment Ltd. | Dehumidifying system |
| US7909921B1 (en) * | 2007-11-15 | 2011-03-22 | Gilbert John R | Pollution control device |
| US20100105310A1 (en) * | 2008-07-14 | 2010-04-29 | Zeta Communities, Zero Energy Technology & Architecture | Zero net energy system and method |
| US8112181B2 (en) * | 2008-10-11 | 2012-02-07 | Ralph Remsburg | Automatic mold and fungus growth inhibition system and method |
| US9759446B2 (en) | 2010-03-26 | 2017-09-12 | Trane International Inc. | Air handling unit with integral inner wall features |
| US10139115B2 (en) | 2010-03-26 | 2018-11-27 | Trane International Inc. | Air handling unit with inner wall space |
| US11879651B2 (en) | 2016-05-31 | 2024-01-23 | James Lau | Occupancy-based fan control |
| US11175060B2 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2021-11-16 | Robert J. Mowris | Fan-on detection and correction |
| US11013184B2 (en) * | 2016-10-12 | 2021-05-25 | Deere & Company | Baler with pressure transducer |
| US20190323713A1 (en) * | 2018-04-18 | 2019-10-24 | Tadiran Consumer And Technology Products Ltd. | Building structure for crawl space mounted apparatus |
| US20220065474A1 (en) * | 2020-08-28 | 2022-03-03 | Crosby & Belle Yoga, LLC | Environment management system |
Family Cites Families (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3332620A (en) * | 1965-07-08 | 1967-07-25 | Donovan P Streed | Relative humidity control for buildings |
| AT369625B (en) * | 1981-03-16 | 1983-01-25 | Amann Gottfried & Sohn | STORAGE AND RE-MOLDING ROOM FOR MEAT AND SAUSAGE PRODUCTS |
| CA1230461A (en) * | 1987-02-20 | 1987-12-22 | Stuart R. Walkinshaw | Enclosure conditioned housing system |
| US4829882A (en) * | 1987-12-31 | 1989-05-16 | Jackson James S | Crawl space ventilation system |
| US4953450A (en) * | 1989-09-06 | 1990-09-04 | Windward Products, Inc. | Crawl space ventilator system |
| US5373704A (en) * | 1990-04-17 | 1994-12-20 | Arthur D. Little, Inc. | Desiccant dehumidifier |
| US5092520A (en) * | 1990-11-30 | 1992-03-03 | Air-Tech Equipment Ltd. | Household dehumidifier |
| US5225167A (en) * | 1991-12-30 | 1993-07-06 | Clestra Cleanroom Technology, Inc. | Room air sterilizer |
| US5256105A (en) * | 1992-03-02 | 1993-10-26 | Clean Air Technology, Inc. | Washable seamless clean room |
| NO934765L (en) * | 1993-12-22 | 1995-06-23 | Klean As | Device at wastewater treatment plant |
| US5558158A (en) * | 1994-05-19 | 1996-09-24 | Elmore; Robert L. | Hygienic air handler |
| US6021953A (en) * | 1995-08-22 | 2000-02-08 | Swan; Ross M. | Year-round air conditioning apparatus and method |
| US5908494A (en) * | 1996-02-02 | 1999-06-01 | Earth First Air Systems, Inc. | Liquid spray air purification apparatus |
| US5987908A (en) * | 1997-09-25 | 1999-11-23 | Floratech Industries | Self-contained air conditioner with discharge-air filter |
| US6619063B1 (en) * | 2002-03-19 | 2003-09-16 | Anthony Lee Brumett | Indoor air treatment system with HEPA filtration |
-
2004
- 2004-05-27 US US10/855,256 patent/US7244390B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2005
- 2005-05-17 WO PCT/US2005/017075 patent/WO2005116543A2/en active Application Filing
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