WO2022235148A1

WO2022235148A1 - A centralized air sterilizing system

Info

Publication number: WO2022235148A1
Application number: PCT/MY2022/050034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fut Keong CHIA
Original assignee: Chia Fut Keong
Priority date: 2021-05-07
Filing date: 2022-05-05
Publication date: 2022-11-10

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a centralized air sterilizing system for sterilization and oxidation of the contaminated air. Accordingly, the centralized air sterilizing system (100) includes: i) at least one air collection chamber (400) provided with compressed ozone, wherein the compressed ozone is used to complete an oxidizing sterilization process (OSP), either individually or in combination with ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof, so as to reduce, if not, eliminate or to kill microorganisms in the extracted contaminated air that are floating in the collection chamber (400) and trapped in the at least one replaceable filter (440); ii) at least one air exchanger (600) to convert the excess ozone back into oxygen after the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP); wherein the contaminated air is extracted from various designated locations through one or more ventilation ducting networks (200); and wherein a sterilized clean air and oxygen would be released and distributed back into the various designated locations through at least one air handling unit (700). The most illustrative drawing:

Description

A CENTRALIZED AIR STERILIZING SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air sterilizing system, and more particularly to a centralized air sterilizing system for sterilization and oxidation of the contaminated air.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Air pollution is one of the causes of premature disasters globally. It may affect human health, especially associated with the impact of respiratory infections, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Polluted air may transmit multiple infectious microorganisms or viruses, which may cause a serious impact on immunity and increasing susceptibility to varied diseases in the human body. Contrarily, exposure to indoor air pollution may possibly cause respiratory illness, cancer, eye-irritation, musculoskeletal injuries, and the like. Moreover, one of the baseline effects of exposure to indoor high air pollution concentrations is the compromised immune system of the human body.

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has raised global concerns and led to a total lockdown in many countries. Apart from being infected by the contaminated surface, the virus that causes the COVID-19 may easily spread through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks in a confined space. People may easily get infected depending upon pollutant concentrations, duration, and frequency of exposure in opened or confined spaces. As such, the global governments and local authorities have expanded the limits of travel, business, lifestyle, industrial activities, and many others. The people of urban areas, on the other hand, are attempting to persuade their lifestyle patterns to their governments' and local authorities' standard operating procedures, thereby collaboratively preventing the spread of the viruses, and increasing the pace of economic activities with rapid recovery.

The spread of the virus may be mitigated by maintaining proper social distance, personal hygiene, avoiding gatherings, and visiting places, such as for example, but not limited to, hospitals, offices, factories, meetings, and public transportations, which have a high risk of such virus contamination. However, all this while, contaminated air in the premises could not be effectively removed and became the source of cross-infection in this COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to alleviate the virus or microorganism contamination, the use of chemical disinfectants such as chlorine, alcohol, and similar compounds may produce an unpleasant odour and cause harmful or irritating side effects to the occupants yet could not effectively remove infectious contaminant of viruses or microorganisms in the air. In many cases, especially in hospitals, the sources of cross-infection of the viruses or microorganisms are the major cause of death to the patients even after successful surgery in the recovery wards or intensive care wards.

Below are some of the factors and impacts that caused the sources of cross-infection of virus or microorganism contamination in the air: - a) High cross-infection caused by poor air circulation inside the premises and hospitals; b) Highly loaded microorganisms found in the central air conditioning premises and hospitals; c) Present facilities are unable to sterilize contaminated air in the premises and hospitals; d) Unable to dissipate ozone gas instantly that was released from fumigator to the room after fumigation treatment. Allowing the ozone gas to dissipate naturally by its half-life span is the only common practice. The half-life span for ozone is 30 mins to 4 hours, depending on the ambient temperature. As such, the ozone gas will get thinner every 30mins until zero concentration. At this period, no patients or any occupant are allowed to be present in the room. This has created patient's management issues to the patients as well as hospitals concerned; e) Unable to release a high concentration of Ozone gas to the open space or enclosure with patients or any occupants inside, more than 1 ppm, for disinfection purposes. Present ozone application is only for odour removal, and not disinfection.

