Modular ductwork decontamination assembly

• US 8,388,731 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karen Metteer
• Original Assignee: Karen Metteer
• Inventors: Metteer, Karen
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L
• Application Number:
  US12/819,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20100254852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 95/2, 95/3, 95/58, 95/63, 95/69, 95/70, 95/78, 96/16, 96/18, 96/19, 96/52, 96/55, 96/57, 96/63, 96/64, 96/74, 96/94, 962/24, 422/24, 422/28, 422/123, 422/124, 422/186.07, 422/186.13
• US Class Current: 95/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/16 Connections to a HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/212 Use of ozone, e.g. generated by UV radiation or electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/02 using substances evaporated in the air by heating or combustion
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/104 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/106 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/708 Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
• 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 2259/804 UV light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/32 by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/323 by electrostatic effects or by high-voltage electric fields
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/72 Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D53/48 - B01D53/70, e.g. hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/75 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/192 by electrical means, e.g. by applying electrostatic fields or high voltages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/194 by filtering using high voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/26 using ozone
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/40 by ozonisation for sterilisation F24F8/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A modular ductwork assembly decontaminates an air stream circulating within a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The assembly includes one or more of (a) an ionizing module for removing particulates from the air stream, (b) a sterilization module for neutralizing airborne pathogens present in the air stream, (c) an ozone treatment module for neutralizing pathogens or odoriferous constituents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the air stream, optionally (d) baffles for slowing and disrupting the flow rate and promoting turbulence in the air stream traveling through the modules and optionally (e) a fan module for directing a treated air stream, (f) an ozone sensor, (g) a monitoring or ozone control means, (h) a means of delivering and repurposing generated ozone. Each of the modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules.

Claims

1. A modular ductwork assembly for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system, the assembly comprising:

(a) at least one ionizing module for removing particulates from said air stream;

(b) at least one sterilization module for neutralizing airborne pathogens present in said air stream;

(c) at least one ozone treatment module for neutralizing organisms and odoriferous constituents present in said air stream, and (d) at least one ozone sensor for monitoring gaseous ozone levels, wherein each of said modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules.

2. The ductwork decontamination assembly of claim 1, further comprising a control module by which ozone levels may be controlled.

3. The ductwork decontamination assembly of claim 1, further comprising an alarm by which ozone levels may be monitored.

4. The ductwork decontamination assembly of claim 1, further comprising a conveyance means to bring ozone produced by an ozonating module to at least one designated water system for the purpose of decontaminating the water system.

5. The ductwork decontamination assembly of claim 1, wherein said ionizing module comprises at least one ionizer.

6. The ductwork decontamination assembly of claim 1, wherein said sterilization module comprises at least one lamp capable of directing ultraviolet radiation toward said air stream.

7. The ductwork decontamination assembly of claim 6, wherein said at least one lamp is capable of directing at least one of ultraviolet radiation, ultraviolet-C, ultraviolet-X, or other safe form of sterilizing light toward said air stream.

8. The ductwork decontamination assembly of claim 1, wherein said ozone treatment module comprises at least one ozone generator.

9. The ductwork decontamination assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one ozone generator comprises a plurality of ozone generators.

10. The ductwork decontamination assembly of claim 1, wherein the ionizing module is separated from the sterilization module and the ozone treatment module.

11. A method for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system, the method comprising:

(a) interposing at least one ionizing module in said air stream for removing particulates therefrom;

(b) interposing at least one sterilization module in said air stream for neutralizing airborne pathogens present therein;

(c) interposing at least one ozone treatment module in said air stream for neutralizing pathogens and odoriferous constituents or volatile organic compounds present therein;

(d) interposing at least one ozone sensor in a remote location for at least one of monitoring or controlling ozone levels;

wherein each of said modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules.

12. The method for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system of claim 11, further comprising:

disrupting the air stream through the modules using a plurality of baffles.

13. The method for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system of claim 11, further comprising directing said air stream through said modules using a fan module.

14. The method for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system of claim 11, wherein said ionizing module comprises at least one ionizer.

15. The method for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system of claim 11, wherein said sterilization module comprises at least one lamp capable of directing ultraviolet radiation toward said air stream.

16. The method for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system of claim 15, wherein said at least one lamp is capable of directing at least one of ultraviolet radiation, ultraviolet-C, ultraviolet-X, or other safe form of sterilizing light toward said air stream.

17. The method for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system of claim 11, wherein said ozone treatment module comprises at least one ozone generator.

18. The method for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system of claim 17, wherein said at least one ozone generator comprises a plurality of ozone generators.

19. The method for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the ionizing module is separated from the sterilization module and the ozone treatment module.

20. A method of customizing a ductwork assembly for decontaminating an air stream circulating within an HVAC system, the method comprising:

(a) assessing a problem from the group comprising pathogen problems, odor problems, and particulate problems;

(b) interposing at least one ionizing module in said air stream where a particulate problem is assessed;

(c) interposing at least one sterilization module in said air stream where a pathogen problem is assessed;

(d) interposing at least one ozone treatment module in said air stream where an odor problem is assessed;

(e) interposing at least one ozone sensor at a remote location; and

(f) interposing at least one control means communicating with the ozone sensor;

wherein each of said modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules.