Method and system for decontaminating small enclosures
AssigneeTomi Environmental Solutions, Inc.
InventorsHalden Stuart Shane, Johnny Sullivan Cato
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, system and apparatus are described for decontaminating small enclosures, semi-enclosed and closed areas of pathogens by using a very dry mist comprising ionized hydrogen peroxide. The system can be controlled manually by the user, or by a remote connection, such as a wireless network connection. The method includes use of a handheld, point-and-spray device that sprays a very dry mist comprising ionized hydrogen peroxide under manual or automated control.
Claims17
A method for decontaminating a semi-enclosed area, comprising the steps of:
- entering input parameters of the semi-enclosed area into a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is programmed to determine fluid properties of a cleaning fluid in a decontamination device based on the input parameters of the semi-enclosed area space, wherein the decontamination device comprises a nozzle having an outlet and a tube, activating a decontamination cycle of the decontamination device, wherein the decontamination cycle comprises the steps of:
- providing a reservoir of the cleaning fluid;
- setting the determined fluid properties of the cleaning fluid;
- generating a very dry mist comprising ionized hydrogen peroxide particles activated by a cold plasma arc, wherein the activated particles comprise a dissociated activated species that are hydroxyl radicals and which recombine to oxygen and water after contacting surfaces, and,
- wherein the very dry mist comprises particles of diameter size in the range of 0.5-0.9 microns, wherein the particle diameter size range is maintained by a coordinated setting of an applied air pressure and fluid flow rate,
- wherein the generated very dry mist is dispersed by high-voltage actuation at the nozzle outlet and applied within the semi-enclosed area at an applied air pressure of 5-25 pound-force per square inch (psi) measured as the static air pressure at the nozzle outlet during mist ejection as indicated on a device-mounted pressure gauge;
- wherein the fluid flow rate is reduced concurrently with the applied air pressure to limit droplet travel to within a longest dimension of the semi-enclosed area while maintaining said particle diameter range;
- and
- wherein the decontamination device is a hand-held point-and-spray device.
A system for decontaminating a semi-enclosed area, comprising a decontamination device, wherein the decontamination device comprises a nozzle having an outlet and a tube, and a computer processor, wherein the computer processor is in networked communication with the decontamination device, wherein input parameters of the semi-enclosed area space are entered into the computer processor, wherein the computer processor is programmed to determine fluid properties of a cleaning fluid in the decontamination device based on the input parameters of the semi-enclosed area space, wherein the computer processor is further programmed to activate a decontamination cycle of the decontamination device, the decontamination cycle comprising the steps of:
- providing a reservoir of the cleaning fluid;
- setting the determined fluid properties of the cleaning fluid;
- generating a very dry mist comprising ionized hydrogen peroxide particles activated by a cold plasma arc, wherein the activated particles comprise a dissociated activated species that are hydroxyl radicals and which recombine to oxygen and water after contacting surfaces, and,
- wherein the mist comprises particles of diameter size in the range of 0.5-0.9 microns, wherein the particle diameter size range is maintained by a coordinated setting of applied air pressure at the nozzle outlet and fluid flow rate,
- wherein the generated very dry mist is dispersed by high-voltage actuation at the nozzle outlet and applied within the semi-enclosed area at an applied air pressure at the nozzle outlet of 5-25 psi measured as the static air pressure at the nozzle outlet during mist ejection as indicated on a device-mounted pressure gauge;
- wherein the fluid flow rate is reduced concurrently with the applied air pressure at the nozzle outlet to limit droplet travel to within a longest dimension of the semi-enclosed area while maintaining said particle diameter range;
- and
- wherein the decontamination device is a hand-held point-and-spray device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.