Various attempts have been made to implement air decontamination and sterilization system. However, some attempts have not been completely satisfactory for one or more reasons. For example, some air decontamination and sterilization system are unsatisfactory due to their complexity in designs and configurations, materials, and/or parts that appear to have certain drawbacks, such that they have not become widely used. Some other attempts may involve a significant cost to mitigate resonances and to ensure the proper operation and working efficiency of the system, such that it may require excessive supervision and maintenance cost. Moreover, certain elements of the conventional systems may not be functioning properly such that resulting in unable to effectively achieve expected results.

In view of the foregoing and other shortcomings, it is desirous to provide an effective centralized air sterilizing system, and yet enabled to overcome the aforementioned limitations and drawbacks. Accordingly, the present invention is adapted to overcome one or more of the foregoing drawbacks and the issues relative to the conventional designs or prior arts in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The present invention and its combination of features thereof will be described and exemplified in the detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a centralized air sterilizing system for sterilization and oxidation of the contaminated air. Accordingly, the centralized air sterilizing system includes: i) at least one air collection chamber provided with a compressed ozone, wherein the compressed ozone is used to complete an oxidizing sterilization process (OSP), either individually or in combination with ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof, so as to reduce, if not, eliminate or to kill microorganisms in the extracted contaminated air that are floating in the collection chamber and trapped in the at least one replaceable filter; ii) at least one air exchanger to convert any excess ozone back into oxygen after the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP); wherein the contaminated air is extracted from various designated locations through one or more ventilation ducting networks; and wherein a sterilized clean air and oxygen is to be released and distributed back into the various designated locations through at least one air handling unit.

In the preferred exemplary, the ventilation ducting network of the present invention may include a plurality of extractors or ventilators connected to at least one air intake interface via air intake ducting. Accordingly, the extractors or ventilators are adapted to extract the contaminated air from various designated locations. Preferably, the air intake ducting is provided with one or more ultraviolet irradiation light therein so as to kill or inactivate microorganisms which may remain in the air intake ducting during the extraction of the contaminated air and thereby reducing the risk of cross-infection when servicing technicians carried out maintenance or repair services. By way of example but not limitation, the various designated locations may include an enclosure or open space, such as for example, but not limited to hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises.

It will be appreciated that the system is provided with at least one air extractor adapted to provide strong suction power for compensating extracting intake of the contaminated air into the at least one air collector chamber. In the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the air collector chamber may include at least one disinfection purification unit adapted to produce the compressed ozone, wherein the compressed ozone is a high concentration of ozone gas produced by at least one ozone generator, either individually or in combination with the ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof, at the disinfection purification unit.

Accordingly, the ozone gas is formed by the air collected from the air collector chamber, and the collected air being served as an oxygen source for the ozone generator to produce ozone gas. It will be appreciated that the concentrated ozone is preferably produced on a demand basis by the ozone generator. By way of example but not limitation, an ozone monitoring sensor may be provided in the disinfection purification unit to ensure the concentrated ozone produced therein is controlled within the safety measures, while an ozone safety detecting sensor may preferably be provided at the end of the air exchanger for ozone leaks monitoring.

In the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the ultraviolet irradiation and highly reactive ionizer are operable to produce ozone at a very low dosage to maintain the ozone level inside the centralized air sterilizing system on a regular basis. Accordingly, the ozone gas may serve as the main oxidizer, while the ultraviolet or the highly reactive ionizer may serve as a supportive secondary oxidizer in the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP). By way of example but not by way of not limitation, the replaceable filter of the present invention may be a medical-grade high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, or similar types, or an industrially high-end heavy-duty air filter and the like. The microorganisms that are trapped in the at least one replaceable filter may include, but not limited to bacterium, germs, as well as acellular microorganisms such as viruses.

In the preferred exemplary, the system is further provided with at least one sterilized air chamber adapted to accumulate all treated sterilized air from the air collector chamber through the replaceable filter, before it converts any excess ozone into oxygen.

It should be noted that a carbon dioxide (CO₂) safety detecting sensor may also be provided at the end of the air exchanger to determine the carbon dioxide (CO₂) level in the ambient air. Accordingly, in the event the CO₂ level in the ambient air of indoors or confined spaces being detected by the CO₂ safety detecting sensor is high, the system will activate an intake fan that pre-installed with the ventilation ducting networks to withdraw fresh air from outdoors (for examples, outside of a building or a premise) to the indoors or the confined spaces.

