A Cuboid chamber design for radiation-based SARS-COV-2 disinfection

Abstract

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) has long been recognized as a potent disinfection technology, but its prominence surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as an effective solution for air disinfection. This revival was fueled by its notable advantages over chemical and traditional disinfection methods. UVGI stands out for its residue-free nature and the absence of harmful substances, making it an environmentally friendly option. Additionally, UVGI effectively targets a broad spectrum of pathogens, including the resilient SARS-CoV-2 virus, without fostering microbial resistance. Thus, adequately designed UVGI irradiation systems hold immense promise for indoor air disinfection compared to conventional methods. Numerous studies affirm the effectiveness of UVGI radiation at ʹͷ͵Ǥ͹݊݉ in neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus when administered at the appropriate dose, dependent on factors such as airflow and UV intensity. Our primary objective was to ensure that every air molecule passing through the disinfection system receives sufficient UV light to deactivate viruses, thereby ensuring system reliability. Design parameters were meticulously chosen based on the UV light photons required to deactivate 99.9% of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with stringent precautions taken to mitigate UV light leakage, which poses risks to human health. This study proposes a novel conceptual design of a cuboid chamber utilizing the Line Source Spherical Emission (LSSE) model to analyze irradiance variations based on a chosen coordinate system. The selection of the 64T5 HO G5 Philips TUV T5 double-ended UV-C (germicidal) lamp was led by considerations of market availability and cost-effectiveness. Through simulations employing the LSSE model with varying point source numbers, we comprehensively examined irradiance variation at ʹͷ͵Ǥ͹݊݉ , producing informative graphs. The investigation unveiled that with an average airflow velocity of ݏ݉ܿ ͹ʹͲǤʹͲʹ Τ, the proposed chamber geometry ensures that every bit of air passing through receives a UV dose sufficient for effectively deactivating ͻͻǤͻΨ of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This finding highlights the usefulness of our design in delivering thorough disinfection to safeguard indoor environments.