Sterilizer

• US 20100178196A1
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV03 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: UV03 Incorporated
• Inventors: Garner, Christopher John
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/13 Biocide decomposition means, e.g. catalysts, sorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/14 Filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/212 Use of ozone, e.g. generated by UV radiation or electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/22 Treatment by sorption, e.g. absorption, adsorption, chemisorption, scrubbing, wet cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/104 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/1124 Metal oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/202 Polymeric adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/2073 Manganese
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/20761 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/106 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/80 Water
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/90 Odorous compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/708
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/91 Bacteria; Microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4508 : for cleaning air in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/455 : for transportable use portable devices B01D2259/4541
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/804 : UV light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/818 : Employing electrical discharges or the generation of a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/007 : by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/32 : by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/66 : Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/72 : Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D53/48 - B01D53/70, e.g. hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8675 : Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

A bio air sterilization system and method of use thereof is provided that can remove and render benign harmful contaminants and particulates, such as bacteria, viruses, and molds, from air within an enclosed area, as well as, in principle, from the exposed surfaces located within the enclosed area. In one aspect, the sterilization system includes a self contained, mobile sterilization unit that includes at least an ultraviolet array, an air flow control mechanism for diverting the air flow within the system through either a filter or through an ozone removal zone, an ozone generator, and a blower apparatus to pull the air through the system and out through ports, such as a nozzle system, to the surrounding environment.

Claims

1. A mobile sterilization unit comprising:

a mobile housing having an air intake and at least one air exit, the mobile housing having an air flow path between the air intake and the at least one air exit;

an ultraviolet source within the air flow path, the ultraviolet source having a minimum disinfecting level up to and including the ability to kill tuberculosis;

an ozone generator within the air flow path, the ozone generator operable to provide up to about 20 ppm ozone to an enclosed space having a volume of about 1000 ft³ or larger;

an ozone removal zone selectively within the air flow path; and

an air flow control mechanism for selectively diverting the air flow path within the mobile housing to the ozone removal zone.

2. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 1, wherein the ozone generator is operable to dose up to about 10 grams ozone per hour to the air flow path.

3. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one filter positioned in the air flow path.

4. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 3, wherein the at least one filter is antimicrobial.

5. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 3, wherein the at least one filter includes an intake filter associated with the air intake and a secondary filter upstream of the ozone generator.

6. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 1, further comprising a hydroxyl generator.

7. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 1, wherein the ozone removal zone includes a catalytic filter including a material selected from the group consisting of manganese dioxide, copper oxide, PPS fibers, and mixtures thereof sufficient to remove ozone to about 0.1 ppm or less in about 2 hours or less.

8. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 1, wherein the ozone removal zone includes an electromagnetic radiation generator sufficient to oxidize ozone.

9. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 8, where the electromagnetic radiation generator is capable of producing radiation of greater than about 254 nanometers sufficient to oxidize ozone.

10. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 2, further comprising a plenum and orifice downstream of the ozone generator, the plenum and orifice for maintaining a sufficient multi-directional air-flow across the ozone generator to permit continuous dosing of up to about 10 grams ozone per hour to provide the ozone concentration up to about 20 ppm.

11. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 1, further comprising a humidity generating unit.

12. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 1, further comprising wheels.

13. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 1, wherein the air flow control mechanism includes a valve having one position to direct the air flow path to the ozone removal zone and another position to bypass the air flow path around the ozone removal zone.

14. The mobile sterilization unit of claim 13, wherein the valve includes a stationary plate and a plate moveable relative to the stationary plate, the moveable plate has a first position to direct the air flow path to the ozone removal zone and the moveable plate has a second position so that the air flow path bypasses the ozone removal zone.

15. A method of sterilizing a predetermined space using a mobile sterilization system, the method comprising:

transporting a mobile sterilization unit to a predetermined space requiring sterilization, the mobile sterilization unit having an ultraviolet source, an ozone generator, an ozone removal zone, and a valve to selectively provide communication with the ozone removal zone;

drawing an air flow into the mobile sterilization unit;

exposing the air flow to ultraviolet radiation having a minimum disinfecting level up to and including the ability to kill tuberculosis;

dosing an amount of ozone up to about 10 grams per hour to the air flow;

maintaining about 1 to about 20 ppm ozone in the predetermined space for a period of time;

after the period of time, diverting the air flow to the ozone removal zone and removing ozone from the air flow to reduce the level of ozone in the predetermined space to about 0.1 ppm or less; and

removing the mobile sterilization unit from the predetermined space.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the ozone is removed from the predetermined space in about 2 hours or less.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ozone is removed from the predetermined space in about 30 minutes or less.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising measuring the relative humidity of the predetermined space and adding moisture to the air flow to increase the relative humidity of the predetermined space.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring a condition of the predetermined space and varying the dosing amount of ozone responsive to the monitored condition, the condition being selected from one of relative humidity, temperature, ozone concentration, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising selecting a contaminant to be sterilized and calculating the amount of ozone to be dosed based on the selected contaminant.