WO2017121767A1

WO2017121767A1 - Method and device for decontaminating a confined space

Info

Publication number: WO2017121767A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/050501
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe SAROUL
Original assignee: Saroul Sa
Priority date: 2016-01-11
Filing date: 2017-01-11
Publication date: 2017-07-20
Also published as: FR3046542A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for decontaminating a confined space defined by at least one door, in particular a vehicle. In said method: ozone is generated in closed circuit from the oxygen present in said confined space, and the ozone generated in this manner is distributed within said confined space in order to decontaminate it after each closing of the door and for a predefined duration.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DECONTAMINATING A CONFINED SPACE

The present invention relates to the field of decontamination of confined spaces, including vehicles, for example refrigerated transport and / or perishable goods, such as food products or flowers, and / or soiled equipment.

Confined spaces are apt to accumulate bacteria, viruses, and other infectious germs. These harmful elements multiply very quickly. It is therefore essential to regularly decontaminate confined spaces, especially the interior of vehicles intended to carry perishable goods that may be affected by such elements.

Application US 2008/0159910 describes a method for safeguarding the goods transported in a vehicle, using ozone generated from oxygen taken outside the vehicle. This method does not provide for disinfection of the interior of the vehicle to eliminate bacteria, viruses and other infectious germs.

US 2012/020830 discloses a method of sterilizing a confined space where an ozone generator is placed. The generator produces ozone at a predetermined concentration, maintained for a period of time beyond which the ozone is depleted, and increases the humidity of the confined space. Signage is produced when the ozone concentration reaches a non-hazardous level.

The application US 2009/311138 discloses a sterilization apparatus of a passenger cabin configured to add ozone to the cabin space, circulate this ozone through the cabin, and then evacuate it outside by an exhaust 22.

Application US 2005/123436 discloses an ozone generator where an ambient air inlet is provided to concentrate the oxygen to transform it into ozone.

There is therefore a need for a decontamination and sanitation device of a confined space, which acts efficiently and quickly, and is inexpensive, while being safe for personnel involved in the transport or handling of objects present in this space.

In particular, such a device must be able to be easily installed on a refrigerated vehicle and be of small size.

The subject of the present invention is therefore, according to one of its aspects, a method for decontaminating a confined space delimited by at least one door, in particular of a vehicle, in which: ozone is generated in a closed circuit from the oxygen present in said confined space, and

the ozone thus generated is diffused within said confined space in order to decontaminate it, after each closing of the door and for a period defined in advance.

The ozone generated according to the invention, oxidizing and powerfully disinfectant, destroys more than 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and other infectious germs present in the confined space. The invention also eliminates bad odors due to the multiplication of bacteria. A smell of clean and healthy emerges from the treated space.

The invention makes it possible, by using the oxygen inside the volume to be disinfected and not outside, not to change the constitution of the ambient air filling the confined space, which is advantageous when the air is cooled by a refrigeration unit, as this avoids the introduction of hot air, making it possible to meet the ATP (Agreement on the Transport of Perishable Products) standards prohibiting any entry of outside air.

The ozone diffused into the confined space transforms naturally and very quickly into oxygen, after having decontaminated it, in just a few minutes, leaving no residue.

To decontaminate the confined space, no external input is needed, such as unnatural chemicals, because it is the oxygen present in the confined space and the highly disinfecting power of ozone that are used only. Unlike other disinfection techniques, the use of ozone according to the invention does not require storage of hazardous products since it is produced directly on site and only when needed, a direct result of its instability.

The invention further relates to a device for decontaminating a confined space delimited by at least one door, in particular a vehicle, comprising at least:

an ozone generator configured to generate ozone in a closed circuit from the oxygen present in said space, and

a diffuser configured to diffuse the ozone thus generated within said confined space in order to decontaminate it after each closing of the door and for a period defined in advance. The diffusion time of the ozone can be defined according to a parameter that depends at least on the volume of the space to be decontaminated. The larger the confined space, the longer the diffusion time is advantageously long. This parameter may also depend on the power of the generator used to generate the ozone. The decontamination of the confined space according to the invention thus does not take place continuously, but is controlled by an adjustable delay, depending on the power of the ozone generator and the volume of the space to be decontaminated.

The diffusion time of the ozone can be between 1 and 50 minutes, better between 5 and 30 minutes.

When the predefined broadcast time has elapsed, the device stops because the enclosure defining the space is substantially sealed, there is no need to decontaminate, however, if you open the door, a new risk of contamination occurs, and the device according to the invention is restarted when closing the door.

The dosage of the diffused ozone is preferably a function of the power of the generator used to generate the ozone and the volume of the space to be decontaminated. The dosage of the diffused ozone may further be a function of the indoor temperature and / or the density of the air.

The diffusion of the ozone can be triggered automatically, after each closing of the door of the space to be decontaminated. No human intervention is needed.

In a variant, the diffusion of ozone is triggered by pressing a trigger switch, located in particular near the door of the confined space.

In a variant, the diffusion of ozone is triggered by pressing a trigger switch located on a remote control, able in particular to be attached to the door of the confined space or in the vicinity thereof. The remote control may be configured to display a count of the remaining time of ozone diffusion, and / or to prohibit inadvertent entry into the confined space as long as the ozone diffusion occurs. The remote control can be configured to also display the countdown of a predefined time at the end of the ozone release, to prevent entry into the confined space as long as the ozone level remains high and bothersome. The use of a remote control thus makes it possible to operate the device according to the invention in complete safety.

The remote control advantageously comprises an on / off button, at least two program preselection buttons, a display for displaying the remaining time of diffusion of the ozone in countdown and / or the remaining time of said predefined duration at the stop the diffusion of ozone, and one or more lights. The remote control includes a red light configured to remain on during the ozone diffusion time, a flashing red light for a predefined time after the end of ozone release to prevent access to the confined space is discouraged, and a green light indicates that access to the confined space is no longer inconvenient. Pressing one of the program preselection buttons advantageously acts as a trigger for the diffusion of ozone.

The remote control can be programmed for delayed start of ozone diffusion. In this case, the remote control may include a program preselection button corresponding to a delayed start program of the ozone diffusion. The duration during which the start is deferred is preferably predefined, for example being registered beforehand in the control interface.

The remote control can be wired or wireless, operating for example by radio waves, infrared, WIFI or Bluetooth®.

Said remote control can be adapted to be fixed on a clip, said clip preferably being able to be fixed on the handle of the door of the confined space. The clip may include a housing in which the remote control can be inserted. In a variant, a clamp is attached to the back of the remote control. In another variant, the remote control is attached to the clamp with a chain.

The clip is preferably a so-called "crocodile" forceps. The clamp may comprise two jaws articulated around ^an axis and extended by two arms, the latter being kept apart by a spring, forcing the jaws in the closed position at rest. The clamp is thus advantageously adaptable to all handles.

The decontamination device according to the invention is advantageously located in the confined space to be decontaminated. The device according to the invention may be a housing comprising all or part of the ozone generator, the diffuser, the suction system and the control interface. The length of the case can be between 25 cm and 40 cm, being in particular equal to 18 cm. The width of the housing may be between 8 cm and 30 cm, being in particular equal to 10.5 cm. The depth of the case can be between 4 cm and 20 cm, being in particular equal to 6 cm. The device according to the invention is thus of minimal size.

The device can be autonomous in electricity, using in particular an onboard battery. In a variant, the device depends on the electricity of the confined space to be decontaminated.

The ozone generator may comprise two plates having a potential difference greater than or equal to 2000 V, in particular equal to 6000 V.

The device according to the invention may comprise a suction system configured to suck oxygen present in the space to be decontaminated and to send it to the ozone generator.

The oxygen suction system can be a pump.

The ozone diffuser may be a fan, internal or external.

The decontamination device according to the invention may comprise a control interface, in particular for configuring the duration of diffusion of the ozone, for example prior to the introduction of the device in the confined space.

The device may be configured to receive information from a door closure sensor of the space to be decontaminated, to automatically trigger ozone diffusion, after the closing of the door has been detected. This sensor is for example a switch controlling in parallel the lighting of the space when the door is open, or a specific switch. In a variant, the control interface is controlled by the aforementioned remote control.

The invention is advantageously applied to a vehicle element such as a trailer or semi-trailer, a container, and to refrigerated vehicles such as semi-trailers, and trucks and utilities, buses or coaches.

