To achieve this, UVC LEDs were installed in a car HVAC system. This study aimed to assess the disinfection performance of UVC LEDs in automotive HVAC systems and determine the dose-response curve for bacteriophage Phi6, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate. While previous experiments have shown UVC LED technology can reduce bacteriophage Phi6 concentrations by 1 log in 5 minutes (selected as the average time to clean the cabin air), those studies had not positioned LED within the HVAC itself or studied the susceptibility of the surrogate at the specific wavelength. Additionally, UVC LEDs are effective at low voltage and have no mercury or glass. UVC can add little to no static pressure with minimal space, unlike mercury lamps which are larger and heavier. Integrating UVC to complement automobile HVAC systems can protect occupants from developing allergies, experiencing inflammatory problems, or acquiring respiratory infectious diseases by inactivating pathogenic organisms. Vehicle HVAC systems can accumulate and recirculate highly infectious respiratory diseases via aerosols. Applying UVC LEDs inside an HVAC system is an effective means of quickly reducing the number of aerosolized viral particles in the chamber, by inactivating microorganisms leading to improved cabin air quality. HVAC alone could not achieve a 90% viral reduction of bacteriophage Phi6 in 15 min. ![]() The performance after 5 min is expected to be significantly better against SARS-CoV-2 because of its higher sensitivity to UVC, especially at lower wavelengths (below 270 nm). The results revealed that HVAC complemented with UVC reduced bacteriophage Phi6 levels significantly more than the HVAC alone and reduced the viral concentration in the cabin by more than 90% viral reduction in less than 5 min. To determine inactivation efficacy, a model chamber of 3.5 m3, replicating the typical volume of a car, containing the modified automobile HVAC system was filled with bacteriophage Phi6, and the HVAC was turned on with and without the UVC LEDs being turned on. This study aimed to assess the disinfection performance of UVC LEDs in automotive HVAC systems and determine the dose–response curve for bacteriophage Phi6, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate. While previous experiments have shown UVC LED technology can reduce bacteriophage Phi6 concentrations by 1 log in 5 min (selected as the average time to clean the cabin air), those studies had not positioned LED within the HVAC itself or studied the susceptibility of the surrogate at the specific wavelength. ![]() ![]() Integrating Ultraviolet Subtype C (UVC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to complement automobile HVAC systems can protect occupants from developing allergies, experiencing inflammatory problems, or acquiring respiratory infectious diseases by inactivating pathogenic organisms. Vehicle Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can accumulate and recirculate highly infectious respiratory diseases via aerosols.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |