JP7506359B2 - Space sterilization machine - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to the mechanism of an air conditioner that aims to sterilize and kill bacteria and viruses, large and small, in indoor air.

Direct sterilization and sterilization of airborne bacteria and viruses by UV irradiation of 7.5 J/m2 or ^more at wavelengths of around 260 nm, and inactivation of bacteria and viruses by photocatalytic reaction with titanium dioxide

D value of airborne viruses (sterilization dose at 90% sterilization rate J/m2) * 7.5 J/m2 *Lewis R. Koller: Ultraviolet Radiation (1952)

Only titanium dioxide (TiO_). Photocatalysts absorb ultraviolet rays from the sun or fluorescent lights, and the energy of the ultraviolet rays is absorbed, activating electrons, which then fly out from the surface. The holes from which the electrons escape are called positive holes and have a positive charge. Positive holes (h_) have a strong oxidizing power, and they steal electrons from OH_ (hydroxide ions) in water, creating negative electrons (e_), which are said to produce highly reactive superoxide anions (0_ + e_ → O__) and hydroxyl radicals (OH_ + h_ → OH). This causes a strong oxidation reaction that steals electrons from the other party, breaking down organic substances such as unpleasant odors, viruses, and pathogens. OH radicals have a strong oxidizing power, so they steal electrons from nearby organic matter and try to stabilize themselves. In this way, the organic matter that has lost electrons has its bonds broken, and ultimately becomes carbon dioxide and water, which are released into the atmosphere. Based on this principle, active substances are generated from oxygen and water, which oxidize and decompose odorous substances, bacteria, viruses, etc., exerting antibacterial and deodorizing effects and rendering them harmless. *A paper titled "Infectivity and Inactivation of Influenza Aerosols" by Professor Shiraki Kimiyasu of the Department of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, et al., published in Vol. 39/No. 5 of the quarterly journal "Clinical and Viruses" by the Japanese Society for Virology.

There have been devices that use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses as a secondary purpose of air purification. However, these are limited to small-scale indoor use, and there are limitations to the effective ultraviolet light irradiation in the air. In particular, to avoid adverse effects on the human body, ultraviolet light irradiation is limited to inside the machine where external exposure is kept to a minimum, and in such cases, a major issue is that it is difficult to obtain irradiation time that produces sufficient effects.

Means for solving the problem

In order to solve this problem , the present invention relates to a space sterilizer having a main body front part for taking in air, a filter, a sterilization unit, and an upper outlet through which air that has passed through the sterilization unit is discharged to the outside. The space sterilizer according to the present invention is characterized in that the sterilization unit has a labyrinth channel consisting of an air passage shaped to fold the air that has passed through the filter from the main body front part, the labyrinth channel has a partition panel on which a large number of ultraviolet LEDs are installed, the inner surface of the labyrinth channel is coated with titanium oxide, and the ultraviolet LED can sterilize the air in the labyrinth channel by irradiating ultraviolet light of 7.5 J/m2 or more for 1.5 seconds under the following irradiation conditions ^. <Irradiation conditions> The ultraviolet light emission wavelength = 265 nm, the ultraviolet LED light output = 50 mW, the labyrinth channel inner wall surface interval < 0.1 m (when the height is 1.5 m, the width is 1.2 m, and the depth is 0.9 m). In addition, as an example of an embodiment, the spatial sterilizer according to the present invention further includes a fan that can be rotated by a motor controlled by an inverter .