The invention can also be used to deodorize and decontaminate closed rooms, in public or private places, for example in private dwellings, or especially in places where contamination is possible by recrudescence and multiplication of multiple infectious factors. for example, cold rooms, waiting rooms, including medical offices, clinics or hospitals, operating theaters of human or veterinary medicine, or nurseries. The subject of the invention is also a vehicle, especially a refrigerating vehicle, comprising a device for decontaminating a confined space according to the invention.

The above stated features for the method and device apply to the vehicle.

The refrigerated vehicle is for example a commercial vehicle, a truck, for example more than 3.5 T, or a semi-trailer vehicle with a trailer and a tractive cabin.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematizing a device for decontamination of a confined space according to the invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are examples of confined spaces integrating the device according to the invention,

FIG. 4 represents a remote control used to control the device according to the invention, and

- Figure 5 shows a clamp on which the remote control can be fixed. FIG. 1 diagrammatically and partially shows a decontamination device 1 for a confined space E according to the invention. The device 1 is located inside the space E to be decontaminated, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The device 1 is preferably self-sufficient in electricity. In a variant, the device 1 depends on the electricity of the confined space E.

In the example described, as shown in Figure 1, the device 1 comprises a suction system 4 configured to suck oxygen present in the space E to be decontaminated. The oxygen aspiration system is preferably a pump. The invention is however not limited to a particular type of suction system.

The oxygen thus sucked into the space E is sent to an ozone generator 2, configured to generate ozone in a closed circuit from oxygen. The ozone generator 2 comprises, in the example described, two plates having a potential difference for example equal to 6000 V. The invention is however not limited to a particular type of ozone generator.

The device 1 further comprises a diffuser 3 configured to diffuse the ozone thus generated in the confined space E in order to decontaminate it, after each closing the doors P of the space E and for a duration D defined beforehand. In the example described, the ozone diffuser 3 is a fan, internal or external.

In the example described, and as visible in FIG. 1, the decontamination device 1 comprises a control interface 5 making it possible to program the duration D of diffusion of the ozone, for example before the installation of the device in the 'confined space.

The door P of the confined space E can be connected to a closing sensor of said door, the control interface 5 of the device 1 being configured to receive information from said closing sensor of the door, in order to automatically trigger the diffusion of ozone.

In a variant or in combination, the decontamination device 1 may include a switch for triggering the diffusion of ozone.

In a variant, the diffusion of ozone is triggered by pressing a trigger switch located on a remote control 10, able to be fixed on the door P of the confined space E. In the example considered, the remote control 10 is adapted to be fixed on a clamp 20, shown in Figure 5 and can be fixed on the handle E _p of the door P of the confined space E. The clamp is, in the example described and as shown, a so-called clamp "crocodile", comprising two jaws 22, 23 hinged around ^an axis and extended by two arms 24, 25, the latter being kept apart by a spring 26, forcing the jaws 22, 23 in the closed position at rest. When the user exerts pressure on the arms 24, 25, he spreads the jaws 22, 23 thus making it possible to position the clamp, for example on the handle E _p of the confined space E. The clamp 20 comprises a housing 21 in which remote control 10 is inserted after use. The invention is however not limited to a particular type of clamp.

In the example, the remote control 10 is wired, which makes it more difficult to fly. The invention is however not limited to a particular type of remote control.

In the example described and as shown in FIG. 4, the remote control 10 comprises an on / off button 11, three program preset buttons 13, 14, 15, a display 12, and three indicator lights 16, 17, 18. The display 12 is preferably a 7-segment display, and the indicator lights 16, 17 and 18 of the light-emitting diodes (or "LEDs" in English), the indicator light 16 being for example red, the indicator light 18 being red and flashing, and the indicator light 18 being green. The remote control of the example described further comprises a mains input 19a and an output 19b for connecting it to the control interface 5 of the device according to the invention. These input and output 19a and 19b are for example IEC plugs. The remote control comprises an electronic card 12c advantageously programmed to take into account the program selection and thus trigger the ozone diffusion time timer, control the display 12, the indicator lights 16, 17, 18, and the communication with the control interface 5.