By way of example but not limitation, the air handling unit of the present invention may preferably include an air distribution unit, an air delivery unit, and a plurality of air delivery ducting, wherein the air distribution unit is operable to accumulate sterilized clean air and oxygen from the air exchanger. The air delivery unit is operable for distribution of the sterilized clean air and oxygen accumulated at the air distribution unit, before delivering to the various designated locations. It will be appreciated that the air delivery ducting is served to deliver the sterilized clean air and oxygen back to the various designated locations. In accordance with one aspect of the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the centralized air sterilizing system may be used in the hospitals to extract contaminated air from different designated locations, including but not limited to patients waiting areas, intensive care units, coronary care units, individual rooms, patients wards, and the like, through the ventilation ducting network.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the centralized air sterilizing system may be an add-on to a central air-conditioning system for use indoors or in confined spaces, including but not limited to hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises, or the like.

Yet, according to a further aspect of the present invention, the centralized air sterilizing system may be retrofitted to an air shower system for use in any access to the confined spaces or indoor, including but not limited to hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises, or the like.

The present invention consists of several novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be understood that several of the drawings are merely schematic representations of the present disclosure. As such, some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for pictorial clarity. The present invention will be fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given byway of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a centralized air sterilizing system in accordance with a preferred exemplary of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a centralized air sterilizing system adapted to be used indoors or in confined spaces, such as for example, but not limited to the hospitals in accordance with one aspect of the preferred exemplary of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a centralized air sterilizing system adapted to be an add-on to a central air-conditioning system for use indoors or in confined spaces, such as for example, but not limited to the hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises, or the like in accordance with another aspect of the preferred exemplary of the present invention;

Figure 4 illustrates a centralized air sterilizing system adapted to be retrofitted to an air shower system for use in any access to the confined spaces or indoor, such as for example, but not limited to the hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises, or the like in accordance with a further aspect of the preferred exemplary of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to an air sterilizing system, and more particularly to a centralized air sterilizing system for sterilization and oxidation of the contaminated air. Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to the preferred exemplary of the present invention. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred exemplary of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various exemplary embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, specific construction details, arrangements, and materials are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Acronyms and other descriptive terminology may be used merely for convenience and clarity and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The present invention aims to provide a centralized air sterilizing system to overcome one or more of the aforementioned limitations and drawbacks. Accordingly, the centralized air sterilizing system of the present invention is operable to extract contaminated air through a ventilation ducting network in an enclosure or open space, such as for example, but not limited to hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises; such that the extract contaminated air is adapted to be centrally sterilized by compressed ozone. The compressed ozone is preferably used to complete an oxidizing sterilization process (OSP), either individually or in combination with ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof, so as to reduce, if not, eliminate or to kill microorganisms including bacterium, germs, as well as acellular microorganisms such as viruses.

The centralized air sterilizing system according to the preferred mode of carrying out the present invention will now be described in accordance with the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 4, either individually or in any combination thereof.

With reference to Figure 1 , a centralized air sterilizing system (100) of the present invention generally includes one or more ventilation ducting networks (200); at least one air extractor (300); at least one air collector chamber (400) equipped with a disinfection purification unit (420) and a replaceable filter (440); at least one sterilized air chamber (500); at least one air exchanger (600); and at least one air handling unit (700).

In the preferred exemplary, the ventilation ducting network (200) of the present invention is preferably, but not limited to include a plurality of extractors or ventilators (220) connected to at least one air intake interface (260) via air intake ducting (240). Accordingly, said extractors or ventilators (220) are adapted to extract contaminated air from various designated locations. Preferably, the air intake ducting (240) is provided with one or more ultraviolet irradiation light therein (not shown) so as to safeguard the servicing technicians from cross-infection during maintenance or repair services. It will be appreciated that the ultraviolet irradiation light installed in the air intake ducting (240) is configured to kill or inactivate microorganisms which may remain in the air intake ducting (240) during the extraction of the contaminated air, and thereby reducing the risk of cross-infection. By way of example but not limitation, the various designated locations may include an enclosure or open space, such as for example, but not limited to hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises. The contaminated air would then be channelled from the air intake interface (260), with the aid of suction power of the air extractor (300), to the air collector chamber (400) via at least one air intake entry (280). It will be appreciated that the air extractor (300) is adapted to provide strong suction power for compensating extracting intake of the contaminated air into the air collector chamber (400). It will be appreciated that the ventilation ducting network (200), although exemplary, should not be limited to the above-mentioned examples, it may also be altered according to the designs, configurations, or usage requirements. As such, the ventilation ducting network (200) as above-described may be altered whenever deemed suitable for its intended purposes, and should not be construed as limiting in any way.

