Removal of SARS-CoV-2 using UV+Filter in built environment

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Engineering

Background:

• Indoor airborne viruses like SARS-CoV-2 pose significant health risks.
• Traditional air cleaning systems have limitations such as re-aerosolization and electric breakdown.
• Efficient and safe methods for controlling airborne pathogens are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a novel UV+Filter air cleaning system for airborne SARS-CoV-2 control.
• To numerically investigate and compare the performance of different air cleaning devices.
• To provide a validated design method for effective airborne disease control systems.

Main Methods:

• Numerical investigation of air cleaning device performances, including filtration efficiency, energy consumption, and secondary pollution.
• Development and validation of predictive models using experimental data from literature.
• Comparison of UV+Filter system against traditional fibrous filters and electrostatic precipitators (ESP).

Main Results:

• The UV+Filter system demonstrates efficient capture and deactivation of airborne SARS-CoV-2 aerosols.
• UV+Filter is identified as the most reliable and safest option among the evaluated systems.
• While effective, the UV+Filter system exhibits higher energy consumption compared to other methods.

Conclusions:

• The UV+Filter system offers a promising solution for indoor airborne SARS-CoV-2 control, mitigating risks associated with traditional systems.
• The developed numerical models and design methods can aid in the quantitative design of air cleaning systems for airborne disease prevention.
• Further research may focus on optimizing UV+Filter systems for energy efficiency while maintaining high performance.