In an exemplary operation of the decontamination method according to the invention, a user chooses a program by pressing one of the program preselection buttons 13, 14 yes 5. The first program corresponds for example to a duration of diffusion of the ozone 60 minutes, the second program has a duration of 120 minutes, and the third program has a duration of 180 minutes. The user chooses for example the first program by pressing the button 13. The display 12 then displays 80 minutes, corresponding to a 60-minute ozone diffusion time plus a predefined duration of 20 minutes during which the ozone level remains high and bothersome. By pressing the on / off button 11, the ozone diffuser 3 turns on, the countdown of the duration begins, and the two red lights remain lit without flashing during the ozone diffusion time, ie 60 minutes. minutes in the example. At the end of the diffusion of the ozone, the display 12 displays 20 minutes and the red indicator light 17 flashes, in order to warn the user that it is preferable not to enter the confined space. When the countdown is zero, the red lights 16 and 17 go out and the green light 18 comes on to indicate the possibility of entering the confined space E without being inconvenienced.

The diffusion time D of the ozone is advantageously defined according to a parameter dependent on the volume of the space E to be decontaminated and the power of the ozone generator 2.

The diffusion time D of ozone is for example between 1 minute and 50 minutes, being for example equal to 30 minutes. The dosage of the ozone diffused in the space E to be decontaminated is preferably a function of at least the power of the ozone generator 2 and the volume of the space E to be decontaminated.

The decontamination device 1 according to the invention is more particularly intended for vehicles, refrigerated or not, carrying goods that may be damaged by infectious germs or bacteria, as shown in Figure 2. The device 1 is for example disposed to an angle of the vehicle, opposite its rear doors P, or in the center of its ceiling.

In the variant shown in Figure 3, the decontamination device 1 is installed in a waiting room, including a waiting room of a doctor's office or hospital, where bacteria and infectious elements can multiply quickly.

The high disinfecting power of ozone eliminates most of the bacteria and infectious germs found in confined space E.

In the examples described, the device 1 according to the invention is a housing comprising the ozone generator 2, the diffuser 3, the suction system 4 and the control interface 5, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. variants not shown, the device 1 does not include one or other of these elements, the diffuser and / or the suction system can in particular be deported.

In the examples considered, the length of the case is 18 cm, its width is 10.5 cm and its depth is 6 cm.

Claims

A method for decontaminating a confined space (E) delimited by at least one door (P), in particular a vehicle, in which:

ozone is generated in closed circuit from the oxygen present in said confined space (E), and

the ozone thus generated is diffused within said confined space (E) in order to decontaminate it, after each closing of the door (P) and for a period (D) defined beforehand.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the duration (D) of diffusion of ozone is defined according to a parameter depending at least on the volume of the space (E) to be decontaminated.

The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, an ozone generator (2) being used to generate ozone, the parameter defining the duration (D) of ozone diffusion also depends on the power of the ozone. ozone generator (2).

4. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the duration (D) of diffusion of ozone is between 1 minute and 50 minutes, more preferably between 5 minutes and 30 minutes.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dosage of the diffused ozone is a function of at least the power of the generator (2) used to generate the ozone and the volume of the space (E) to decontaminate.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diffusion of ozone is triggered by pressing a trigger switch located on a remote control (10), able in particular to be fixed on the door (P) of the confined space (E) or near it.

7. Device (1) for decontaminating a confined space (E) delimited by at least one door (P), in particular of a vehicle, comprising at least:

an ozone generator (2) configured to generate ozone in a closed circuit from the oxygen present in said space (E), and

- A diffuser (3) configured to diffuse ozone thus generated within said confined space (E) to decontaminate after each closing of the door (P) and for a period (D) defined beforehand.

8. Device according to the preceding claim, being located in the confined space (E) to decontaminate.

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, being autonomous in electricity, or dependent on the electricity of the confined space E.

10. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the ozone generator (2) comprises two plates having a potential difference greater than or equal to 2000 V, being in particular equal to 6000 V.

11. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, comprising a suction system (4) configured to suck oxygen present in the space (E) to decontaminate and send it to the ozone generator (2).

12. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the suction system (4) of oxygen is a pump.

13. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the ozone diffuser (3) is a fan.

14. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 13, comprising a remote control (10), adapted to be fixed on a clamp (20) or a clamp being attached to the back of the remote control, said clamp being particularly suitable for fixing on the handle (E _p ) of the door (P) of the confined space (E).

15. Vehicle, especially refrigerating, comprising a device (1) for decontaminating a confined space (E) according to any one of claims 7 to 14.