Sterilization unit (Labyrinth channel)
In order to solve this problem, the air introduced is passed through an air passage shaped to fold it, so that the ^irradiation time can be secured. This allows the air to be given a sufficient ^irradiation time when passing through a partition panel in which multiple 265 nm ultraviolet LEDs are installed, and by shortening the irradiation distance, an effective sterilization effect can be obtained. In addition, the equipment can be made compact. Furthermore, the inner surface of the passage is coated with titanium dioxide, which can strongly act to neutralize bacteria and viruses through the direct sterilization effect of ultraviolet rays and the strong oxidation reaction of OH radicals generated by photocatalytic reactions. In this case, in order to prevent noise from being generated by the vibration of the panels in the passage passing at high speed, a resin material is used as a cushioning material inside the partition, or vibration-resistant titanium and titanium alloy materials are used as the partition panel material. Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5
* Irradiation time 90% sterilization rate of airborne viruses D value = 7.5 J/ ^m2
The product of the sterilizing radiation irradiance E (W/m ² ) and the irradiation time t (seconds) [sterilizing dose (J/m ² )]
Illuminance E = light output (W) / distance d (m) ²
265nm UV LED light output 50mW
Labyrinth channel inner wall spacing < 0.1m (height 1.5m, width 1.2m, depth 0.9m)
From the above, the required irradiation time (t) to satisfy the D value of 7.5 is calculated to be 1.5 seconds.
(In reality, there are multiple light sources shining on the screen, and the distance is set to the maximum value, so the effect is more than sufficient.)

The effect of the space sterilizer labyrinth channel allows for efficient and large capacity sterilization of bacteria and viruses in the air of a large hall. The structure takes in air from the front, filters it, and then introduces it into the labyrinth channel. Inside, a fan rotates with an inverter-controlled motor to maintain an effective wind speed, and the treated air is exhausted from the top. Figure 1

Effect of the invention

The second invention, the spatial sterilizer, which incorporates the first invention, can kill or inactivate more than 90% of viruses in the air introduced by sufficient ultraviolet irradiation and photocatalytic effects. By using this continuously, the air in the hall can be made safe.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view (front and side perspective views) showing one embodiment of a space sterilizer of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view (front and side perspective views) showing the sterilization unit (labyrinth channel) of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the air flow path within the sterilization unit (labyrinth channel). A perspective view showing the arrangement of 265 nm UV LED modules in the panel part of the sterilization unit (labyrinth channel) (overall perspective view, enlarged view of the panel) A diagram showing the arrangement of 265 nm UV LED modules, vibration damping materials, and electrical wiring inside the sterilization unit (labyrinth channel) (overall perspective view, enlarged view).

An embodiment of the space sterilizer of the present invention is shown in FIG.
Air taken in from the front of the main unit passes through a filter and then enters the sterilization unit (labyrinth channel) where it is sterilized to remove bacteria and viruses before being discharged from the upper air outlet.
Moreover, one embodiment of the sterilization unit (labyrinth channel) is shown in FIG.
The inside of the sterilization unit is equipped with a number of 265 nm UV LED modules, and the inside is further coated with titanium dioxide. One embodiment of this is shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5.

1. Sterilization unit (Labyrinth channel)
2 HEPA filter 3 Motor 4 Inverter/control unit 5 Fan 6 Air inlet 7 265 nm UV LED module 8 Air outlet 9 Titanium dioxide coating 10 Electrical wiring 11 Vibration-damping resin

Claims (2)

A space sterilizer having a main body front part for taking in air, a filter, a sterilization unit, and an upper outlet through which air that has passed through the sterilization unit is discharged to the outside,
The sterilization unit includes a labyrinth channel having an air passage shaped to fold the air that has passed through the filter from the front surface of the main body,
The labyrinth channel has a partition panel on which a number of ultraviolet LEDs are installed, and the inner surface of the labyrinth channel is coated with titanium oxide,
A space sterilizer characterized in that the air in the labyrinth channel can be sterilized by irradiating ultraviolet rays of 7.5 J / m ² or more for 1.5 seconds under the following irradiation conditions using the ultraviolet LED .
<Irradiation conditions>
The ultraviolet light emission wavelength is 265 nm.
The light output of the UV LED is 50 mW.
The labyrinth channel has an inner wall surface spacing of less than 0.1 m (height 1.5 m, width 1.2 m, depth 0.9 m) The spatial sterilizer according to claim 1 , further comprising a fan rotatable by a motor controlled by an inverter .