In the preferred exemplary, the air collector chamber (400) of the present invention is preferably, but not limited to be equipped with at least one disinfection purification unit (420) and at least one replaceable filter (440). By way of example, and not by way of limitation, the disinfection purification unit (420) may include at least one ozone generator, either individually or in combination with the ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof. The ozone generator is adapted to produce a high concentration of ozone gas, so as to reduce, if not, eliminate or to kill microorganisms in the extracted contaminated air that are floating in the collection chamber (400) and trapped in the at least one replaceable filter (440). Accordingly, the ozone gas will kill the microorganisms which are floating in the contaminated air that entered the collection chamber (400) and at the same time also kill all microorganisms that have been trapped in the replaceable filter (440).

By way of example but not limitation, the ozone gas is formed by the air collected from the air collector chamber (400), and the collected air being served as an oxygen source for the ozone generator to produce ozone gas. It will be appreciated that concentrated ozone is preferably produced on a demand basis by the ozone generator. Preferably, but not limited to, the concentration of ozone gas in the collection chamber (400) is maintain at about 400ppm ~ 600ppm, and this is very much depending on the amount of oxygen in the chamber during the oxidizing process.

It will be appreciated that the process of where the contaminated air is drawn into the air collection chamber (400), sterilization by the concentration of ozone gas, and subsequently entered into the sterilized air chamber (500) can be a continuous process but can be programmed according to situation. For example, some users may prefer to start the sterilizing process after office hour while the system (100) continues to extract contaminated air to trap the microorganisms by the replaceable filter (440).

It should take notice that a typical minimum requirement of concentration of ozone to kill microorganisms is 25 ppm and maintain the concentration for more than 20 mins in the room. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety guideline, the ozone gas is very toxic and reactive, human exposure to ozone must not be more than 0.05 ppm, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit for ozone is 0.1 ppm (0.2 mg/m³). For this reason, an ozone monitoring sensor (not shown) may be provided in the disinfection purification unit (420) so that to ensure the concentrated ozone produced therein is controlled within the safety measures. In the preferred exemplary, the ozone gas may be formed by the air collected from the air collector chamber (400). Accordingly, the collected air is preferably served as an oxygen source for the ozone generator to produce ozone gas. For safety measures, the generated ozone is being sealed contain inside the air collector chamber (400) to ensure ozone leak-free. It will be appreciated that the ultraviolet irradiation and highly reactive ionizer of the preferred exemplary are operable to produce ozone at a very low dosage to maintain the ozone level inside the centralized air sterilizing system (100) on a regular basis. It must be noted that the extract contaminated air would be disinfected and purified by the compressed ozone, either individually or in combination with the ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof in the air collector chamber (400). The disinfection purification unit (420) although exemplary, should not be limited to the abovementioned examples, it may also be altered according to the design or usage requirements. As such, the disinfection purification unit (420) which includes the ozone generator, with a combination of the ultraviolet irradiation or the highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof, as above-described should not be construed as limiting in any way.

In the preferred exemplary, the air collector chamber (400) of the present invention is served to collect the contaminated air and trapped microorganisms, such as for example, not limited to the bacterium, germs, or acellular microorganisms such as viruses, that flow against the replaceable filter (440). By way of example but not limitation, the replaceable filter (440) may be a medical-grade high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, or similar types, or an industrially high-end heavy-duty air filter and the like. It should be noted that the replaceable filter (440) although exemplary, should not be limited to the abovementioned examples, it may also be altered according to the design or usage requirements. As such, the replaceable filter (440) of medical-grade high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, or similar types, or an industrially high-end heavy-duty air filter as described herein should not be construed as limiting in any way.

In the preferred exemplary, the sterilized air chamber (500) of the present invention is adapted to accumulate all treated sterilized air from the air collector chamber (400) through the replaceable filter (440), before it converts any excess ozone into oxygen. It will be appreciated that the microorganisms that have been caught and trapped by the HEPA filter in the air collector chamber (400) would be filtered, if not, totally be eliminated or killed immediately after exposure to the ozone gas, with the combination of the ultraviolet irradiation or the highly reactive ionizers, or a combination of all thereof. This is called oxidizing sterilization process (OSP). In the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP), the ozone gas serves as the main oxidizer, while the ultraviolet or the highly reactive ionizer serves as a supportive secondary oxidizer. It will be appreciated that the air in the sterilized air chamber (500) would completely be sterilized after the oxidation process. After the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP), the excess ozone would then be converted back into oxygen by the air exchanger (600) instantly. Preferably, but not limited to, the excess ozone would be converted back into oxygen, before being released and distributed back into the various designated locations through the air handling unit (700). It should be noted that an ozone safety detecting sensor (not shown) is preferably provided at the end of the air exchanger (600) for ozone leaks monitoring. The system (100) will stop producing ozone gas once the leak is more than 0.5ppm, so as to maintain the ozone level in the ambient air below 0.05ppm after the treated sterilized air is dispersed into the ambient air, or before the air is channel to air distribution unit (720). Accordingly, the system (100) will stop the ozone generator to produce ozone immediately if ozone leak of more than 0.5ppm is detected, but the process of extracting contaminated air will still continue. It should be noted that in the case where the ozone generator is ceased operation, the sterilizing process will take over by the ultraviolet irradiation (if ultraviolet irradiation installed in the air collection chamber (400)) until ozone limits recover.

It should be noted that a carbon dioxide (CO2) safety detecting sensor (not shown) may also be provided at the end of the air exchanger (600) to determine the carbon dioxide (CO2) level in the ambient air. Accordingly, in the event the CO2 level in the ambient air of indoors or confined spaces being detected by the CO2 safety detecting sensor as high, the system (100) will activate an intake fan (not shown) that pre-installed with the ventilation ducting networks (200) to withdraw fresh air from outdoor (for examples, outside of a building or a premise) to the indoors or the confined spaces.

By way of example but not limitation, the air handling unit (700) of the present invention may preferably include an air distribution unit (720), an air delivery unit (740), and a plurality of air delivery ducting (760). Accordingly, the air distribution unit (720) operable to accumulate sterilized clean air and oxygen from the air exchanger (600). It will be appreciated that all sterilized clean air and oxygen accumulated at the air distribution unit (720) would further be transferred to the air delivery unit (740), and ready for distribution back to the various designated locations. Preferably, but not limited to, the sterilized clean air and oxygen are delivered back to the various designated locations via the air delivery ducting (760).

It will be appreciated that the centralized air sterilizing system (100) of the present invention may be applicable for use in various areas. According to one aspect of the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the centralized air sterilizing system (100) is adapted to be used in the hospitals, operable to extract contaminated air through the ventilation ducting network (200) (see Figure 2). Accordingly, the ventilation ducting network (200) may include the extractors or ventilators (220) connected to the air intake interface (260) via the air intake ducting (240). If necessary, the air extractor (300) may optionally be provided so as to offer strong suction power for compensating extracting intake of the contaminated air into the centralized air sterilizing system (100). It will be appreciated that the extractors or ventilators (220) are adapted to extract contaminated air, which may contain microorganisms, bacterium, germs, or viruses, from different designated locations, such as for example, but not limited to, patients waiting areas, intensive care units, coronary care units, individual rooms, patients wards, and the like. The contaminated air would then be channelled from the air intake interface (260) to the centralized air sterilizing system (100) for sterilization and oxidation. Accordingly, the sterilization and oxidation of the contaminated air are preferably performed in the disinfection purification unit (420) and sterilized air chamber (500). The extract contaminated air would be disinfected and purified by the compressed ozone, either individually or in combination with the ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof, by the disinfection purification unit (420) and sterilized air chamber (500). It will be appreciated that any excess ozone in the centralized air sterilizing system (100) would be converted back into oxygen by the air exchanger (600) after the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP). The sterilized clean air and oxygen would then be delivered back to the designated locations, such as for example, but not limited to the patients waiting areas, intensive care units, coronary care units, individual rooms, patients wards, and the like; via the air delivery ducting (760) controlled by the air distribution and delivery units (720 and 740) of the air handling unit (700).

