Method of sterilizing

• US 8,236,236 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV03 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: UV03 Incorporated
• Inventors: Garner, Christopher John
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyner, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/528,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20100047116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 422/3, 422/186.07
• US Class Current: 422/3
• 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 method of measuring and controlling the application of ozone to sterilize a predetermined space, the method comprising:

measuring an environmental parameter of the predetermined space, the environmental parameter including temperature, relative humidity, pressure, dew point, or combinations thereof;

selecting a contaminant for sterilization, the contaminant selected from the group consisting of bacteria, virus, mold, fungi, and combinations thereof;

determining a minimum ozone dosage and minimum ozone application duration sufficient to inactivate the selected contaminant, the ozone dosage and the ozone application duration dependant on the measured environmental parameter and the contaminant selected for sterilization;

determining a concentration of ozone per unit time sufficient to inactivate the selected contaminant dependant on the minimum ozone dosage and minimum ozone application duration;

supplying ozone to the predetermined space from an ozone generator, the supplied ozone in an amount sufficient to generally achieve the determined concentration of ozone per unit time;

monitoring ozone concentration in the predetermined space;

monitoring the ozone concentration at a predetermined interval; and

aggregating the monitored ozone concentrations at each predetermined interval to determine an overall ozone concentration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ozone is supplied in an amount up to about 10 grams per hour.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplied ozone is sufficient to provide up to about 20 ppm ozone in the predetermined space having an air volume of about 1000 ft³ or larger.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the amount of ozone supplied responsive to the monitored ozone concentration.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the ozone application duration responsive to the monitored ozone concentration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein after the ozone application duration has elapsed, stopping supplying ozone to the predetermined space and measuring a residual concentration of ozone in the predetermined space.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein after the ozone application duration has elapsed, removing ozone from the predetermined space.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising after the ozone application duration has elapsed, diverting air from the predetermined space to an ozone removal zone for removal of the ozone from the predetermined space.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising after measuring the environmental parameter, adjusting the environmental parameter.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the environmental parameter includes adding or removing moisture from the predetermined space to control relative humidity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the relative humidity is controlled to a predetermined range based on the selected contaminant.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the environmental parameter includes increasing or decreasing a temperature of the predetermined space.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the temperature is controlled to a predetermined range based on the selected contaminant.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental parameter is measured at a predetermined interval throughout the ozone application duration.