Reduction of pressure drop of a cooling or heating system
AssigneeSteril-Aire USA, Inc.
InventorsForrest B. Fencl, Robert Scheir
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There are described apparatus and methods wherein ultraviolet light kills and/or degrades and vaporizes microorganisms and organic material which naturally form over time on a heat exchanger. As this matter is eliminated, the pressure drop is decreased (i.e., airflow is increased) and the heat exchange efficiency (capacity) is increased. Less energy per Btu removed is used by the cooling system, and less energy is used by the HVAC system to move air.
Claims20
A method of reducing the pressure drop of a heat transfer system through UVC irradiation, the heat transfer system comprising a heat exchanger having a surface, wherein the heat transfer system has a pressure drop associated with an “as new” condition, and wherein during operation of the heat transfer system, organic matter accumulates upon the surface of the heat exchanger, the accumulated organic matter thereby impeding the flow of air through the heat transfer system and resulting in a pressure drop above that associated with the “as new” condition, the method comprising the steps of:
- energizing a germicidal tube to emit distributed UV radiation;
- directing the UV radiation at the heat exchanger to degrade and vaporize the accumulated organic matter on the surface of the heat exchanger;
- maintaining energization of the germicidal tube until the accumulated organic matter deposited on the surface of the heat exchanger is substantially eliminated;
- and
- operating the heat transfer system, whereby organic matter subsequently accumulates on the surface of the heat exchanger, and energizing the germicidal tube intermittently to degrade and vaporize the subsequently accumulated organic matter;
- whereby the pressure drop of the heat transfer system is maintained substantially at the pressure drop associated with the “as new” condition.
A method of maintaining the pressure drop of a heat transfer system through UVC irradiation, the heat transfer system comprising a heat exchanger having a surface, wherein the heat transfer system has an pressure drop associated with an “as new” condition, and wherein during operation of the heat transfer system, organic matter accumulates upon the surface of the heat exchanger, the accumulated organic matter thereby impinging the flow of air through the heat exchanger and resulting in a pressure drop below that associated with the “as new” condition, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a germicidal tube a distance from the surface of the heat exchanger equal to about forty to ninety percent of the light string centerline;
- energizing the germicidal tube to emit distributed UV radiation;
- and
- operating the heat transfer system, whereby organic matter accumulates on the surface of the heat exchanger;
- whereby the accumulating organic matter is degraded and vaporized by the UV radiation and eliminated;
- and
- whereby the pressure drop of the heat transfer system is maintained substantially at the pressure drop associated with the “as new” condition.
A heat transfer system having a pressure drop associated with an “as new” condition, the heat transfer system comprising:
- an air handler for moving an air stream, the air stream comprising organic matter;
- a heat exchanger positioned in the air stream from the air handler, wherein at least a portion of the organic matter in the air stream deposits on a surface of the heat exchanger;
- a germicidal lamp having a light string centerline and producing UV radiation, the germicidal lamp having a position a distance from the surface of the heat exchanger equal to about forty to ninety percent of the light string centerline;
- wherein the organic matter deposited on the surface of the heat exchanger impedes the flow of air through the heat transfer system and results in a pressure drop of the heat transfer system above that associated with the “as new” condition, the organic matter deposited on the surface of the heat exchanger is degraded and vaporized by the UV radiation and eliminated;
- whereby the pressure drop of the heat transfer system is maintained substantially at the pressure drop associated with the “as new” condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.