A Robust and Low-cost Technology for Risk Mitigation of Pathogenic Infection in HVAC Systems

该项目开发了一种创新技术，用于捕获和摧毁通风建筑物中悬浮在空气中的病原体。几种传染性细菌，如冠状病毒和流感，可能会被封装在微小的飞沫中，在暖通空调（HVAC）系统中传播。暖通空调管道可以作为建筑物内传染病流通和传播的管道。此外，所有暖通空调过滤器捕获和积聚微生物的程度取决于过滤器规格和过滤器更换频率。过滤器中微生物的积累会使过滤器成为真菌和细菌的滋生地，使过滤器成为具有生物危害性的物体。因此，除非遵循安全处置协议以尽量减少风险，否则过滤器处置可能会变得危险。此外，气流中的任何变化或干扰都可能将一些微生物释放到环境中。过去，紫外线（UV）光被用来减少空气中的生物污染物。然而，现有技术在暖通空调系统中的安装并不容易，并且受到暖通空调系统设计的限制。对于更传统的暖通空调系统，如基于管道的系统，安装这样的设备通常成本高昂且劳动密集。因此，这种设备很少用于医疗大楼外的暖通空调系统。该项目开发了一种紧凑而经济的设备，其工作原理是通过暖通空调过滤器捕获微生物并通过加热使其失活。其目的是进行概念验证测试，构建原型，开发高效，优化和具有成本效益的单元，并提出几何形状/配置，材料，操作和规格的指导方针。所有通风建筑，如医院/诊所、高层建筑和护理设施都可以从这项技术中受益。该技术可以有效地消除微生物，并且可以很容易地安装在现有和新的HVAC系统中。计算表明，与现有的紫外线技术相比，该技术的微生物灭活效率更高，成本仅为其一小部分。该技术有望由工业合作伙伴商业化。

This project develops an innovative technology to entrap and destroy pathogens suspended in the air in ventilated buildings. Several infectious germs, such as coronavirus and influenza, may travel in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system while encapsulated in minute droplets. The HVAC ducts can serve as conduits for the circulation and spread of infectious diseases in the building. Further, all HVAC filters entrap and accumulate microbes to the extent that depends on the filter specification and filter replacement frequency. Accumulation of microbes in the filter can turn the filter into a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria, making the filter a biologically hazardous object. Hence, the filter disposal may become hazardous unless a safe disposal protocol is followed to minimize the risks. Also, any change or disturbance in the airflow may release some of the microbes into the environment. In the past, Ultraviolet (UV) light has been employed to reduce biological contaminants in the air. However, the installation of existing technology in the HVAC system is not easily possible and is limited by the HVAC system's design. For more conventional HVAC systems such as duct-based systems, installing such units is often costly and labour-intensive. Hence, such units are seldom used in HVAC systems outside the healthcare buildings. This project develops a compact and economical device that works based on entrapping microbes by the HVAC filters and inactivating them by heating. The aim is to conduct proof of concept tests, build the prototype, develop efficient, optimal and cost-effective units, and advance guidelines for the geometries/configurations, materials, operations, and specifications. All ventilated buildings such as hospitals/clinics, high-rises, and care facilities can benefit from this technology. The technology can eliminate the microbes effectively and can easily be installed in existing and new HVAC systems. Calculations indicate more efficient microbial inactivation than existing UV technologies at a fraction of the cost. The technology is expected to be commercialized by the industrial partner.