According to another aspect of the present invention, the centralized air sterilizing system (100) is adapted to be an add-on to a central air-conditioning system (800) (see Figure 3) for use indoors or in confined spaces, such as for example, but not limited to the hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises, or the like. Accordingly, the contaminated air, return air, or the fresh air from various locations or from individual rooms, would first be channelled into the sterilized air chamber (500) via the air intake ducting (240). The sterilized air chamber (500) in this case would perform the sterilization and oxidation process to kill the microorganisms, bacterium, germs, or viruses that are trapped in the replaceable filter (440). Preferably, but not limited to, the replaceable filter (440) used herein could be a medical-grade high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or similar types. The extract contaminated air would then be disinfected and purified by the compressed ozone, either individually or in combination with the ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof in the centralized air sterilizing system (100). It will be appreciated that any excess ozone in the centralized air sterilizing system (100) would be converted back into oxygen by the air exchanger (600) after the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP). The sterilized clean air and oxygen would then be delivered to the central air-conditioning system (800) for cooling. By way of example but not limitation, the sterilized clean air and oxygen would be filtered through a filtration (820) before being cooled in a cooling system (840) of the central air-conditioning system (800). It will be appreciated that the cool sterilized clean air and oxygen would then be delivered from back to the various designated locations or individual rooms via the air delivery ducting (760) of the air handling unit (700).

Yet, according to a further aspect of the present invention, the centralized air sterilizing system (100) is adapted to be retrofitted to an air shower system (900) for use in any access to the confined spaces or indoor, such as for example, but not limited to the hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises, or the like. Accordingly, the centralized air sterilizing system (100) may preferably be equipped adjacent to the air shower system (900) such that the contaminated air would be channelled from the air intake interface (260), with the aid of suction power of the air extractor (300), to the centralized air sterilizing system (100) via at least one air intake entry (280). The centralized air sterilizing system (100) would perform the sterilization and oxidation process to kill the microorganisms, bacterium, germs, or viruses that are trapped in the replaceable filter (440). Preferably, but not limited to, the replaceable filter (440) used herein could be a medical-grade high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or similar types. The extract contaminated air would then be disinfected and purified by the compressed ozone, either individually or in combination with the ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof in the centralized air sterilizing system (100). It will be appreciated that any excess ozone in the centralized air sterilizing system (100) would be converted back into oxygen by the air exchanger (600) after the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP). The sterilized clean air and oxygen would then be channelled and blew-out into an air shower compartment (920) via the air delivery ducting (760) of the centralized air sterilizing system (100).

It should be noted that the centralized air sterilizing system (100) of the present invention and the above-mentioned combinations thereof although exemplary, will be used herein in describing the functions and usages of the present invention, it may however be altered according to the designs, configuration, or usage requirements. As such, the centralized air sterilizing system (100) of the present invention and the above-mentioned combinations thereof as above-described should not be construed as limiting in any way. It will be appreciated that the centralized air sterilizing system (100) of the present invention may also be applicable for use in other applications whenever deemed suitable for its intended purposes.

It should also be noted that the apparatuses, components or parts, materials, as well as configurations and arrangements of various elements used to carry out the above- mentioned systems are illustrative and exemplary only and are not restrictive of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that those apparatuses, components or parts, materials, as well as configurations and arrangements of various elements used herein may be altered in a manner so as to obtain different optimal effects or desired operating characteristics. As such, the centralized air sterilizing system (100) as above- described should not be construed as limiting in any way, but as the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiment” of a system, apparatus, device, or article of manufacture does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the described components, structure, features, functionality, processes, advantages, benefits, or modes of operation.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” or “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the principle and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would obvious to one skilled in the art intended to be included within the scope of following claims.

Claims

1. A centralized air sterilizing system for sterilization and oxidation of the contaminated air, the centralized air sterilizing system (100) includes: i) at least one air collection chamber (400) provided with compressed ozone, wherein the compressed ozone is used to complete an oxidizing sterilization process (OSP), either individually or in combination with ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof, so as to reduce, if not, eliminate or to kill microorganisms in the extracted contaminated air that are floating in the collection chamber (400) and trapped in the at least one replaceable filter (440); ii) at least one air exchanger (600) to convert any excess ozone back into oxygen after the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP); wherein the contaminated air is extracted from various designated locations through one or more ventilation ducting networks (200); and wherein a sterilized clean air and oxygen is to be released and distributed back into the various designated locations through at least one air handling unit (700).

2. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the ventilation ducting network (200) includes a plurality of extractors or ventilators (220) connected to at least one air intake interface (260) via air intake ducting (240).

3. The system according to Claim 2, wherein the extractors or ventilators (220) are adapted to extract the contaminated air from various designated locations.

4. The system according to Claim 2, wherein the air intake ducting (240) is provided with one or more ultraviolet irradiation light therein so as to kill or inactivate microorganisms which may remain in the air intake ducting (240) during the extraction of the contaminated air.

5. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the various designated locations include an enclosure or open space; such enclosure or open space includes, but not limited to hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises.

6. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the system is provided with at least one air extractor (300) adapted to provide strong suction power for compensating extracting intake of the contaminated air into the air collector chamber (400).

7. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the air collector chamber (400) includes at least one disinfection purification unit (420) adapted to produce the compressed ozone, wherein the compressed ozone is a high concentration of ozone gas produced by at least one ozone generator, either individually or in combination with the ultraviolet irradiation or highly reactive ionizer, or a combination of all thereof, at the disinfection purification unit (420).

8. The system according to Claim 7, wherein the ozone gas is formed by the air collected from the air collector chamber (400), in which collected air being served as an oxygen source for the ozone generator to produce ozone gas.

9. The system according to Claim 7, wherein the concentrated ozone is produced on a demand basis by the ozone generator.

10. The system according to Claim 7, wherein an ozone monitoring sensor is provided in the disinfection purification unit (420) to ensure the concentrated ozone produced therein is controlled within the safety measures.

11. The system according to Claim 7, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation and highly reactive ionizer are operable to produce ozone at a very low dosage to maintain the ozone level inside the centralized air sterilizing system (100) on a regular basis.

12. The system according to Claims 7, wherein the ozone gas serves as the main oxidizer, while the ultraviolet or the highly reactive ionizer serves as a supportive secondary oxidizer in the oxidizing sterilization process (OSP).

13. The system according to Claims 1 , wherein an ozone safety detecting sensor is provided at the end of the air exchanger (600) for ozone leaks monitoring.

14. The system according to Claims 1 , wherein the replaceable filter (440) is a medical- grade high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, or similar types, or an industrially high-end heavy-duty air filter.

15. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the microorganisms include bacterium, germs, as well as acellular microorganisms such as viruses.

16. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the system is further provided with at least one sterilized air chamber (500) adapted to accumulate all treated sterilized air from the air collector chamber (400) through the replaceable filter (440), before it converts any excess ozone into oxygen.

17. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein a carbon dioxide (CO2) safety detecting sensor is provided at the end of the air exchanger (600) to determine the carbon dioxide (CO2) level in the ambient air.

18. The system according to Claim 17, wherein in the event the CO2 level in the ambient air of indoors or confined spaces being detected by the CO2 safety detecting sensor as high, the system (100) will activate an intake fan that pre installed with the ventilation ducting networks (200) to withdraw fresh air from outdoors to the indoors or the confined spaces.

19. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the air handling unit (700) includes an air distribution unit (720), an air delivery unit (740), and a plurality of air delivery ducting (760), wherein the air distribution unit (720) is operable to accumulate sterilized clean air and oxygen from the air exchanger (600).

20. The system according to Claim 19, wherein the air delivery unit (740) is operable for distribution of the sterilized clean air and oxygen accumulated at the air distribution unit (720), before delivering to the various designated locations.

21 . The system according to Claim 19, wherein the air delivery ducting (760) is served to deliver the sterilized clean air and oxygen back to the various designated locations.

22. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the centralized air sterilizing system (100) is adapted to be used in the hospitals to extract contaminated air from different designated locations, including but not limited to patients waiting areas, intensive care units, coronary care units, individual rooms, patients wards, through the ventilation ducting network (200).

23. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the centralized air sterilizing system (100) is adapted to be an add-on to a central air-conditioning system (800) for use indoors or in confined spaces, including but not limited to hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises.

24. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein the centralized air sterilizing system (100) is adapted to be retrofitted to an air shower system (900) for use in any access to the confined spaces or indoor, including but not limited to hospitals, complexes, offices, factories, businesses, or housing premises.